Birkirkara and Balzan took a point each from an interesting and balanced encounter. Balzan were the best side in the first half but credit has to be given to the Stripes who produced a good display in the second half, coming back and even going near in the final moments to grab the maximum points when they had three clear cut scoring chances.

The Stripes had registered four wins from the last five matches with Balzan currently fourth from bottom on 11 points after failing to win in their last six matches. Paul Mbong was missing through suspension for Birkirkara after being sent off in last Sunday’s match against Senglea Athletic following an allegged racist incident.

Just have minutes had elapsed when Balzan took the lead.  It was Uros Ljubomirac who from the left side made his way into a more central position with his beautiful shot finding the net. The Stripes failed to react and it was only on the half hour that they went near when off a Briffa cross from the right flank a volley by Federico Falcone just missed the target.

Three minutes later an acrobatic conclusion by Falcone failed to reap the desired friut. But on the other end Dimic failed to find the target when his headed effort missed out. A minute from the break and Balzan doubled their lead. Dimic was brought down in the area by Carniello and from the resultant penalty Augustine Loof made no mistake.

The second half was much different from the first forty five minutes.  Birkirkara looked a changed lot and in the space of six minutes they drew level. In the 55th minuta a Roderick Briffa free kick caused havoc in the opposing area with the ball finally going into Federico’s Falcone path whose drive from the edge of the area found the corner of the net.

The Stripes kept pressing and put all personnel on the offensive. And in the 61st minute they were rewarded when Bonanni found Cain Attard in the area and the latters diagonal shot beat Vranes.

Balzan went near in regaining their lead when in the 65th minute off a Pisani cross Kamara headed high over the bar. And eleven minutes from the end Dimic supplied a cross in the area which was met by Mota only for his shot to sail over the bar.

The final minutes were all Birkirkara  who on 85 minutes had a Montebello shot saved by the opposing goalkeeper. On 88 minutes the Stripes forward was unlucky when off a Prado corner his header hit the crossbar. And a minute from the end Caio Prado blasted high with only Vranes to beat.

Photo: Domenic Aquilina