Balzan stay in the hunt

Balzan Youths 3
PietÀ Hotspurs 1

Balzan Youths beat relegation-haunted Pietà Hotspurs 3-1 to stay in the hunt for one of the two promotion berths available at the end of the season. Balzan are now joint third with St George's, a point behind Vittoriosa but five adrift of leaders Marsaxlokk.

Strike partners, Peter Anizoba and Simon Shead, were in fine form for Balzan who showed better qualities and also had the 'luxury' of missing a penalty.

Ivan Zammit's Balzan dictated matters right from kick-off. Anizoba, a constant threat to the Pietà rearguard yesterday, zapped his way through but hit wide early on.

The Youths continued to push forward and took the lead on 19 minutes when Shead finished off a superb move started by Anizoba.

Balzan did not lie back and on 23 minutes Simon Aquilina made it 2-0 when he rose high to head home a David Fenech corner.

Until that moment, Pietà had not managed a single shot at goal but then showed some improvement and keeper Joshua Galea did well to stop Benjamin Perry Acton's shot before a Quilin Refalo free-kick finished just wide before half-time.

On 51 minutes, Pietà defender Dominic Mifsud handled the ball in his own box following an Anizoba cross and a penalty was given. However, Aquilina's drive hit the foot of the post.

Pietà took a sigh of relief and reduced the arrears six minutes later. Refalo and Zack Muscat exchanged passes and the move finished off with the former hitting a grounder past Galea.

Balzan hit back immediately. Shead entered the Pietà box but his shot was stopped by Miguel Montfort.

Balzan practically sealed the issue on 77 minutes when they were awarded a second penalty after Aaron Agius was clumsily brought down by Keith Fedele in the Pietà box. Player-coach Zammit made no mistake from the spot.

To make matters worse for Pietà, six minutes from time they had substitute Sheldon Grech sent off for a vicious foul on Glenn Tanti.

Deep into stoppage time Balzan missed the chance to score a fourth goal when Agius, with only the goalkeeper to beat, drove the ball out of range.

Balzan: J. Galea, S. Aquilina, C. Micallef, J. Francica, R. Forace, D. Agius, M. Sciortino (I. Zammit), B. Bondin, D. Fenech (A. Agius), P. Anizoba (G. Tanti), S. Shead.

PietÀ: M. Montfort, C. Sammut, B. Perry Acton (Z. Muscat), Q. Refalo, M. Alabi Olalekan, C. Cassar (S. Grech), D. Mifsud (M. Agius), I. Grech, S. Micallef, K. Fedele, S. Pace.

Referee: Gordon Barbara.

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

Today: Tedesco Stadium - 7 p.m. Mqabba vs Mosta.