Balzan Y 3

Marsaxlokk 1

A ten-minute burst by Balzan Youths at the start of the second period, saw them score three goals to down ailing Marsaxlokk and register their second consecutive win in a match as bleak as the cloudy weather at the Victor Tedesco Stadium, between two struggling teams at the lower end of the table.

Balzan won well and deserve credit but the poverty of their opposition was the bigger talking point for impartial observers.

All three of Balzan’s goals highlighted Marsaxlokk’s defensive frailties.

Marsaxlokk, with only four points from their last eight matches, is a team beset by internal problems after the resignation of their coach Winston Muscat and his assistant Darren Abdilla, as well as members of the committee.

Yesterday they went into the match without a qualified coach and the former Zurrieq player, Louis Cutajar, was named as their team manager. If this is permissible by the Premier League rules, than no wonder our local football is so low in standards despite the talk otherwise.

Marsaxlokk were bereft of the suspended Clive Brincat while Patrick Borg and Sascha Borg did not even feature in their squad. Jonathan Xerri played as centre back alongside Campagnoli with Eboh a holding midfielder. Gary Caruana was given a start as Kokavessis was named among the substitutes.

Marsaxlokk pushed the ball forward fluently, although short of creativity in their play.

The Balzan defence, missing the services of the suspended Rene Forace, struggled against the wing play of Caruana and Lattes although the delivery of crosses from the Marsaxlokk players was not of the highest quality. The marauding runs of Deanov, probing for open spaces, was also a constant menace to Balzan’s backline.

The Balzan rearguard suffered further derision after 20 minutes when Clifton Ciantar was stretchered off following a head injury, although before that, Balzan went closest when Miguel Ciantar headed Calcado’s cross over the keeper but Mamo cleared off the line.

Balzan showed more attacking intent after the interval. Within nine minutes, Grima played a square pass to the advancing substitute Roderick Farrugia and the Balzan defender turned striker, going past two opponents before scoring with a rising shot.

Hardly two minutes later, Balzan could have wrapped it up. Ciantar ran down the right, put Bright clear, but as keeper Debono footed out the ball on the edge of the area, Ciantar wastefully skied the ball with a gaping goal at his mercy.

Both players atoned for that towards the hour. Ciantar again provided the cross from the right, Bright nipped past the static Xerri to connect well and finish off.

Balzan’s third and decisive goal took only four more minutes to follow. Calcado robbed Campagnoli of the ball inside the Marsaxlokk area and tried to lob it over keeper Debono, who cleared it in the path of Dylan Grima to strike it low.

That put the issue beyond doubt. To their credit, Marsaxlokk summoned enough energy to move forward and after Caruana had tested keeper Camilleri with a low drive, turned into a corner, they hit a consolation goal ten minutes from time. Substitute Jean Paul Farrugia picked Obiefule’s cross from the right and thumped the ball low past the keeper’s reach.

Balzan Y M. Camilleri, Y. Camilleri, B. Guga, J. Francica (B. Bondin), C. Ciantar (R. Farrugia), N. Tasic, D. Grima, D. Fenech, P. Calcado, M. Ciantar (S. Ciscaldi), K. Bright

Coach I. Zammit

Marsaxlokk R. Gauci, M. Licari, J. Xerri, C. Campagnoli, C. Mamo, F. Raimy, S. Eboh, G. Caruana, M. Deanov, E. Lattes (J.P. Farrugia), O. Obiefule

Referee M. Apap

Asst.refs W. Debattista, P. Apap

4th official C. Pisani

Scorers R. Farrugia 54, K. Bright 59, D. Grima 63, J.P. Farrugia 79

Yellow cards O. Obiefule, P. Calcado, Y. Camilleri, J. Xerri

Player of the match Pedro Calcado (Balzan Y)

TMI top 3 1. P. Calcado 2. D. Grima 3. M. Ciantar