Leaders Balzan moved three points clear as they extended their unbeaten run to fifteen matches, defeating Hamrun Spartans 2-0 at the National Stadium on Sunday.

They now lead the table with 40 points, three ahead of Valletta and seven ahead of Gzira. Balzan and Valletta will be facing each other in a direct clash next Sunday.

Coach Marko Micovic was unable to field his best formation due to the absence of the suspended Alex da Paixao Alves. The Spartans, on the ther hand, welomed back Cristian Zaccardo.

Balzan took the lead on the 16th minute when Carlos Eduardo de Fiori Mendes hit the upright and Uros Ljubomirac placed the ball at the back of the net off the rebound.

The leaders sealed the issue on the 90th minute when goalkeeper Steve Sultana saved partially a cross by Alfred Effiong and Milos Lepovic’s effort off the rebound ended at the back of the net despite Daniel Zerafa’s desperate effort to clear the ball into safety.

BALZAN Sean Mintoff, Steve Bezzina (90+1′ Jacob Borg), Alfred Effiong, Michael Johnson, Uros Ljubomirac, Ivan Bozovic (83′ Justin Grioli), Bojan Kaljevic, Paul Fenech, Milos Lepovic, Bruno Giglio de Oliveira, Carlos Eduardo de Fiori Mendes (87′ Siraj Arab Eddin).
Subs not used: Dorian Bugeja, Clive Brincat, Jamie Zerafa, Harry Ascroft.
Coach: Marko Micovic

HAMRUN Steve Sultana, Marco Criaco (54′ Arthur Faria Machado), Daniel Zerafa, Cristian Zaccardo, Guilherme Felipe de Castro, Lydon Micallef, Triston Caruana (42′ Dale Camilleri), Thiago Espindola de Paula, Tiago Souza da Silveira, Luke Sciberras (71′ Karl Micallef), Alex Nilsson.
Subs not used: Jake Galea, Jeremy Busuttil, Julian Galea, Agatino Sicali,.
Coach: Jacques Scerri

Referee: Philip Farrugia
Assistant Referees: Edward Spiteri, William Debattista
Fourth Official: Jude Amin Utulu
Yellow Cards: Sciberras, Fenech, Lepovic, Bezzina, Tiago Indigo
BOV Player of the Match: Carlos Eduardo de Fiori Mendes
Attendance: 964