Balzan                1      

Hibernians         0

Balzan FC: I. Janjusevic, S. Bezzina, E. Serrano, A. Effiong, U. Ljubomirac (A. Alves), R. Fenech, B. Kaljevic, B. De Oliveira, P. Fenech, C. Mendes (M. Johnson), S. Arab (J. Grioli)

Hibernians: A. Hogg, D. Vella, M. Kreuzriegler, R. Gomes, J. Lima, R. Soares (J. Degabriele), M. Dias, B. Kristensen, C. Failla (M. Sahanek), J. Bezzina, J. Elias (J. Mbong)

Referee: M. Degabriele

Asst.refs: L. Portelli, S. Attard

4th official: F. Zammit

Scorers: A. Alves 90+

Yellow cards: P. Fenech, B. De Oliveira, B. Kristensen, E. Serrano, J. Elias

Player of the match: J. Lima (Hibernians)

TMI top 3: 1. J. Lima   2. B. De Oliveira  3. J. Bezzina

Attendance:991

Balzan's march in the BoV Premier League continues as they prolong their unbeaten run to 11 matches and end their first round commitments at the top of the BoV Premier League after beating Hibernians with an added time goal from substitute Alex Alves.

Ninety sluggish minutes of huff and puff had not produced a  single goal as the two rivals cancelled each other out, with an inept display, lacking resolve or fight from both sides.

The match looked like it was fizzling out into a drab stalemate but as the scorebaord flashed two minutes of added time, Kaljevic played a pass for the advancing Alex Alves to shoot past keeper Hogg and give Balzan victory in a most dramatic fashion.

In the absence of the suspended Andrei Agius, Hibernians' coach Mark Miller reshuffled the defence putting in Rui Gomes in the centre and Martin Kreuzriegler on the left. Dunstan Vella and Bjorn Kristensen also started in front of the defence, with Joseph Mbong, Marco Sahanek and Jurgen Degabriele making way.

Balzan were bolstered by the return of Bruno De Oliveira in defence and Ryan Fenech in midfield, while Alfred Effiong got the nod ahead of Alex Alves in their attack.

Despite all the talent at their disposal, both sides went into the game with the intent of strangling life out of their opponents.

Quality suffered as we witnessed no decent shot on target for the opening 45 minutes. The champions carved out a remote chance after 36 minutes, when Vella made progress inside the Balzan half, passed the ball to Bezzina who missed the target.

The second half produced a slight increase in half chances, with Lima testing Balzan keeper Janjusevic with a low drive. On the other end, Kaljevic had a low diagonal shot missing the target and a Mendes free kick towards the hour went high and wide.

But when play slowed down again for a sequence of passes to break out, sterile possession gave way to nervy passes, with neither side able to prosper.

As the match was heading to only one outcome, Alex Alves sprung a surprise that saw Balzan pilfer the points at the death as Hibernians' heads dropped.

Birkirkara on the rise

Hamrun S        0

Birkirkara        1

Hamrun S: S. Sultana, D. Zerafa, M. Criaco, G. De Castro, T. Caruana, C. Zaccardo, T. Souza, D. Succi, T. Espindola, F. Clavero (S. Arab), K. Micallef (J. Galea)

Birkirkara: P. Schranz, C. Attard, N. Vukanac, L. Maia, K. Zammit (B. De Brito), M. Andelkovic, R. Camenzuli, R. Scicluna, E. Herrera (J. Grech), C. Goncalves (L. Cremona), L. Montebello

Referee: P. Farrugia

Asst.refs: J. Spiteri, W. Debattista

4th official: S. Spiteri

Scorers: L. Montebello 84

Yellow cards: C. Goncalves, R. Scicluna, D. Zerafa, L. Montebello

Player of the match: M. Criaco (Hamrun S)

TMI top 3: 1. R. Camenzuli  2. K. Micallef  3. T. Espindola

Birkirkara frustrated their opponents Hamrun Spartans by grabbing  a late victory, thanks to Luke Montebello's strike six minutes from time. Birkirkara thus registered back-to back wins, for only the second time this season, in a tight and scrappy match. It is a sign of progress in the context of a poor season so far, even if their game still looks daunting.

Birkirkara showed some level of spark only in fits and starts, although they looked slightly the better side in the second half, after Hamrun had the better of chances in the opening 45 minutes. The Stripes at least look a functional team again.

Birkirkara used width as they tried to stretch Hamrun's defence, although Karl Micallef and Cristian Zaccardo were top of the situation.

Ryan Scicluna, Andelkovic and Goncalves failed to produce creativity in midfield.

There was huffing and puffing from both teams in the first half, but with little energy put into their efforts. The first 30 minutes were dull, in sharp contrast to the sunny afternoon at Ta' Qali National Stadium.

Hamrun had an early chance when after nine minutes, a Succi squeezed shot from a distance rebounded off the foot of the post.

Birkirkara's first real chance came on the half hour, but Montebello hit a Goncalves corner well over the bar.

Although the Spartans were not any better, when they did manage to up the tempo, they carved out two good chances that could have given them the lead by halftime. Instead they squandered them both.

Birkirkara showed more character as they tried to push themselves into the contest after the interval. They put in Bruno De Brito for Kurt Zammit and Camenzuli's powerful drive was turned into a corner by the Hamrun keeper Sultana. Past the hour, Scicluna laid the ball to Goncalves who shot over.

It pointed to how Birkirkara were edging the half, but they had to stay alert.

On 68 minutes, Espindola almost capitalised on some hesitancy between Vukanac and the keeper in the Birkirkara defence, but  Schranz managed to block his effort into a corner.

The sense was that the game could go either way.

Hamrun's resistance was broken six minutes from the end. Brito played a deep free kick from the left for substitute Jake Grech, standing at the far end, to shoot back across the face of the Hamrun goal, finding Luke Montebello completely unmarked and hit in from close range.

The afternoon ended in frustration for the Spartans, who perhaps had the better chances overall, but made sure the Stripes emerged the more satisfied team as they continue to make further progress.

Strong first half performance helps Senglea to victory

Senglea A        2

Naxxar L         1

Senglea Ath.: M. Farrugia, R. Vella, J. Bondin, S. Uyi, J. Leyton, M. Garzia, H. Vella, GN Virano, T. Vella (I. Paz), N. Palmieri (AR Caseres), P. Sammut (S Bonnici).

Naxxar L.: O. Borg, S. Fenwick, R. Grech, M. Micallef, D. Falzon (J. Ellul), D. Bonnici, RG Cassar (M. Fenech), A. Buhagiar, EO Ndoye, A. Cascaval, Y. Messias.

Referee: JA Utulu.

Asst refs: A. Camilleri, C. Francalanza.

4th official: A. Mario Sant.

Scorers: P. Sammut, N. Palmieri, Y. Messias,

Yellow cards: P. Sammut, AR. Caseres, Y. Messias.

Red cards: AR Caseres.

Player of the match: Y. Messias.

TMI Top three: 1. P. Sammut; 2. Y. Messias; 3. N. Palmieri.

A strong first half performance helped Senglea to achieve an important victory over Naxxar Lions which gave them three precious points.

Goals from Peter Sammut and Nicola Palmieri gave them a richly deserved lead at the interval. A goal by man of the match Messias was not enough for Naxxar to save the match despite a great second half effort.

Senglea, now on 12 points, have opened a three-point gap between them and Naxxar who remain on nine.

Much more was expected from Naxxar especially after their recent performances since former Balzan coach Oliver Spiteri took over. This time they were made to play second fiddle to a much better organised Senglea side.

In fact, in the first half Senglea created much more than the Lions who struggled to move upfield and when they did, they were found to be lacking the finishing touch especially with their danger man Messias well under control.

At the end of the first 45 minutes, Senglea certainly deserved to be 2-0 ahead.

It was a different story in the second half. Here Naxxar came out with greater determination and pushed Senglea back into their own half for long stretches. They managed to pull one back but it was not enough to avoid defeat, thus allowing the Athletic to win three precious points.

Senglea opened the scoring in the first real attack on 11 minutes. It was Palmieri who set Sammut in the Naxxar area and the latter made no mistake with a shot on the turn.

In the 17th minute, Sammut crossed dangerously across the Naxxar goal, but after a short melee, the ball was cleared to safety by a Naxxar defender.

Five minutes later, it was Virano who crossed dangerously into the Naxxar area, but goalie Omar Borg saved well.

Senglea added a second goal on the 30th minute when off a Virano freekick, it was Palmieri who beat Borg with a fine header.

Senglea continued to dominate and Sammut again tried his luck with a dipper in the 36th minute which, however, went well over.

Naxxar opened strongly in the second half and after three minutes, it was Bonnici who set Messias in the area. The latter dribbled round a player only to hit wide from a favourable position.

In the 55th minute, Messias went close with an overhead kick which Senglea goalie Farrugia dealt with confidently. Soon after, it was again Messias who bustled his way into the Senglea area on the left, but his dangerous cross was again saved by the diving Farrugia.

Naxxar finally were rewarded for their efforts on 65 minutes when a Yuri Messias freekick surprised friend and foe with the ball ending at the back of the Senglea net.

Senglea replied five minutes later with a Paz effort which went just over.

In added time, there was an incident which ended with debutant referee Jude Amin Utulu showing a red card to Caseres of Senglea (second yellow card) and a yellow card to Messias of Naxxar.

Floriana move to third place after easy win

Floriana          6

Lija A        0

Floriana: I. Akpan, E. Ruiz, S. Pisani (B. Sciberras), C. Borg, I. Varela (J. Baldacchino), M. Vella (L. Grech), J. Cabral, A. Cini, D. Grima, M. Fontanella, E. Marcelina.

Lija Ath.: L. Bonnici, P. Babic, A. Sammut (D.Agius), D. Scerri (A. Galea), L. Muscat (P. Borg), M. Clinch, R. Kooh Sohna, O. Sidibe, C. Cassar, E. Beu, D. Leeflang.

Referee: S. Pace.

Asst refs: T. Debono, P. Abela.

4th official: E. Mangion.

Scorers: J. Cabral 58, 66, S. Pisani 63, I.Varela 77, Fontanella 85, 86

Yellow cards: C. Borg, M. Clinch, R. K. Sohna,

Red card: O. Sidibe.

Player of the match: M. Vella.

TMI Top three: 1. M. Vella; 2. J. Cabral; 3. P. Babic.

Floriana moved to third place in the standings yesterday as they easily overcame a stiff Lija challenge although they had to wait till the second half to convert their superiority into goals.

Juninho Cabral struck twice while Steve Pisani, Ignacio Varela and Mario Fontanella (2) added further goals as Lija collapsed completely in the second half.

The three points lifted Floriana onto the 26-point mark, four points behind leaders Balzan and one behind Valletta ahead of today's matches.

For Floriana, Nicholas Chiesa was making his debut on the Greens bench after having been appointed coach in lieu of Giovanni Tedesco who resigned the past week. He could not have wished for a better start at the helm, although his boys left their best for the second half.

The match was a one-sided affair with Floriana exerting dominance right from the very first whistle.

But despite their territorial superiority in the first half, the Greens never appeared in total control as the Lija defence weathered the storm quite comfortably with Sidibe and Babic outstanding in the heart of the defence.

It was in the second half that Floriana made sure of their victory scoring all their six goals - the first three in the space of eight minutes as the bottom placed club collapsed completely, even having the unlucky Sidibe sent off.

Floriana had already gone close in the 2nd minute when Varela had an angled shot turned to corner by goalie Bonnici via the upright.

In the 18th minute, Mauicio Vella tested Bonnici with a low freekick, but the Lija goalie saved well.

In the 26th minute, from a Vella freekick, Cabral headed wide from a favourable position. The Greens finally found the net on 30 minutes when Fontanella beat Bonnici with a good shot. Lija protested hotly for an offside infringement and the official seemed to have convalidated the goal. But after a few minutes and some consultation with the assistant Peter Abela, the point was disallowed. It was surprising that the decision to annul the goal - albeit might have been the right one - arrived after about two minutes, that is, almost at the time the match was going to restart following Lija's protests.

On 36 minutes, Vella went close with a fine effort from just outside the area, the ball missing the upright by inches.

Floriana started the second half like a house on fire as they went all out in search of an opening goal. Lija defended with all their might and goalie Bonnici was not troubled at all before the 58th minute when the Greens finally took the lead. It was Cabral who crossed over from the left flank, the ball hitting a Lija defender on its way into Bonnici's net.

It was 2-0 on 63 minutes as from a Vella cornerkick, it was Steve Pisani who headed home a splendid goal.

Floriana were now in full throttle and it was no surprise that they added a third goal on 66 minute when off a Fontanella pass, Cabral easily beat Bonnici from close in.

Floriana added a fourth goal on the 77th minute as Ignacio Varela concluded into the net following a freekick by Steve Pisani.

Lija ended in 10 men on 81 minutes when Sidibe was shown a red card.

And there was more misery for Lija as Fontanella added two further goals for the Greens, the first on 85 minutes, direct from a freekick and the other soon after following a good run and pass by Leighton Grech.