Agius scores three in Balzan romp

Balzan Youths 4
Sta Venera 0

Leaders Balzan dominated this match with Aaron Agius proving to be the main protagonist as he notched a hat-trick.

Ivan Zammit opened the score after four minutes with a free-kick. The Saints tried hard to get back into the match but it was Zammit, again, who almost struck again from another dead-ball situation.

At the other end, the post came to Balzan's rescue from a Stefan Farrugia free-kick and goalkeeper Joshua Galea did well to stop another Farrugia delivery from outside the box. However, two quick goals just before the break took the fight out of Sta Venera.

Agius headed in to make it 2-0 and three minutes from half-time the same player scored from an angle.

Balzan sought to administer their lead after the break and after a couple of near misses, Agius collected his hat-trick with a 79th-minute goal to round up a fine day for himself and the team.

Balzan:
J. Galea, J. Agius, D. Agius, B. Bondin, Iv. Zammit (Is. Zammit), J. Francica, A. Agius (A. Camilleri), C. Abela, L. Stivala, A. Lagana (C. Camilleri), C. Micallef.

Sta Venera:
J. Agius, A. Cachia, A. Galea (D. Zuccaro), M. Muscat, Y.M. Law, G. Micallef (M. Briffa), J. Zammit, M. Grech (I. Falzon), A. Ellul, S. Farrugia, D. Mercieca.

Referee: Andrea Sciriha.

St Andrew's 1
Birżebbuġa SP 1

This match had a dramatic finale with Birżebbuġa's Mark Ellul seeing his penalty stopped by goalkeeper Frederick Tabone.

St Andrew's were denied by Celeste early on off a Nicky Vella Petroni drive and on other occasions shots by Michael Grima and Michael Calleja went wide.

The seasiders got more into the picture and Tabone was again on hand later on to keep out a Gilbert Scerri free-kick.

Birżebbuġa held the initiative but on 64 minutes Michael Valenzia's shot beat Celeste for a shock opener.

Birżebbuġa were not demoralised and 12 minutes later they drew level when Justin Camilleri headed firmly in from a Clive Formosa centre.

Three minutes into stoppage-time Birżebbuġa were awarded a penalty for a foul by Glen Fenech on Ellul but the latter's shot from the spot was saved by Tabone.

St Andrew's:
F. Tabone, N. Chetcuti, T. Sullivan, J. Briscoe White, S. Falzon, A. Camilleri Kamsky (G. Fenech), N. Vella Petroni (P. Briscoe White), M. Valenzia, M. Grima, M. Calleja, M. Ellul (A. Busuttil).

Birżebbuġa:
P. Celeste, E. Saliba, B. Farrugia, R. Baldacchino (D. Vella), M. Ciappara, M. Ellul, C. Formosa, N. Tabone, C. Camilleri (R. Celeste), G. Scerri, J. Camilleri.

Referee: Sandro Spiteri.