APS Bank Under 15 Section C3
This match kicked off five minutes late as assistant referee Roderick Sciberras arrived on the ground three minutes before kick-off time.
In this match Mtarfa scored their first goal after seven games and are in bottom placing without any points while Balzan are in fifth position on nine points also from seven games.
The early pressure came from Balzan as they mounted five attacks in a row: Aiden Caruana served Shataizan Zarb in the area but Mtarfa keeper Isaac Bajada foiled him with a timely sortie.
In their next attack, in the eighth minute, Balzan opened the score. Carlos Felice was fouled near the edge of the area and Andrew Cassar scored from the resultant free kick with a rising shot as Bajada fumbled the ball.
The score became 2-0 in the 18th minute when Ryan Sciberras served Caruana on the right flank and from his cross Zarb scored with a header from inside the area.
Mtarfa created the last two actions before the break. Liam Frendo dribbled past a defender and Balzan keeper Gabriel Caruana saved his effort from outside the area.
Brendon Bugeja was fouled outside the area but Caruana saved the free kick taken by Mario Spiteri.
The first two occasions after the restart came from Balzan as Andrew Cassar served Caruana in the area but his shot missed the upright.
Caruana was then fouled outside the area and Bajada saved the free kick by Andrea Privitera in two attempts.
In a rare Mtarfa attack, Stewart Galea made a solo run down the right flank but Gabriel Cutajar saved his long range shot.
At the other end, Balzan won a free kick outside the area and Cassar served Caruana with a high ball but Bajada foiled him with a timely sortie.
The third goal was scored in the 46th minute as Zarb pounced on a faulty clearance by an Mqabba defender and crossed the ball to Sciberras who scored with a low shot.
Mtarfa managed to reduce the gap in the 54th minute when Brendon Bugeja served Galea with a through ball who entered the area after beating two defenders and scored a beauty with a hard rising shot.
Referee: Albert Borg Cardona
Player of the match: Shataizan Zarb (Balzan Y)