Following three consecutive wins leaders Valletta were beaten by a resolute Balzan side, amply deserving this success for their best league display so far.

Lydon Micallef scored the all imoortant goal early in the second half.

Balzan's ability to switch play in a split second ensured Valletta could never quite relax. The Citizens' efforts, probing for an equaliser in the second half, were confusing. They often raked high balls forward for the strikers to chase but Valletta badly lacked a mentor in the side yesterday.

The defence often looked nerv ous whenever Balzan pushed forward with the formidable pace of Godwin Mensha and Alfred Effiong on the counter attack.

On the other hand,there was enjoyment in watching Balzan's clever low passing, Edison Zarate's ability to play from the back, with his invariably incisive industry, Serrano and Arab's solidity at the back and the intelligent runs and power of Godwin Mensha.

Valletta had Nicky Vella deputising for the not fully fit Henry Bonello in goal and replaced the injured defender Romao with forward Ndjongo Priso. That forced coach Paul Zammit to play   a 4-1-2-3 formation that had Jhonnattan and Falcone also in their striking force, although both looked only peripheral figures yesterday.

Following their disappointing draw against Tarxien Rainbows, Balzan made two changes in their starting line-up. Maxim Focsa replaced the injured Clive Brincat at the back while Lydon Micallef was given the nod ahead of Terence Agius in midfield. Luke Sciberras was the anchor in front of the defence with Edison Zarate their main creator.

Balzan began like a team that quickly wanted to show they were not the least impressed by Valletta's confident start to the season so far. The passing was crisp and the movement was good and direct although they lacked real presence in attack. Valletta took a while to get going.

Both goalkeepers were tested within the firts two minutes - Vella by Effiong and Senatore by Briffa.

Balzan even scored after 12 minutes. Micallef's shot was repelled by the Valletta custodian in the path of Zarate, whose grounder was deflected in by Micallef, but the goal was ruled out for the latter's offside position.

Valletta should have gone in front themselves on the half hour mark. Priso was unlucky when his drive from inside the area had the Balzan keeper beaten but the ball rebounded off the innerside of the post and failed to cross the line.

Five minutes before the break, from a Valletta corner from the right, Briffa's low flick towards goal was blocked by the Balzan defence which remained intact for the first 45 minutes.

The entertaining rather than exactly magical tone continued well into the second period as Balzan lost none of their attacking flair. Two minutes into the second half, Mensha forced keeper Vella to turn his shot into a corner. The Valletta rearguard tried to blcok Lydon Micallef from the resultant corner but his ballooned effort ended behind Vella in the Valletta goal.

Valletta were rattled. The goal demanded an immediate response and past the hour coach Zammit called a double substitution, putting in Llywelan Cremona and Abdelkarim Nafti for Bruce and Camilleri. Roderick Briffa moved down in defence.

On 68 minutes, Balzan were forced to withdraw the injured Micallef and put in Agius.

Valletta soon looked dangerous. Priso backheeled the ball to Cremona whose shot was held out and Nafti's low header was blcoked by the Balzan defence.

Priso almost ran clear down the left but his shot was cleared into a corner by Serrano.

It was Valletta all out on the attack and Balzan trying to exploit spaces on the counter with the speed of Effiong and Mensha posing problems to the Valletta rearguard.

Tame headed late efforts by Falcone could hardly trouble the Balzan rearguard though as they held on to their narrow but deserved win.