Balzan registered their first win in over two months and a half as a goal early in the second half handed them a narrow win over Sirens at the Hibernians Stadium.

Balzan, in fact, had gone ten matches without a win but these three points enable them to join Sirens and Floriana in tenth place on the 16-point mark. However, Floriana have three games in hand and Sirens one.

Sirens are still chasing their first win since the appointment of Giovanni Tedesco as their new coach following a draw with Mosta and two defeats to Birkirkara and now Balzan.

Balzan gave a debut to new signings Milan Duric and Aleksa Andrejic while ex Gzira United player Hamed Kone made his debut for Sirens.

Following a goalless first half, Balzan scored the all-important goal two minutes into the second half thanks to a powerful shot from outside the area by Milan Djuric.

The first half was balanced with most of the play carried out in midfield.

The first action to note came in the 17^th minute when Weverton Souza Gomes set Milan Duric but his shot finished wide.

In the 25^th minute, following a free-kick by Milan Duric, Steven Bezzina headed high.

In the 34^th minute, during a swift counter-attack, a cross-shot by Samba Tounkara was cleared by Steven Bezzina.

Four minutes later, during a personal pursuit, Hamed Kone dribbled past two defenders but he saw his effort finishing high over the cross-bar.

Just before the end of the first half, Aleksa Andrejic stole the ball off his marker and made his way into the box but, from an ideal position, he missed the target.

After only two minutes into the second half Balzan took the lead when following a cross by Weverton Souza Gomes, which was badly cleared by a defender, MILAN DURIC managed to beat goalkeeper David Cassar with a stunning shot from a distance outside the area.

Sirens reacted and in the 53^rd minute, they went close to equalising. Following a corner taken by Hamed Kone, a header by Raphael Dos Anjos was cleared off the line by Paul Fenech.

Sirens insisted and five minutes later Samba Tounkara set Wilfred Domoraud but the latter’s effort well over the cross-bar.

In the 65^th minute, had another corner taken by Hamed Kone which caused havoc inside the box, with goalkeeper Vukasin Vranes failing to hold the ball but finally, Michael Johnson cleared off the line.

In the 81^st minute, a fine shot by Wilfred Domoraud finished wide.

BALZAN: Vukasin Vranes, Augustine Loof, Samir Arab, Milan Djuric, Paul Fenech, Steve Bezzina, Michael Johnson, Uros Ljubomirac, Stefan Dimic (Sean Cipriott 76’), Weverton Gomes (Marcus Grima 90’), Aleksa Andrejic (Alfred Effiong 87’).

SIRENS: David Cassar, Ryan Grech (Terence Agius 85’), Wellington de Oliveira, Sergio Raphael dos Anjos, Hamed Kone, Wilfried Domoraud, Jacob Walker (Michael Mifsud 84’), Adrian Borg, Samba Tounkara, Ryan Scicluna, Tiago Espindola.

Referee: Alex Johnson

BOV Player of the Match: Aleksa Andrejic