TARXIEN RAINBOWS 3 BALZAN 0

Tarxien Rainbows gave Balzan a lesson in patient, counter-attacking football to register an important win that cemented their sixth spot in the standings.

The early exchanges were bereft of constructive football as the two sides struggled to find their passing range.

Shy the half hour mark, Effiong advanced into the Tarxien box and swept past Alves but he was closed down by Tabone.

Tarxien frustrated their opponents admirably for the rest of the half.

After the change of ends, the Rainbows started to cause Balzan defence problems and on one occasion Luke Montebello took advantage of some slack marking but his shot on turn was too central to trouble Senatore.

The flaws in Balzan’s defence were further exposed six minutes after the break when Balzan failed to deal with Ayrton Azzopardi’s inswinger from corner, which fell between Senatore and his Samir Arab, as Zerafa got in front of the goalkeeper and headed the ball into the net.

The goal spurned Balzan into action as the relentless running of Effiong started to take their toll on the Tarxien defence which was being stretched to its limit. The Nigerian-born striker’s twisting run unsettled the defence before his effort was blocked by Cassar.

The rising feeling that Balzan would come to rue their misses was instantly vindicated as in their next attack Tarxien doubled their lead.

Azzopardi’s through-ball freed Montebello who charged into the box and rifled past the onrushing Senatore.

It was typical of how poor Balzan were on 82 minutes, when they somehow found themselves caught upfield once more to allow the speedy Lucky Omeruo, who was brought in for Anderson Raimundo, to race clear, only for Arab to haul the striker down in the box. The referee Sandro Spiteri whistled the infringement as Alex Alves buried the ball behind Senatore.