Comfortable win for Balzan — Mosta win derby

Balzan found no difficulty in disposing off wooden-spoonists St. Andrews as they defeated them 5-1 at the Victor Tedesco Stadium to move back in fifth place, two points behind Floriana and one ahead of Tarxien Rainbows.

Despite the signing of no less than six new foreign players, St. Andrews failed to halt their negative run to suffer the eighteenth defeat of the season.

The Saints had foreigners Bong Won Che, Lucky Victor Oseghale, Jonatan Perez Cuesta, Michel Wisdom Salomon, Chinatu Francis Onwudinjo and Enmy Manuel Pena Beltre making their league debut. Balzan, on the other hand, lacked the suspended Paul Fenech.

Oliver Spiteri’s side took the lead on the 24th minute when off a cross by Steve Bezzina, Alfred Effiong served Alan da Silva Souza who hit past goalkeeper Jake Galea from the edge of the area.

Five minutes later, Balzan doubled the score when a corner from the right created havoc inside the area and Lydon Micallef slotted the ball past the St. Andrews goalkeeper.

Nine minutes in the second half, Alfred Effiong made it 3-0 when he concluded a good move with a diagonal shot from the right which beat Galea.

Pedro dos Santos Calcado made it 4-0 on the 59th with a powerful shot from inside the area.

St. Andrews were awarded a penalty on the 63rd minute when Onwudinjo was brought down inside the area by Justin Grioli.

Balzan went 5-1 ahead on the 76th minute through Lydon Micallef whose intelligently lobbed the ball over goalkeeper Jake Galea.

One minute from time, Samir Arab could have added another but his effort hit the woodwork.

BALZAN Christian Casssar, Ryan Fenech (72′ Clive Brincat), Justin Grioli, Steve Bezzina, Samir Arab, Alfred Effiong, Pedro dos Santos Calcado (80′ Maxim Focsa), Lydon Micallef, Dylan Grima, Alan da Silva Souza (61′ Alexandar Vujacic), Elkin Orlando Serrano Valero.
Subs not used: Ivan Janjusevic, Jamie Zerafa, Ryan Darmanin, Sean Cipriott.
Coach: Oliver Spiteri

ST. ANDREWS Jake Galea, Enmy Manuel Pena Beltre, Chinatu Francis Onwudinjo, Michael Johnson (80′ Matteo Desira Buttigieg), Bong Won Che, Sorin Oproiescu, Dale Camilleri, Joseph Farrugia, Michel Wisdom Salomon Aka, Jonatan Perez Cuesta (61′ Michael Grima), Lucky Victor Oseghale (83′ Kyrian Nwoko).
Subs not used: Dorian Bugeja, Jacob Walker, Clyde Cumbo, Ryan Sammut.
Coach: Jose Borg

Referee: Glen Tonna
Assistant Referees: Sammy Attard, David Castillo
Fourth Official: Sandro Spiteri
Yellow Cards: Onwudinjo, Grioli
Scorers: 23′ Alan da Silva Souza, 29′ Lydon Micallef, 54′ Alfred Effiong, 59′ Pedro Calcado, 64′ Joseph Farrugia pen, 76′ Lydon Micallef
BOV Player of the Match: Alfred Effiong
Attendance at the Victor Tedesco Stadium: 415

Meanwhile at the Hibernians Stadium, Mosta returned to winning ways as they defeated neighbours Naxxar Lions 1-0.

For Naxxar, this was the seventh consecutive defeat and have now gone nine matches without a win.

Naxxar had two players making their debut – Xhoeijan Cekaj and Eduardo Vallecillo Casado while Alabi Fatai was making his debut for Mosta.

Mosta scored the all-important goal eleven minutes in the second half when off a freekick by James Brincat, Dyson Falzon’s header completely beat Pecorella in the Naxxar goal.

NAXXAR Luke Pecorella, Andrew Scicluna, Ryan Grech, Eduardo Vallecillo Casado (78’ Jurgen Debono), Demba Toure, Daren Falzon (70’ Duane Bonnici), Jose Angel Godar Periera, Angus Buhagiar, Ennio Hamutenya, Nikola Tasic, Xhoeijan Cekaj.
Subs not used: Julian Azzopardi, Alvaro Javier Hungria Rosero, Ishmael Grech, David Fenech, Mark Fenech.
Coach: Clive Mizzi

MOSTA Omar Borg, Tyrone Farrugia, Rodrigues Ekani, Alabi Fatai, Edile Micheletti, Osa Guobadia, Kyle Frendo (79’ Adrian Borg), James Brincat (83’ Lydon Micallef), Godwin Mensha, Dyson Falzon (90+1’ Saviour Fidelis), Onyekachi Donatus Okonkwo.
Subs: Yenz Cini, Zachary Brincat, Dexter Xuereb, Kurt Camilleri.
Coach: Anton Cremona

Referee: Marco Borg
Assistant Referees: Mitchell Scerri, Thomas Debono
Fourth Official: Trustin Farrugia Cann
Yellow Cards: Dyson Falzon, Cekaj, Hamutenya, Jose Angel, Micheletti, Frendo
Scorers: 56’ Dyson Falzon
Attendance: 1,064