Balzan boost survival hopes with 2-0 win

Balzan Youths 2
Hamrun Spartans 0

Balzan Youths made a significant step towards reaching Premier League survival after they beat Hamrun Spartans 2-0 in a low-key encounter at the National Stadium.

The Youths have now managed to open a three-point advantage over second from bottom Msida St Joseph who have a tough fixture on Sunday when they play Valletta, also at Ta' Qali.

On the eve of yesterday's game, Balzan coach Jimmy Briffa had highlighted the significance of the match for his team's target of retaining their Premier League status.

The players duly responded with a solid performance and inspired by the inventive Jaroslav Marx and the hardworking Nikolai Filipov they managed to secure an important win that now puts them in the driving seat ahead of their decisive clash next week.

The Spartans on their part were a shadow of the side that battled bravely to a 3-3 draw against Msida in their previous encounter. They were again made to pay harshly for some hesitant defending which resulted in their conceding a soft opener which they rarely seemed capable of cancelling.

The absence of striker Gaetan Spiteri, who was suspended along with John Debattista, was sorely felt as their forward line lacked the much-needed punch to overturn the result in their favour.

With only a match to go, against Valletta, before completing their league commitments it seems highly likely that they will finish their campaign without a win.

The gusty wind that swept across the National Stadium yesterday was the real protagonist in the opening 20 minutes as neither side managed to create any goalmouth opportunity in those early exchanges.

Roderick Camilleri, of Hamrun, was the first goalkeeper to be called into action after 25 minutes when he easily blocked a Marx long-range effort.

On the half-hour the Spartans gifted the opener to Balzan when Aaron Attard and David Galea obstructed each other when trying to clear, only for the incoming Stefan Zahra to serve the unmarked Filipov. The Bulgarian only had to chip the ball over the onrushing Camilleri - and the Youths were one up.

The goal seemed to have spurred on Balzan, who yesterday were without the injured Gilbert Scerri and Neville Arpa. A minute later Zahra saw his close-range header from a Marx cross blocked by Camilleri.

In the 33rd minute, the crossbar came to the Spartans' rescue when it stopped Alex Muscat's scorcher with Camilleri beaten.

Hamrun's reply arrived soon after when Kevin Borg drifted the ball towards Evano Briffa whose first-time volley was blocked by Ernest Barry.

On the change of ends, the Spartans came out in search of an equaliser. After only a minute, Stefan Sultana headed just wide a Roderick Bajada cross.

The Spartans were lucky not to be reduced to ten men when a hefty challenge by Briffa, who had already been booked, on Filipov was not duly punished with a second yellow card by the official.

Balzan doubled their lead on 56 minutes when Filipov raced clear on the right and his cross was exquisitely headed past Camilleri by Zahra.

After being released by a fine Marx throughball, Shaun Tellus should have sealed Balzan's win on 76 minutes, but the latter saw his shot blocked by the onrushing Camilleri.

Ten minutes from time, substitute Kurt Coleiro nodded the ball down towards Zahra who shot just wide.

On 87 minutes the Spartans were unlucky not to pull one back when from a Mauro Brincat free-kick, Keith Fabri saw his header hit the upright. The Hamrun defender was again close a minute later from another Brincat set-piece but this time he hit over.

However, that would have been too little too late to change the outcome of the match as seconds later the referee blew the final whistle amidst the joy of the Balzan clan.

Salvation for the Youths is only one step away.

Balzan: E. Barry-5, A. Muscat-6, S. Grima-6 ('86 N. Gatt), S. Tellus-6, M. Caruana-6, N. Filipov-7 ('79 K. Coleiro), J. Marx-8, S. Zahra-7, K. Curmi-6, D. Agius-6, M. Martin-6 ('69 M. Valenzia).

Hamrun: R. Camilleri-5, A. Attard-4 ('79 O. Briffa), D. Galea-5, J. Magri Overend-5, K. Fabri-6, E. Briffa-5 ('54 D.A. Cucciardi), K. Borg-6, R. Bajada-6, S. Meilaq-6 ('61 R. Fenech), M. Brincat-5, S. Sultana-5.

Referee: Paul Caruana.

Scorers: Filipov 30; Zahra 56.

Yellow Cards: Marx, Attard, Briffa.

MIA Player of the Match: Jaroslav Marx (Balzan Youths).