Pieta H. 1

Balzan Y. 2

Balzan Youths yesterday celebrated the winning of the First Division Championship and the promotion to the Premier League, beating Pieta by the odd goal in three in their last match of the season.

Pedro Calcado once again proved to be Balzan’s winning trump scoring a brace and playing a blinder. Calcado and Conceicao were surely Balzan’s leading figures this season, and even yesterday they confirmed this with another splendid display.

Veteran Ivan Zammit played some minutes late in the game, these being his last minutes as a player after a long and rewarding career.

Pieta can look forward now for next season where they could be among the protagonists for a return with the elite of Maltese football, having a solid base of interesting youngsters in their ranks.

Pieta had a brilliant start and could have taken a surprise early lead when after only two minutes, Qulin Refalo was tripped by David Agius, but from the resultant penalty Refalo’s feeble effort was blocked by Tabone.

Some minutes later Balzan had their first scoring opportunity when Calcado passed towards Steve Meilak whose point blank effort was well saved by Vella. On 14 minutes Pieta hit back with a Terence Agius shot from close range well save by Tabone.

On 26 minutes Sheldon Grech’s freekick slightly missed the crossbar, but nine minutes later Balzan took the lead.

Substitute Lyden Micallef who had just came on for David Agius, had a very good run on the left flank and passed towards Calcado who fired in the top corner of the net. Balzan were now playing better and could have scored a second just before the break when close range efforts from Calcado and Conceicao were blocked by Vella.

On the resumption Pieta went again on the attack in search of the equalizer and Balzan goalkeeper Tabone made a brilliant save off a Cleaven Casar scorcher. On 61 minutes Pieta obtained a deserved equaliser when from a Sheldon Grech corner, Ismael Grech fired home from the edge of the area.

Ten minutes later Balzan’s Dylan Grima created havoc in the Pieta defence but his shot was well saved by Vella, and from the rebound the same Vella was deflected Steve Meilak’s point blank effort.

Twelve minutes from time Balzan took the lead when Conceicao and Calcado, arguably their best tow players throughout the season, combined well with Calcado finishing off in style.

Malta Football Association President Norman Darmanin Demajo presented the winners trophy to Balzan’s captain David Agius to the delight of the Balzan supporters who yesterday turned out in great numbers.

Positive end for Msida

St George’s 0

Msida SJ 0

Msida SJ ended their dismal season with a positive result against St George’s earning their second draw of the season.

On their part St George’s ended their commitments with another below performance, finishing in the middle of the table. It was a typical end of season match with few scoring chances, but with St George’s always showing the better ideas.

On eight minutes Mark Barbara made his way inside the Msida defence and passed towards Jonathan Ruiz who missed a sitter in front of goal. St George’s continued to dominate and Ruiz missed another great opportunity seven minutes later with the Msida goalkeeper saving his close range effort.

On 22 minutes a Gary Inguanez freekick sailed over the bar, and four minutes later Emerson Amaira made his way inside the area and passed towards Mark Barbara who shot slightly wide.

In the second half Msida made their first attempt on 57 minutes with Xuereb passing towards Grech who shot slightly wide. Ten minutes later St George’s went close with a Zarb shot slightly off target.

In the final minutes Msida had a Saliba effort going wide and ten minutes from time Ryan Sell who had just came in as a substitute, hit the post following an Inguanez cross.