Melita: M. Sapiano, M. Borg, I. Tufegdzic, G. Gribbon, M. Sierra Camacho, N. Rizzo, J. Galea, M. Martin (M. Valenzia), L. Micallef (K. Micallef), J. Vukanic, J. Negrin

Balzan FC: F. Tabone, R. Conceicao, Y. Camilleri, R. Forace, M. Mendy (A. Agius), B. Bondin (S. Giglio), J. Pace, D. Grima, P. Calcado, M. Deanov (C. Caruana), E. Da Silva

Referee: A. Davey (N. Ireland)

Asst.refs: D. Anderson, A. Stevenson

4th official: R. Crangle

Scorers: J. Pace 17 og, M. Deanov 33, P. Calcado 90+

Yellow cards: M. Martin, M. Borg, D. Grima, M. Sapiano

Player of the match: P. Calcado (Balzan FC)

TMI top 3: 1. J. Negrin 2. F. Tabone 3. M. Sapiano

Balzan followed up their win against Qormi last week with another one against Melita. Yesterday’s performance was less accomplished although they completely dominated in the last half hour, were denied three times by the woodwork before snatching a dramatic win in added tim, only after their keeper Frederick Tabone, deputising for the injured regular Matthew Camilleri, had saved a penalty off Vukanic.

By virtue of this win, Balzan catch up with Hamrun Spartans and Qormi on seven points, five ahead of Rabat and six above Melita.

Melita remained rooted at the bottom, with that first league win eluding them once more. The failure to capitalise on their first half chances and possession and to score a late penalty, finally cost them.

Melita, with Spanish midfielder Manuel Sierra Camacho back in their starting line-up after suspension, forged ahead just after the quarter hour through an own goal. But in all fairness they desererved their lead. Negrin did all the work from the byeline on the left, crossed low and Jamie Pace, totally unmolested, shot into his own goal as he tried to clear the danger.

Melita had gone close on several other occasions before that, with Vukanic raking long balls into the Balzan area for Negrin and Galea to chase. After seven minutes, Negrin’s header on one Vukanic cross was just tipped into a corner by keeper Tabone.

Two minutes later Micallef went through on the right, avoided the onrushing keeper but his effort lac ked enough power and Yessous Camilleri could clear into a corner. On the quarter hour, Galea headed out on Vukanic’s cross.

Balzan’s response after falling behind was flacid, with Elton running inside the area but shooting over.

Melita threatened again on the half hour.

On a Vukanic long free kick Sierra Camacho put his header wide.

But equilibrium was restored on 33 minutes.

Elton’s low cross from the left, fell outside the penaltyt area for Martyin Deanov to beat keeper Sapiano with his grounder.

Melita still remained the slightly better side and the Balzan keeper had to reach for the ball on the edge of his area to prevent Negrin from connecting to a short Camilleri back header.

Before the break, Balzan also had a Camilleri goal rightly disallowed for offside.

Melita again re-emerged on the front foot in the early minutes of the second half.

Keeper Tabone was forced to repel Vukanic’s inswinging free kick from the left and then Camacho played a quick free kick towards Negrin to advance inside the Balzan area but Tabone rushed out to block at his feet.

Balzan suddenly jerked into shape on the hour and looked a transformed side for the last half hour.

Were it not for the woodwork, which came to Melita’s rescue on three occasions, Balzan would have been comfortably ahead within six minutes as Forace clipped the upright to the keeper’s left on 62 minutes.

Two minutes later, on a Calcado free kick, Mendy’s firm header thumped against the upright and on 68 minutes Forace again struck a Deanov cross against the bar.

The inclusion of Christian Caruana for Balzan on 70 minutes, gave them more bite in attack.

The susbtitute was involved in a dangerous Balzan attack nine minutes later after keeper Sapiano distinguished himself with two saves in quick succession, first holding out a Calcado effort and then denying Caruana on the rebound, only for Melita to concede an indirect free kick inside their area after the keeper handled a back pass. Calcado however had his final shot blocked.

Balzan were all over their opponents in the dying minutes and only Sapiano’s heroics in goal denied them as he twice saved on efforts by Calcado.

There was late drama however on the stroke of full time and beyond. Galea’s thunderous shot took a wicked defelction and rebounded off the bar with the same player winning a penalty as he was recklessly brought down inside the area by Grima. Keeper Tabone though won his spurs forf Balzan by turning Vukanic’s shot from the spot into a corner.

Melita were made to pay for that miss. In added time, Elton’s cross was laid down by Caruana for Pedro Calcado to hit in Balzan’s winner in dramatic fashion, and break Melita’s hearts.