Balzan Youths maintain positive start

Pietà Hotspurs 0
Balzan Youths 0

Balzan Youths maintained their unbeaten start to the championship and following this draw with Pietà they are now joint second in the standings with Mosta on seven points from three matches.

Pietà, still without a goal after two outings, had to make three forced substitutions yesterday, two because of injuries early in the match and another in the second half following a very strange incident where one of their players walked off the pitch.

David Goodlip had to leave after 10 minutes and was replaced by Dominic Mifsud while Bernard Sciberras made way for Sheldon Grech. However, the most surprising change of all came on 65 minutes when striker Quelin Refalo decided not to continue following an argument with his colleagues.

Newly-promoted Balzan surely missed the guile and leadership of Aaron Agius who did not play because he was suspended. At least, they had David Fenech in fine form to keep the team going from midfield.

Balzan did the early running and on 13 minutes a Clint Micallef shot was stopped by Miguel Montfort. But Pietà soon started to get more into the picture and had a good opportunity on 23 minutes when Carl Sammut drove the ball just wide after a a measured pass from Muhammed El Jadei.

Joseph Grech's Pietà grew in stature and on 27 minutes El Jadei was unlucky when his headed attempt hit the post from a Refalo free-kick.

Both sides opted for attacking play. Balzan had a Clayton Caruana effort smacking against the crossbar and five minutes from half-time Montfort did well to stop Simon Shead from advancing inside the Hotspurs box.

The game continued at the same pace after the break even though Balzan looked the sharper side.

The Pietà keeper saved his side from conceding a goal when he parried a Renie Forace shot and David Carabott's Youths again threatened on 65 minutes when Peter Chizoba Anizoba headed against the woodwork from a Fenech cross.

Four minutes from time, Pietà had substitute Malcolm Marmara sent off after receiving two yellow cards in the space of five minutes.

Deep into stoppage time Montfort denied Forace with another superb save following a Carabott centre.

Pieta: M. Montfort, C. Sammut, C. Spiteri, J. Delia, B. Sciberras (S. Grech), Q. Refalo (M. Marmara), K.M. Robinson, C. Cassar, G. Goodlip (D. Mifsud), I. Grech, M. El Jadei.

Balzan: F. Tabone, C. Micallef, J. Francica, R. Forace, D. Agius (M. Sciortino), D. Fenech (D. Carabott), I. Zammit, S. Shead, P. Anizoba, S. Aquilina, C. Caruana (R. Farrugia).

Referee: Tristan Farrugia Cann.

Man of the match: David Fenech (Balzan Youths).