Balzan               1
Hamrun S.        1

Balzan: K. Naumovski, A. Loof, A. Kosoric, S. Pisani (D. Camilleri 86), M. Johnson, P. Fenech, A. Effiong, U. Ljubomirac, I. Bozovic, R. Correa, A. Majdevac

Hamrun S.: E. Bartolo, A. Capitelli, T. Caruana, AJ Soares, W. Domoraud, C. Failla, N. Leone, L.  Soufaine (D. Borg 27), M. Criaco, K. Micallef, M. Cinquini

Referee: AM Sant

Asst refs: R. Vella, I. Galea

4^th official: I. Barbara

Scorers: A. Majdevac 6, J. Soares 43

Yellow cards: M. Cinquini 39, A. Loof 54, S. Pisani 69, C. Failla 82, R. Correa 86

BoV Player of the match: A. Majdevac

TMI Top 3: 1. A. Majdevac, 2. T. Caruana, 3. R. Correa

Attendance: 278

Balzan and Hamrun shared the spoils in a balanced match in which neither team deserved to lose.

Andrija Majdevac struck in the 6^th minute to give Balzan the lead, but Hamrun equalised two minutes from the interval whistle through a Soares goal.

The result means that Hamrun remain 6^th on 18 points while Balzan remain 7^th on 15 points.

In their most recent league matches, Balzan had lost 2-1 against Hibernians, while Hamrun had figured in a prestigious goalless draw against league leaders Floriana.

Play was more or less static in the first half, though most of the action was restricted to midfield.

Balzan appeared to be better organised at the back where Kosoric and Bezzina were outstanding.

Balzan took the lead after just 6 minutes and seemed to be well in control before the Spartans hit back two minutes from the interval to level the score.

At the end of the first 45 minutes, the 1-1 draw was a fair result as neither team managed to dominate.

In the second half, Balzan took the initiative in the early stages and had some attempts at goal, though they were thwarted by the alert and agile Bartolo between the Spartans posts.

Hamrun, however, came back strongly, but Balzan held them at bay with goalie Naumovski never passing through any anxious moment.

Balzan took the lead on the 6^th minute when Andrija Majdevac received the ball in the Hamrun area and after a solo action, he beat goalie Bartolo with a fine effort.

Hamrun replied in the 14^th minute through a Clayton Failla header which finished over the bar after a cross from the left flank.

In the 17^th minute, Wilfried Domoraud brilliantly set Jorge Soares in the Balzan area, but the latter's close range effort forced goalie Naumovski into a brilliant save. The ball eventually finished at Domoraud's feet, but his shot went well over the bar.

Hamrun's equaliser seemed to be in the offing, but they had to wait till the 43^rd minute to get back on level terms. It was Jorge Soares who received a good pass in the Balzan area, went round a defender and lobbed over Naumovski, the ball evidently crossing the line before Ivan Bozovic cleared the ball. 

Immediately afterwards, Balzan threatened seriously once again when after a fast counterattack, a Majdevac humdinger was brilliantly saved by goalie Bartolo.

The second half started on a quiet note, but on 58 minutes, Ricardo Correa tested Bartolo with a shot from 20 metres, but the Hamrun goalie dived sideways to turn to corner.

In the 62^nd minute from a Ljubomirac cross from the right, Alfred Effiong had a first timer going inches wide of the target.

Two minutes later it was Paul Fenech who tested Bartolo, but his shot was central and the goalie saved without any difficulty.

Then it was Ljubomirac who advanced into the Hamrun area, but was foiled by a Spartans defender who managed to clear before the Balzan player could shoot at goal.

Hamrun's first second half effort arrived on 70 minutes. A Triston Caruana freekick was well saved by goalie Naumovski.

At the other end, Majdevac missed a glorious opportunity when he was excellently set by Effiong, but completely unmarked, he fired the ball over from an ideal scoring position.

It was the final action as the final whistle found both teams happy with the point they won.