Balzan Y. 1

Tarxien R. 0

Tarxien R: N. Vella, S. Sadowski, C. Mamo, E. Pereira, A. Carabott, R. Costa, J. Nzinga Mayasi (D. Mariano Bueno), M. Tanti, L. De Castro, O. Anonam, R. Mintoff

Balzan Y: M. Camilleri, J. Francica, R. Forace, Y. Camilleri, D. Grima, C. Ciantar (R. Farrugia), J. Pace, N. Tasic, P. Dos Santos Calcado, M. Deanov (L. Micallef), A. Eviparker (G. Bonello)

Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann

Ass Referees: Ingmar Spiteri, Edward Spiteri

4th Oficial: Fyodor Zammit

Scorers: P. Dos Santos Calcado 17 min,

Yellow cards: R. Costa, O. Anonam, E. Pereira, C. Ciantar.

Red card: E. Pereira 80 min

Player Of the match: P. Dos Santos Calcado

TMI best three:  1. M. Deanov, 2. P. Dos Santos Calcado, 3. D. Mariano Bueno

Attendance: 671

Newly promoted Balzan Youths reached their goal yesterday afternoon at the Victor Tedesco Satdium beating Tarxien Rainbows in an exciting match.

Balzan needed the victory to make sure to edge Qormi in this final match, Qormi were playing against bottom of the table Marsaxlokk.

Balzan’s winning goal came in the first half thanks to a well taken freekick by Dos Santos Calcado. Balzan had more chances to score a second goal with Anthony Eviparker their main danger man. But he missed some scoring opportunities mainly thanks to Nicolas Vella’s saves.

Tarxien played their hearts out and improved a lot when Daniel Mariano Bueno was inserted in the second half, but their efforts proved futile as they failed to gain further points, useful for their second phase campaign.

Tarxien will now have to concentrate for the second phase where all matches will be decisive in their quest to avoid the Big Drop.

Martin Deanov created the first danger with goalkeeper Vella stopping his cross shot. Tarxien went close when a Carabott header missed the target by a whisker following a Mark Tanti cross from the right. On eight minutes Eviparker beat Mintoff on the run but Vella again came to his side’s rescue with a good sortie.

On 17 minutes Balzan broke the deadlock when Dos Santos Calcado’s precise freekick finished in the corner of the net.

Tarxien replied with a De Castro low drive, easily saved by Matthew Camilleri. Ricardo Costa had a good run on 28 minutes but his grounder went slightly off target.

Tarxien held the upper hand but Balzan defended well and Jamie Pace went close for Balzan with a low shot that missed the base of the upright.

Adrian Carabott crossed towards De Castro who was anticipated by Camilleri.

In the dying minutes of the first half goalkeeper Vella saved his side with two brilliant saves off point blank shots from Anthony Eviparker who always had the better of central defenders Ryan Mintoff and Everton Pereira.

The second half started with Adrian Carabott hesitating in front of goal, missing a good opportunity. Tarxien coach Patrick Curmi introduced Daniel Mariano Bueno for a tired out Nzinga Mayasi.

On 57 minutes Anthony Eviparker again beat the Tarxien defenders but goalkeeper Vella again came to his side’s rescue with a daring sortie. On 62 minutes Costa passed towards Mariano Bueno whose well taken shot was brilliantly saved by Matthew Camilleri.

On 69 minutes Balzan missed a sitter when Deanov crossed towards Eviparker whose header deceived Vella, but Tasic shot incredibly over the bar with an open goal at his mercy.

Tarxien increased the pressure but Balzan were now finding more space for their breaks. On 72 minutes Eviparker was again on the run but his shot was again off target.

Minutes later Eviparker was substituted with Glenn Bonello taking his place. Tempers flared ten minutes from time when Tarxien were reduced to10 players when Everton Pereira was sent off for dissent after receiving the first booking.

Tarxien however almost drew level minutes later when De Castro’s shot from the edge of the area was again well saved by Matthew Camilleri. 

However Balzan resisted in the final minutes and their joy knew no bounds at the referee’s final whistle.