Ħamrun Spartans, after having mathematically secured the top spot, resumed their title-winning celebrations with a 4-0 win over Balzan.
This was a setback for Balzan in their quest for European qualification, as they are still in the fourth place jointly with Mosta.
Hamrun were the strongest team on the pitch, especially in the first half, with Balzan showing some improvement in the second half.
Hamrun started the match on the offensive when in the 19th minute Ederson Bruno Domingo fired the first real shot which finished wide.
In the 21st minute, Hamrun took the lead, when, off an assist by Karl Albis Elis Holmberg, the through-ball fell into the area of LUKE MONTEBELLO who fired a low shot which drifted off the post and into the net behind the outstretched Jonathan Debono.
In the 28th minute, Ħamrun went close to doubling their score when a cross by Ederson Bruno Domingo fell to Luke Montebello but his effort finished sky high.
However, on the half hour LUKE MONTEBELLO made up for his previous error, when he benefitted off a defensive error, dribbled past a Balzan defender before hitting low into the bottom corner again.
In the 32nd minute, Balzan finally replied with an angled shot from Bojan Kaljevic but goalkeeper Henry Bonello was alert to parry away with difficulty into a corner.
In the 40th minute, the match was all but over when, off a cross by Luke Montebello from the right, ELVIS MASHIKE SUSIKA tapped home.
A minute later however, Balzan had their best chance with an effort by Angel Yesid Torres Quinones which slammed against the upright.
In order to improve the performance over the first half, before the restart Balzan coach Oliver Spiteri made three changes replacing Alexander Satariano, Nikola Braunovic and Aleksa Andrejic with Bogdan Mladenovic, Matheus Nogureira Albuguerque de Sousa and Nikola Zerjal.
In fact they immediately tried their luck with a shot from the right by Bogdan Mladenovic.
As the half progressed, Balzan’s changes began to show the difference as Henry Bonello was called into action several times before the hour mark.
In the 50th minute, he saved with difficulty an effort by Angel Yesid Torres Quinones.
Three minutes later, Matheus Nogureira Albuguerque de Sousa tried his luck but Henry Bonello was there again to neutralise.
In the 58th minute, Bonello was again the action as he parried, into a corner, an insidious cross by Ivan Bozovic.
In the 63rd minute, Hamrun substituted Jonny Robert Do Nascimiento Torres u Luke Montebello with Joseph Mbong u Jorge Ailton Soares.
In the 69th minute, BRUNO DOMINGOS EDERSON sealed the issue when he stole the ball off Bogdan Mladenovic and advanced into the area from the left before beating goalkeeper Jonathan Debono.
In the 72nd minute, Hamrun substitued Henry Bonello with Anthony Curmi between the posts.
5 minutes later, Hamrun made another substitution where Sven Xerri u Bjorn Buhagiar came in instead of Juan Carlos Corbalan u Karl Albis Elis Holmberg
In the 87th minute, Bojan Kaljevic and Marcus Grima made way for Jake Grech u Gabriel Diego Farrugia for Balzan.
In the 88th minute, substitute goalkeeper Anthony Curmi saved over the last effort by Matheus Nogureira Albuguerque de Sousa.
The last action of the match came a mute later from the Balzan substitute Gabriel Diego Farrugia when his headed effort was saved by goalkeeper Anthony Curmi.
BALZAN: Jonathan Debono, Ivan Bozovic, Samir Arab, Marcus Grima (Gabriel Diego Farrugia 87’), Paul Fenech, Angel Yesid Torres Quinones, Alexander Satariano (Nikola Zerjal 46’), Nikola Braunovic (Bogdan Mladenovic 46’), Momcilo Raso, Aleksa Andrejic (Matheus Nogureira Albuguerque de Sousa 46’), Bojan Kaljevic (Jake Grech 87’).
HAMRUN S: Henry Bonello (Curmi Anthony 72’), Luke Montebello, Elvis Mashike Sukisa, Roko Prsa, Karl Albis Elis Holmberg (Bjorn Buhagiar 77’), Ederson Bruno Domingos, Ognjen Bjelicic, Juan Carlos Corbalan (Sven Xerri 77’), Jonny Robert Do Nascimiento Torres, Emerson Marcelina, Ryan Camenzuli.
Referee: Tustin Farrugia Cann.
BOV Player of the match: Luke Montebello (Hamrun Spartans).