Andrija Majdevac scored three in the second half to hand Balzan a 3-0 win over Santa Lucia at the Hibernians Stadium on Friday.
Balzan therefore returned to winning ways after a defeat to Hibernians and a draw with Hamrun to join the Spartans in sixth place but the latter have a game in hand.
Santa Lucia, on the other hand, remain second from bottom as they suffered a fourth consecutive defeat. This was also the seventh defeat in nine league matches.
Following a goalless first half, Andrija Majevac put Balzan ahead on the 49th minute when he received an assist by Uros Ljubomirac and hit home past goalkeeper Ryan Caruana.
Majdevac doubled the score on the 61st minute, flicking the ball home past the Santa Lucia goalkeeper off a Steve Pisani corner.
Five minutes from time, Balzan were awarded a penalty after Alfred Effiong was brought down inside the area and Andrija Majdevac converted to seal the issue.
SANTA LUCIA Ryan Caruana, Gabriel Bohrer Mentz, Adam Magri Overend, Jackson David Usuga Mendoza, Jamie Magri Overend (64′ Daniel Agius), Kevin Ante Rosero, Luis Carlos Riascos Torres, Farid Zuniga, Camilo del Castillo Escobar, Lee Galea, Rei Tachikawa (77′ Omar Elouni).
Subs not used: Dorian Bugeja, Neil Spiteri, Jacob Walker, Jamie Zerafa, Nick Borg.
Coach: Oliver Spiteri
Asst. Coach: Brian ChetcutiBALZAN Kristijan Naumovski, Augustine Loof, Aleksandar Kosoric, Steve Pisani, Michael Johnson (37′ Steve Bezzina), Paul Fenech (87′ Luke Montebello), Alfred Effiong, Uros Ljubomirac, Ivan Bozovic, Stefan Dimic (78′ Dale Camilleri), Andrija Majdevac.
Subs not used: Sean Mintoff, Adam Bradshaw, Zak Grech, Kyle Sciberras Balbi.
Coach: Jacques Scerri
Asst. Coach: Andrea PisanuReferee: Darryl Agius
Assistant Referees: Chris Francalanza, Thomas Debono
Fourth Official: Alex Johnson
Yellow Cards: Loof, Kosoric, Magri Overend, Riascos, Escobar
BOV Player of the Match: Andrija Majdevac