Melita 1

Balzan Y 0

League leaders Balzan were surporisingly beaten by Melita in an interesting game yesterday afternoon. The Amateurs sprung a great surprise playing one of their best matches this season.

The result can be considered as fair with Melita showing the better ideas against a very nervous Balzan side. The match was very ill-tempered with three players sent off – Balzan finished the game with nine players.

For Balzan this was really the second defeat of the season with the first one suffered against Msida, turned into a victory by the MFA Disciplinary Board. Melita will now hope that their result will stand.

Melita gave a good run for their money to league leaders Balzan in the first half. They pressed their opponents never giving them time to settle down. Scoring chances were very scarce in the first part of the match with the first attempt arriving after 24 minutes when David Fenech tested the Melita goalkeeper.

On 28 minutes Balzan striker Anywanna, who was making a welcome return after a long absence, dribbled past a defender before shooting well over the bar. Two minutes later Balzan skipper Ivan Zammit had to clear off the goal line a feeble effort from George Gribbon.

On 33 minutes Melita goalkeeper Zahra charged out of position to block Steve Meilak who was well served by Calcado. Six minutes from time Melita took the lead when a Simon Galea freekick was missed by friends and foe, with the ball finishing smoothly at the back of the net.

In the second period Balzan inserted three players and after barely 60 seconds play they went close when a Calcado close range effort was well saved by Zahra. But the league leaders were dealt a severe blow on 50 minutes when one of the three substitutes Rennie Forace was sent off by referee Azzopardi for a nasty foul on Matthew Borg. But on 63 minutes Melita lost their numerical advantage when Simon Galea received a second booking and was sent off.

Balzan’s best chance came on 80 minutes when Calcado passed towards Anywanna who shot slightly over the bar from an ideal position. A minute later Calcado received the marching orders for his second booking.

On 83 minutes with nine players against ten, Balzan missed a sitter when substitute Lyden Micallef failed to beat Zahra all alone in front of goal. Seconds later on the other end Nicolo Baldacchino missed a golden opportunity to put the issue beyond doubt.