Balzan Youths 2
St Patrick 0

Balzan leapfrogged Vittoriosa to go top of the standings yesterday thanks to another fine display in a game in which the likes of Aaron Agius and Matthew Sciortino, aided by Renie Forace, controlled the midfield while Peter Anizoba and Simon Shead were always a menace upfront.

Although playing against the more quoted St Patrick, who have now succumbed to their third successive defeat, the ever-improving Balzan had most of the possession and were the better team throughout.

The first real threat of the game came Balzan's way when Shead drove the ball over from 12 metres out after Saints keeper Sean Mintoff failed to hold Anizoba's centre.

Balzan continued to do the early running and on 35 minutes Anizoba's drive from well outside the area finished just wide. Two minutes later they came close again when an Ivan Zammit free-kick was headed down by Agius but Anizoba hit the ball wide at the far post.

David Carabott's side finally managed to forge ahead on 39 minutes when Forace distracted Mintoff from a Zammit free-kick before stabbing the ball home.

Mintoff claimed he was pushed but the referee saw nothing wrong.

The Saints failed to lift their game as the second half got underway and Balzan scored again on 47 minutes when Zammit released Shead who was quick to beat his marker and shoot past Mintoff.

The Saints made three substitutions in the space of two minutes, even giving a debut to 15-year old Dylan Micallef.

They tried to rally and a Daniel Milovanovic free-kick was turned away by goalkeeper Frederic Tabone. From the corner, Matthew Fleri Soler's header was saved by the Balzan keeper.

But Balzan were never in danger of losing their two-goal lead. Mintoff did well to keep out an Anizoba shot and a Shead header was again stopped by the Saints' keeper.

Anizoba should have scored a third when with four minutes to go he dribbled past Mark Pullicino but with only the goalkeeper to beat, he shot straight at Mintoff.

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

St Patrick: S. Mintoff, M. Fleri Soler, R. Mifsud, S. Zerafa, L. Sciberras, M. Pullicino, T. Farrugia (G. Failla), B. Bugeja, A. Ellul (R. Cassar), D. Milovanovic, J. Farruigia (D. Micallef).

Referee: Mario Apap.

Man of the match: Matthew Sciortino (Balzan).

Mqabba's first

Mqabba 2
St George's 1

Mqabba registered their first win of the season in a balanced match where the winners were more direct in their play.

St George's gave as much as they got but, again, they lacked cohesion and sparkle in attack.

Bobby Giorev's Mqabba started off as the better side with Shaun Magro, Wilson Caushi, Kris Calleja, Claudio Calleja and John Paul Muscat all playing through their potential.

However, the difference between the two sides yesterday was surely the Calleja brothers. Goalkeeper Kris made a series of fine saves and Claudio scored a crucial goal to dash the Saints' aspirations.

Mqabba looked more aggressive from the outset and following a Patrick Borg shot from the distance, Muscat picked a superb ball from Magro before unleashing a powerful shot from outside the box to put his team in front.

Mqabba came close again soon after only for Caushi to hit wide with an open goal at his mercy.

St George's hit back on 26 minutes when Christian Grech burst through the Mqabba rearguard but Calleja was on the right spot to stop the shot.

Near the end of the first half, Joe Falzon's Saints gained the upperhand but only had a Benoir Fenech header, that went wide, to show.

The second half started with two fine saves by Calleja on a Chris Ciappara header and a Glenn Bonello shot.

St George's upped their game but right on the hour Claudio Calleja blasted the ball into the net from a tight angle to make it 2-0.

Although the Saints looked dead and buried, at least they did manage to score a consolation goal seven minutes from time.

An Anthony Ewurun cross-shot was punched away by Calleja, the ball hit Ciappara and ricocheted inside the net.

Mqabba: K. Calleja, M. Bonnici, P. Grima, P. Borg, M.A. Psaila, S. Magro, C. Call-eja, J.P. Muscat, O. Grech (E. Borg), W. Caushi, G. Barry (M. Gauci).

St George's: T. Galea, A. Bonello (J. Bugeja), S. Sciberras, E. Sevasta, C. Ciappara, A. Ewurun, C. Grech, E. Amaira, B. Fenech (J. Dalli), G. Mallia (N. Caruana), G. Bonello.

Referee: Tristan Farrugia Cann.

Man of the match: Claudio Calleja (Mqabba).