Balzan finish in style as late goal dashes Lija's promotion hopes

Mġarr United 0
Balzan Youths 5

Newly-crowned second division champions Balzan Youths celebrated their success in style last weekend as they completed their commitments with a handsome victory over Mġarr United who have been relegated to Division Three.

Balzan, in festive mood after securing the title with a few matches to spare, dictated the run of play from the outset. After going close on various occasions, Kurt Coleiro gave the Youths the lead when finishing off a good move by Ivan Zammit.

Mġarr's reaction produced a Paul Fenech free-kick from which Josef Micallef headed just wide with Balzan responding with an Aaron Agius shot that was saved by Luca Grech.

Balzan moved two goals up 11 minutes into the second half, Coleiro hitting home from an angle.

Luke Stivala then delivered a perfect ball from the right flank to Clayton Caruana who made it 3-0 with a fine header.

Mġarr were nowhere to be seen and Aaron Agius added two more goals to Balzan's tally to crown a perfect day for his team.

After the final whistle, Malta FA vice president Peter Fenech presented the winners' trophy to Balzan captain David Agius.

Mġarr: L. Grech, A. Portelli (G. Said), N. Busuttil, W. Camilleri, C. Bugeja, C. Gauci, P. Fenech (J. Camilleri), J. Said, S. Aquilina (S. Camilleri), M. Muscat, J. Micallef.

Balzan: B. Bonello (J. Galea), L. Stivala, J. Francica, C. Sciberras, D. Agius, B. Bondin, M. Monreal (J. Agius), Iv. Zammit (Is. Zammit), K. Coleiro, A. Agius, C. Caruana.

Referee: Mario Apap.

Naxxar Lions 2
Lija Athletic 2

A dramatic late equaliser, scored by Naxxar striker Mark Deguara, ended Lija's promotion hopes, much to the delight of second-placed Melita who made sure of playing in Division One next season.

This was indeed an unexpected outcome for Lija but Naxxar live to fight another day. The Lions will now figure in the play-offs in their bid to escape relegation to the bottom tier of Maltese football.

A win for Lija would have set up a promotion decider against Melita and they looked well on their way when Glenn Barry put them ahead after only three minutes.

Naxxar shrugged off that early upset to venture forward but Deguara failed to score from an ideal position. The Lions' cause looked out for the count on 16 minutes when Lija made it 2-0 thanks to a Christopher Pace goal following some good work by Beppe Antignolo.

However, two minutes later, Naxxar were handed a lifeline when they were awarded a penalty for a handling infringement by Lija's Jean Paul Scerri. Deguara made no mistake from the spot.

Pace and Barry had good chances to restore Lija's two-goal cushion and a header by Michael Mangion was turned onto the post by experienced Naxxar keeper David Vella.

Naxxar shared the exchanges on resumption but struggled to find openings in a solid Lija defence.

Chris Farrugia almost beat Bonnici on 77 minutes and six minutes from time, Lija were reduced to 10 men when Chris Grech was sent off for a bad tackle.

Lija looked well in control despite the handicap but a minute from time, Naxxar grabbed a vital equaliser when Deguara fired home a rasping shot that gave Bonnici no chance.

Lija player Colin Ciantar was also sent off in stoppage time after making some unwarranted remarks.

Naxxar: D. Vella, M. Coleiro (C. Farrugia), J. Agius (A. Delnegro), A. Bajada, J. Sank, T. Fenech, J. Mercieca, A. Bartolo, M. Deguara, A. Fenech, R. Sammut.

Lija: L. Bonnici, M. Mangion, M. Camilleri, M. Borg, L. Cilia, G. Barry, J.P. Scerri, C. Pace (D. Cremona), C. Grech, C. Ciantar, B. Antignolo (A. Spiteri).

Referee: Marco Borg.

Marsa 2
Sta Venera 5

KO finalists Sta Venera fielded a second-string team for this match but were still good enough to beat lowly Marsa.

Rudi Carbonaro put the Saints in front early on but Demis Grima pulled Marsa level on 21 minutes following good work by Shaun Farrugia.

Sta Venera replied through shots by Nathan Caruana and Philip Chircop which were saved by the Marsa keeper. Ten minutes from half-time they regained the lead when a Jeffrey Zammit drive flew past keeper Medina.

Promising youngster Karl Falzon put the Saints 3-1 up soon after the break with Farrugia reducing the deficit for Marsa following a fine solo move a few minutes later.

Marsa's hopes of avoiding another defeat were blown away in the last 10 minutes when Sta Venera added two more goals through Manuel Polidano and Zammit.

Marsa: P. Medina, K. Xerri, B. Demicoli, B. Zammit, J. Rizzo, C. Cioffi, O. Zammit (S. Spiteri), G. Cutajar, A. Spiteri, S. Farrugia, D. Grima (J. Martin).

Sta Venera: W. Cuschieri, J. Sammut, M. Polidano, A. Hili, K. Falzon (K. Attard), R. Carbonaro, P. Chircop, J. Zammit, D. Zuccaro, A. Micallef (D. Vella), N. Caruana (A. Cachia).

Referee: Trustan Farrugia Cann.

Birżebbuġa SP 6
Żebbuġ Rangers 3

Birżebbuġa striker Ronnie Celeste sparked havoc in the Rangers' defence as he scored five goals in a largely one-sided match.

Żebbuġ, who had a poor campaign but still avoided the drop despite starting with a five-point handicap, were first to settle down but Birżebbuġa soon got into gear and opened the score thanks to a Celeste goal.

Celeste made it 2-0 on 15 minutes and notched his hat-trick four minutes after the restart before seeing another attempt at the Rangers goal hit the upright.

Roderick Baldacchino made it 4-0 from a free-kick with Rangers failing to score from a penalty on 62 minutes when Timothy Thomas's spot-kick hit the woodwork.

Donaldo Gatt, however, beat Ellul in the Saints' goal soon after and Omar Rababah halved the deficit to 4-2 later on.

But Celeste then banged in his side's fifth goal and added a quick sixth before Thomas made up for his penalty miss with a consolation goal 11 minutes from time.

Birżebbuġa: A. Ellul, E. Saliba, B. Farrugia, D. Vella (M. Ellul), R. Baldacchino, M. Ciappara, J. Cassar (J. Camilleri), C. Formosa, R. Celeste, K. Muscat (B. Darmanin), D. Baldacchino.

Żebbuġ: D. Galea, G. Saliba (M. Vella), R. Ellul, R. Attard (C. Tabone), G. Mallia, E. Calleja, M. Cilia (B. Galea), D. Gatt, L. Vella, O. Rababah, T. Thomas.

Referee: Sammy Attard.

Top scorers

18 goals M. Borg I (Melita)

13 goals A. Agius (Balzan)

12 goals R. Celeste (Birżebbuġa)

11 goals W. Borg St John (Mellieħa)