Balzan Youths FC 0

Birkirkara FC 5

Birkirkara continued on their fine vein of form when they demolished Balzan Youths to the tune of five goals to nil in a totally one-sided encounter.

Birkirkara started as favourites to return to third place as they took on neighbours Balzan Youths. After defeating Hibernians in their previous outing, the Stripes were held to a disappointing draw by Sliema Wanderers. Therefore they were keen to return to winning ways. Shola Shodiya and Moises Avila Perez returned for the Stripes from suspensions.

Balzan lie at the bottom of the Championship Pool after losing three of the four matches from the second phase. After securing a top six finish, the Youths have no pressure on them and therefore were out to do their best to upset the Stripes. Jonathan Francica was ruled out through suspension but Nikola Tasic was back after serving a one-match ban.

Birkirkara started strongly and Vukanac had a fine header which was well saved by Tabone for a corner. Earlier, a Santos Silva shot ended up just wide from a distance.

After 20 minutes of sheer and utter boredom, Birkirkara broke the deadlock when they won a penalty after a handsball by Camilleri with Pereira converting the spot kick and putting the Stripes ahead. On the half hour, a shot by Lydon Micallef went for a corner after being deviated by a Birkirkara defender.

Birkirkara, however, doubled their lead on 32 minutes when Ryan Scicluna managed to stab the ball home after his first effort was saved. The Stripes made it safe on the stroke of halftime after Shodiya released Mifsud Triganza who made no mistake from close range.

With the result virtually assured, Birkirkara almost made it four at the start of the second half when Shodiya-Haruna went on a probing run with his shot ending up well saved by Tabone.

On 56 minutes, Birkirkara put the game beyond Balzan’s reach when Santos Silva went on another of his irresistible runs and smashed past Tabone for the Stripes’ fourth. New entrant Alan Tabone was a thorn in the Balzan side for the next ten minutes creating several chances which his opposing namesake managed to neutralise.

Birkirkara made it five on 76 minutes when Zerafa released Avila Perez who was just off the sub’s bench and managed to slot home.

Balzan Youths FC: F Tabone, G Bonello ( B Bondin), Y Camilleri, B Guga, R Forace, J Pace McDonald, D Grima, N Tasic, M Deanov, L Micallef (N Zammit), M Ciantar (M Borg)

Birkirkara FC: R Gauci, N Vukanac (A Perez), R Pereira, J Zerafa, A Buhagiar (A Tabone), R Muscat, G Sciberras, J Santos-Silva, R Scicluna, JP Mifsud-Triganza, S Shodiya-Haruna

Referee: Esther Farrugia

Scorers: Pereira (pen) 24’, R Scicluna 32’, MifsudTriganza 44’, Santos Silva 56’, Avila Perez, 77’

Yellow cards: J Pace, A Perez

BOV Player of the Match: J Santos Silva (Bkara)

TMI Top 3: 1. Santos Silva, 2. ShodiyaHaruna, 3. R Pereira