This was a very keenly-contested derby. Attard managed to win the three points after trailing 0-1 at half-time.

Attard created the first occasions. A flagkick by Daniel Bonnici was headed away, Balzan keeper Miles felt affected a diving save to corner on a shot by Kyle Schembri and Mark Saliba lobbed over the bar after a Bonnici perfect through ball.

Balzan reacted by a flagkick by Mirko Portelli, but Christ Borg missed the upright with his shot. Gatt then saved a grounder by Matthew Scerri following a Daniel Agius through ball. From a long throw-in by Christ Borg, a header by Mark Galea missed the upright with Attard keeper Chris Cini beaten.

On 27 minutes Balzan forged ahead when Wayne Muscat won a loose ball in Attard’s half and, after advancing, scored with a low shot from inside the area. Hardly a minute later, Mark Saliba was put through in the area but, with only Gatt to beat, lobbed over the bar.

Attard continued pressing till the half-time whistle. Gafa put Saliba through, goalie Gatt partially saved his shot with the ball being cleared, then the goalie again saved to corner on Gafa after a Saliba cross and from a Saliba flagkick, the same Gatt saved a Scerri effort.

The first action after the restart came from Balzan when Wayne Muscat crossed to Kurt Gaffiero but the latter’s shot missed the upright. On 48 minutes Attard equalised from a flagkick by Daniel Agius. From the melee that ensued, Mark Saliba scored with a low shot, making amends for two lost chances in the first period.

From a flagkick by Saliba, Brandon Tabone headed out and Christ Borg did likewise at the other end from a Gaffiero flagkick.

Saliba was then fouled outside Balzan’s area and the same player drove over the bar from the resultant freekick. Gatt then saved to corner a shot by Brandon Tabone after a Saliba through ball.

A minute before the final whistle Attard scored the winner. Daniel Agius served Saliba with a perfect through ball from a freekick and after outspeeding two defenders, entered the area and scored with a rising shot obtaining the winning goal.

Referee: Andre’ Sciriha

Player of the Match: Daniel Agius (Attard)

Section C

Naxxar L 3

Lija-Iklin 1

The Lions deserved the three points as they were the better outfit throughout the game. They are still unbeaten after two games.

Lija-Iklin also had their moments and also managed to score a consolation goal.

Naxxar took an early second minute lead through Elton Cutajar who scored with a low shot past keeper Franklin Muscat after a Gerald Sant through ball.

In a Lija-Iklin counter-attack, Roderick Grech put Kyle Attard through but his shot missed the bar by inches. Daniel Gauci then put Attard through, a Naxxar defender cleared the ball to corner and from Clive Kinmont’s flagkick Clive Camilleri headed over the bar.

Naxxar reacted and Jurgen Balzan put Andy Bartolo through but Muscat denied him with a diving save. Muscat partially saved a Bartolo shot and the rebound by the same player was cleared on the line.

Later, Attard missed Naxxar’s upright by inches. Bartolo then crossed to Adrian Fenech and his shot was cleared on the line by a Lija-Iklin defender.

The first action after the restart came from Lija-Iklin when Daniel Gauci put Karl Genovese through but the latter’s cross finished out. Muscat then brought the house down with a diving save to corner on a shot by Bartolo after the latter had beaten three defenders.

On 53 minutes Naxxar doubled through Bartolo after he made the most of a faulty back pass by Clayton Galea. Ten minutes later Lija-Iklin reduced the gap through Kyle Attard after he outsped two defenders in the area and shot past keeper Byron Attard.

Four minutes later Lija-Iklin were unlucky not to have equalised when a shot by Genovese thumped the bar with Attard beaten.

On 69 minutes Naxxar scored their third goal when Cutajar put Bartolo through and the latter netted with a rising shot from inside the area after beating two defenders.

Referee: Raymond Tabone

Player of the Match: Andy Bartolo (Naxxar L)