BALZAN          2

Effiong 7

Majdevac 13 pen.

SLIEMA WANDERERS     1

Shaw 45

Balzan kept alive their hopes of finishing fourth in the Premier League this season when they edged past Sliema Wanderers in a hard-fought encounter at the Hibs Stadium.

Balzan were off to a flying start as inside the first 13 minutes they were already two goals ahead.

The clock marked seven minutes when Riccardo Correa whipped in an inswinger which Sliema goalkeeper Timothy Aquilina could only palm the ball onto the cross bar and from the rebound Alfred Effiong was on hand to stab the ball home from close in.

The Wanderers looked rattled and they conceded again on 13 minutes. Correa was upended inside the area by John Mintoff with referee Trustan Farrugia Cann pointing to the spot. Andrija Majdevac stepped up for the kick and drilled the ball past Aquilina.

On 19 minutes, Mintoff picked Younes Marzouk but the Sliema striker fired wide.

Mintoff’s contribution was ended on 24 minutes when he looked to be struglging with an injury and was replaced by Frank Temile.

On the half hour mark, Ryan Fenech sent a cross towards Marzouk at the far post but the former Juve Primavera striker headed wide.

Sliema managed to pull a goal back just before half-time when Kurt Shaw hit a firm drive that gave no chance to a diving Sean Mintoff.

The Wanderers almost drew level inside the first minute of the second half but Temile’s header was somehow kept out by Mintoff.

Midway through the second half, Sliema lost midfielder Mark Scerri to injury and was replaced by Kllian Amehi.

The new substitute almost made an instant impact as on 69 minutes Amehi fell to  easily under the challenge of Nenad Sljivic but the referee waved play on.

Balzan finally threatened ten minutes from time but Correa’s low drive was easily blocked by Aquilina.

Two minutes from time Kadu almost struck with his first touch after coming on for the injured Correa but his thumping drive came off the bar.

Riccardo Correa was voted as the BOV Player of the Match.