Msida SJ-Balzan Y. 0-5

Msida SJ: M. Bartolo (D. Borda), C. Sciberras, E. Lattes, A. Farrugia, A. Spiteri, K. Ebejer (L. Micallef), K. Mifsud (A. Formosa), O. Aganun, R. Baldacchino, S. Grima, I. Curmi

Balzan Y: F. Tabone (J. Galea), R. Farrugia, I. Zammit, C. Micallef, D. Fenech, S. Aquilina, B. Bondin, R. Forace, C. Caruana (M. Sciortino), A. Agius (D. Carabott), S. Shead

Referee: C. Pisani Asst.refs: P. Agius, M. Apap 4th official: Ms E. Farrugia

Scorers: S. Shead (2), A. Agius (2), B. Bondin

Yellow cards: S. Aquilina, A. Spiteri, A. Formosa

First Division side Balzan Youths advanced to the second round with a cruise over a poor Msida side, bereft of any conviction.

A brace each by Simon Shead and their best player Aaron Agius, and another late goal by Bjorn Bondin, helped Balzan to a clear cut and convincing victory as they were by far the better side.

Msida had two key players, Tyrone Farrugia and Zoran Levnaic missing but that is no excuse for their lethargic approach to a game they were supposed to be the favourites. Their two other foreigners Lattes and Aganun, failed miserably to lift the game.

Msida only looked menacing in the opening stages going close with a Lattes effort, put clear inside the area, which was blocked by the onrushing keeper Tabone.

After shots by Ebejer and Lattes missed the target, Balzan started to claw themselves into the game.

On 18 minutes, Caruana put Agius through and only a plunging save by Msida keeper Bartolo denied the Balzan captain.

The Youths however forged ahead past the half hour. On a Zammit sailing free kick from the left, Simon Shead beat keeper Bartolo with a glancing header.

Msida failed to capitalise when, from a Curmi corner, keeper Tabone completely missed the ball and when Farrugia drove the ball across the face of the Balzan goal, there was no one to connect.

Before the half was over, Balzan went close again as Shead lobbed the ball over the onrushing Bartolo but Sciberras cleared on the line.

The second half belonged to Balzan and to Aaron Agius in particular. On 50 minutes the Balzan midfielder ran through the static Msida defence to connect well on a Fenech cross from the left and beat keeper Bartolo with relative ease. On the hour Agius turned provider, playing the ball wide for Simon Shead to beat the helpless Msida custodian via the underside of the bar.

Two minutes later, Aquilina sent a cross inside the Msida box and Aaaron Agius scored with a low drive after avoiding a couple of Msida defenders to put the issue beyond doubt.

With Msida failing to produce a decent reaction, Balzan even scored their fifth goal in added time as Bjorn Bondin beat reserve keeper Borda to complete the rout.