Balzan obtained their first win of the competition beating Melita to make a bold step forward towards a place in the final four.

Balzan’s victory was a deserved one as Melita never threatened their opponents. Anywanna scored a brace for Balzan, who can wrap up the qualification by beating bottom placed Msida in their final match. The match never reached high standards and gave its best in the second half when Melita reduced the arrears with a Martinelli beautiful goal.

Balzan had their first attempt at goal on ten minutes when Dylan Grima’s freekick missed the upright by a whisker. Ten minutes late a Simon Mizzi dipper was well saved by Sappiano and from the resultant corner Balzan took the lead. Grima took the kick and Anywanna headed beautifully past Sappiano.

Melita had no answer as Galea and Luke Micallef failed to combine well. Just before the end a Tobias Terpougoff effort sailed over the bar.

On the resumption Anywanna missed a good opportunity for Balzan when he headed over the bar from an ideal position. Balzan doubled the score on 58 minutes when Anywanna passed towards Simon Mizzi, whose feeble effort was incredibly fumbled by goalkeeper Sappiano for a very soft goal.

A minute later Melita pulled one back when Luca Martinelli fired a long distance shot that finished in the top corner of the net. Melita did that extra effort in search of the equalizer, but Balzanwere solid at the back and never gave away an inch.

Nine minutes from time Balzan sealed the issue with their third goal when Clint Micallef’s long ball came towards Anywanna who beat Goncalves on the run before beating Sappiano with a low shot.

Balzan

F. Tabone, C. Micallef, R. Farrugia, D. Agius, C. Ciantar (J. Francica), B. Bondin, D. Grima (S. Ciscaldi), M. Sciortino, S. Mizzi (L. Micalef), D. Fenech, U. Anywanna.

Melita

M. Sappiano, R. Goncalves, L. Martinelli, A. Caruana Scicluna (M. Batel), M. Martin, M. Borg, K. Micallef, J. Galea, M. Mamo (G. Gribbon), L. Micallef, T. Terpougoff (N. Baldacchino).

Referee Glenn Tonna