After collecting just one point from the last four matches, Balzan returned to winning ways as they defeated Gudja United 1-0 at the National Stadium on Saturday in a clash between two teams who were sharing the third place from bottom.

Balzan now move to a more comfortable mid-table position after disappointing in recent outings, having only earned a win over Sliema in their first outing and a dramatic draw with Birkirkara.

For Gudja, this was the second consecutive defeat after quite a positive start during which they earned four points in four draws.

Balzan scored the all-important goal on the hour. Ivan Bozovic released Alfred Effiong on the right and the latter rounded a defender to serve Arthur Faria Machado who slotted the ball past Aquilina.

BALZAN Sean Mintoff, Augustine Loof, Aleksandar Kosoric, Nenad Sljivic, Steve Pisani, Steve Bezzina, Alfred Effiong, Ivan Bozovic, Stefan Dimic, Ricardo Correa (78’ Ryan Scicluna), Arthur Faria Machado (88’ Zachary Karl Grech).
Subs not used: Jake Pisani, Marcus Grima, Lydon Micallef, Michael Johnson, Luke Montebello.
Coach: Jacques Scerri
Asst. Coach: Andrea Pisanu

GUDJA Timothy Aquilina, Jonathan Bondin, Dylan Grima (64’ Tariq Al Mahrooqi), Rundell Winchester, Gabriel Mensah (83’ Peter Paul Sammut). Anderson De Barros, Hubert Vella, Llywelyn Cremona (72’ Miguel Antonio Jimenez), Juan Andres Bolanos, Justin Grioli, Allan Ricardo Miranda.
Subs not used: Jonathan Debono, Jurgen Farrugia, Zachary Cassar, Miguel Attard.
Coach: Josef Mansueto
Asst. Coach: Thane Micallef

Referee: Stefan Pace
Assistant Referees: Mitchell Scerri, Ivan Galea
Fourth Official: Trustin Farrugia Cann
Yellow Cards: Cremona, Bondin, Bozovic, Bolanos, Mintoff, Scicluna
BOV Player of the Match: Ricardo Correa Duarte