Balzan FC 0
Rabat Ajax 5
Felice 45; Negrin 61, 65, 82, 87;

Rabat wrapped up their league commitments on a high as after having fulfilled their objective to prolong their stay in the top-flight, they managed to put their striker Josè Luis Armario Negrin in the driving seat to be crowned the new goal king in Malta in an emphatic win over a dejected Balzan.

The Spainard struck an impressive four-goal haul that lifted him above Tarxien forward Daniel Mariano Bueno in the goalscoring charts with 22 goals.

Negrin was Rabat’s major dangerman yesterday and after five minutes he burst clear of Matthew Mendy and Aaron Agius and the Spanish forward lifted the ball over the bar in an attempt to beat goalkeeper Frederick Tabone.

Balzan finally threatened on 27 minutes but Kevin Camilleri’s shot was cleared off the line by Joseph Caruana.

On 36 minutes Rabat were awarded a penalty when Caruana released Negrin who was brought down in the area by Tabone with the referee pointing to the spot.

Negrin picked himself up but his shot hit the bar.

But Rabat were not to be denied on the stroke of half-time when Justin Felice was first to Diego Carrillo Pendas’ free-kick and headed past Tabone.

Seven minutes into the second half, Negrin saw another shot blocked by Tabone.

But Balzan’s chances of clawing their way back into the encounter receded past the hour mark. Tabone spilled a shot from Felice but could not prevent Negrin from scoring with a low strike.

That proved a pivotal moment for Negrin as four minutes later the striker brilliantly moved past three defenders before slotting a shot behind Tabone.

Eight minutes from time, Negrin completed his hat-trick.

Catching the Balzan defence up the field once more, he sprinted the length of the half, before dribbling past substitute goal-keeper Matthew Camilleri and tuck the ball into the net.

Five minutes later, Negrin made it a poker of goals when he curled in a close-range volley after controlling a pass by substitute Aiden Azzopardi and powered a drive past the despairing Camil-leri.

Absent players

Meanwhile, a spokesman for Balzan yesterday told Times of Malta that Jamie Pace, Renato Conceicao and Yessous Camilleri had been left out of the squad for the match against Rabat Ajax to give younger players the chance to be involved in the club’s final Premier League game and not because they had been suspended for disciplinary reasons.

Balzan FC
F. Tabone-6 (77 M. Camilleri), A. Agius-5, M. Mendy-4, S. Giglio-4, S. Bugeja-5 (68 M. Mifsud-4), J. Borg-5, B. Bondin-5, F. Aboulezz-6, C. Caruana-5 (54 S. Spiteri-4), K. Camilleri-6, R. Darmanin-5.

Rabat Ajax
S. Mintoff-5.5, I. Carapic-6, J. Caruana-6.5, J. Felice-6.5 (71 M. Licari), J.L. Armario Negrin-7.5, D. Falzon-5, P. Borg-5, D. Carrillo Pendas-6, Y. Cauchi-5 (45 S. Gauci-5), D. Azzopardi-6 (81 A. Azzopardi), C. Gauci-6.

Referee: Rui Machiel (Andorra).

Yellow cards: J. Borg; Tabone; Mendy; Giglio.

Missed penalty: Negrin (R) 37.

BOV player of the match: Josè Luis Armario Negrin (Rabat Ajax).

Playing today
(Hibs Stadium) 6pm Floriana vs Qormi; 8pm Sliema vs Mosta.