Sliema W. 1

Balzan Y. 1

Sliema W: H. Bonello, A. Muscat, J. Mifsud, R. Grech (M. Scerri), D. Mitev, S. Bezzina, J. Lima, R. Galabov (L. Micallef), R. Bajada, J. Silva, C. Frendo (B. Muscat)

Balzan Y: M. Camilleri, C. Ciantar, R. Forace, Y. Camilleri, J. Francica, B. Guga, D. Grima, N. Tasic, M. Ciantar (A. Agius), F. Bernardes (L. Micallef), K. Bright (B. Bondin)

Referee: T. Farrugia Cann

Asst.refs: A. Camilleri, S. Attard

4th official: C. Lautier

Scorers: D. Mitev 20 pen, M. Ciantar 54

Yellow cards: C. Ciantar, D. Mitev, R. Forace, J. Mifsud, D. Grima, L. Micallef

Player of the match: Matthew Camilleri (Balan Y)

TMI top 3: 1. M. Camilleri 2. J. Silva 3. R. Grech

The signs are there that the newly promoted clubs have got the stomach for a fight when it comes to defying the critics. Yesterday Balzan Youths held out for a creditable draw against more experienced Sliema Wanderers and could have also won the match in the late stages.

Sliema found out at their own expense that ball possession does not always equate to a win and although they enjoyed territorial superiority for most of the game, they failed to breach Balzan’s defence, bolstered by the return of captain Jonathan Francica and Renie Forace, from open play.

After a 20-minute penalty lead, many might have feared a goal deluge from Sliema but, credit for them, Balzan were not demorilised and grew in confidence after their early second-half equaliser to earn a deserved point, despite missing the creative options of the suspended Pedro Calcado.

Sliema were denied by Balzan keeper Matthew Camilleri’s heroics in the second half despite taking the lead before even making one genuine attack on the Balzan goal and that came thanks to a penalty after 20 minutes. Guga handled the ball on a Frendo pass, when trying to return Silva’s pass, and Bulgarian Daneil Mitev converted from the spot kick to give the Wanderers the best of starts.

But to legitimise their lead, Sliema looked by far the better side during the remaining minutes and fully deserved their lead by halftime. Towards the half hour, Frendo, who had started the match instead of Mark Scerri, laid the ball in the path of Grech whose shot from outside the area demanded an elastic save from keeper Camilleri into a corner. And after Lima had a shot going narrowly wide, the Balzan keeper stretched himself to turn Bajada’s effort into a corner on 38 minutes. Four minutes before the break, the Wanderers missed the most glaring of chances. Silva crossed from the byeline on the left, the ball falling on Frendo’s feet inside the six-yard box, only to be denied by keeper Camilleri’s reflex save.

Balzan’s best chance in the first half came on 33 minutes with a Bernardes free kick from the left and Bright’s glancing header rebounding off the foot of the post with keeper Bonello completely out of sorts.

Sliema tried to maintain their momentum even after the restart. An insidious Bajada cross from the right was intercepted just in time by keeper Camilleri before Silva could connect.

Sliema were stunned though on 54 minutes. On a Bernardes’ corner from the left, Miguel Ciantar headed in an equaliser for Balzan and the match took a twist as the Youths’ confidence blossomed and started to trade equal punches with their opponents. Coach Doncic’s tacticl change, bringing in Beppe Muscat and advancing Alex Muscat, did not yield dividends.

Sliema were frustrated when foiled time and again by the superlative goalkeeping of Matthew Camilleri. He saved Lima’s grounder on 69 minutes and turned into a corner Silva’s effort a minute later.

The final ten minutes were the most hectic though. Balzan were forced to substitute the injured Bernardes and on 86 minutes they were awarded an indirect free kick on the edge of Sliema’s small box after keeper Bonello had handled Mifsud’s innocuous back pass that almost ended over the goal line. Guga’s shot was blocked by the thick Sliema wall.

Keeper Camilleri had to block at substitute Ani’s feet on a Silva cross and at the stroke of full time, Balzan could have won it. On a fast break, substitute Micallef played the ball to Bright who ran inside the Sliema area but shot feebly in keeper’s Bonello safe hands.