Balzan add to Marsaxlokk’s woes

Marsaxlokk 1
Farrugia 79;
Balzan Youths 3
Farrugia 54; Bright 60; Grima 62;

Marsaxlokk’s disappointing season took another turn for the worse yesterday after they crashed to a 3-1 defeat to Balzan Youths at the Tedesco Stadium.

Three goals in the space of eight second-half minutes did the trick for the Premier League’s new boys who fully profited from the poor tactical organisation of their opponents to bag three vital points that further enhanced their ambitions of mounting a strong challenge to retain their status for another season. The win lifted Balzan to seventh place on 11 points.

Marsaxlokk are a team in crisis.

Failure to appoint a successor to coach Winston Muscat, who departed last week, left its toll on the team who looked short of ideas and tactical set-up. It was almost inevitable that their shortcomings were severely punished by the plucky Balzan team.

Yesterday, the seasiders were under the charge of team manager Louis Cutajar. Clive Brincat was ruled out by suspension while Patrick Borg missed out with a knee injury. New entrant Jonathan Xerri took a central defensive role alongside Carlos Campagnoli while Gary Caruana came on for Dylan Kokavessis who had to settle for a place on the bench.

The fully-recovered Jean Paul Farrugia was back in the fray for Marsaxlokk but was among the substitutes.

Balzan made two changes to the team that beat Tarxien Rainbows 2-1 in their previous match as Lydon Micallef was replaced by David Fenech while Clifton Ciantar came on for the suspen-ded Renie Forace.

Marsaxlokk made all the early running but it was Balzan who almost struck on eight minutes.

Dylan Grima’s cross was not dealt with by goalkeeper Reuben Gauci and Miguel Ciantar was the first to react and head the ball goalwards. However, he was thwarted by Carlo Mamo who cleared off the line.

Balzan coach Ivan Zammit was forced into making his first change on 21 minutes when Clifton Ciantar suffered a head injury after an aerial collision. He was replaced by Roderick Farrugia.

Marsaxlokk continued to dominate possession but for all their running they struggled to create any scoring opportunities as their distribution of the ball in the last third of the pitch left much to be desired.

On the half hour mark, Balzan were awarded a corner. Marsa-xlokk goalkeeper Gauci misjudged Pedrinho’s cross but Bledjon Guga headed the ball over.

Chances remained few and far between and it was no surprise that at the interval the two teams were still locked at 0-0.

The game came to life on 54 minutes when Balzan defender Farrugia profited from some poor positioning in the Marsaxlokk defence to storm into Gauci’s box and plant the ball firmly past the stranded goalkeeper.

Balzan could have struck again two minutes later when in a swift break Miguel Ciantar released Kris Bright who was clean through but the New Zealand striker was blocked by the onrushing Gauci.

Ciantar was first to the rebound but the Balzan forward fired over in front of a gaping goal.

However, that was just a temporary reprieve for Marsaxlokk as four minutes later Ciantar deli-vered a dangerous ball towards Bright who anticipated his marker before hitting home to make it 2-0.

Marsaxlokk were in complete disarray now and on 62 minutes they fell further behind.

Pedrinho stole possession from Campagnoli and tried to lob his shot over Gauci who managed to get a hand to the ball. However, in came Grima who rammed the ball into the net.

Marsaxlokk withdrew the subdued Emiliano Lattes and roped in Farrugia as they looked to bolster their forward line.

And the Marsaxlokk substitute did manage to leave his mark on 79 minutes when he did well to control Obiefule’s cross before turning past his marker and slot the ball past Balzan goalkeeper Matthew Camilleri.

Four minutes from time, Grima could have added a second goal to his name when he was put through by Pedrinho but the young midfielder shot straight into the hands of goalkeeper Gauci.

Marsaxlokk
R. Gauci-4.5, M. Licari-5, J. Xerri-5, C. Campagnoli-5, C. Mamo-5, F. Raimy-6, S. Eboh-5, G. Caruana-5, M. Deanov-5, E. Lattes-5 (66 J.P. Farrugia-6), O. Obiefule-5.

Balzan Youths
M. Camilleri-6, Y. Camilleri-6.5, B. Guga-6.5, J. Francica-6.5 (80 B. Bondin), C. Ciantar (21 R. Farrugia-7), N. Tasic-6, D. Grima-7, D. Fenech-6, Pedrinho-7.5, M. Ciantar-7 (88 S. Ciscaldi), K. Bright-7.

Referee: Mario Apap.

Yellow cards: Obiefule, Pedrinho, Y. Camilleri, Xerri, Bright.

BOV Player of the match: Pedrinho (Balzan Youths).