Balzan cruised into the next round of the FA Trophy when they beat Challenge League side Tarxien Rainbows 4-0.

It was a show of class from Balzan who asserted their dominance after taking the lead in the first half, before going on to score three more as the Rainbows failed to respond.

Despite the difference between the teams, the match had a particularly balanced opening with both sides playing cautiously in midfield for the first quarter of an hour.

However, in the 16th minute, Balzan took the lead directly from a corner kick from the right when BOGDAN MLADENOVIC put in a strong shot which flew directly into the top corner.

Two minutes later, Tarxien responded when, after a swift counter attack, Junior Conceicao Cabral tried his luck from the right but his shot was blocked by goalkeeper Rudy Briffa.

In the 20th minute, Balzan doubled the score, when the ball reached captain PAUL FENECH who, from about 30 meters away, fired a powerful shot into the top corner.

On the half hour mark, Matheus Nogureira could have made it three from a freekick but his effort finished wide.

In the 39th minute, Matthew Spiteri had a good chance to put Tarxien into the game but goalkeeper Rudy Briffa came to his side’s rescue to block his low effort.

In the second half Balzan continued where they left. After only a couple of seconds, an effort by Nikola Zerjal flew just over.

In the 49th minute, the energy put in by the Balzan players reaped fruit when a diagonal ball went through the defence and found unmarked MATHEUS NOGUREIRA ALBUQUERQUE de SOUZA, who did not hesitate to slot the ball past goalkeeper Matthias Debono.

With Tarxien struggling to get into the game, things got worse as Balzan found their fourth goal when, in the 60th minute, Bogdan Mladenovic sent a low ball into the area finding MATHEUS NOGUREIRA ALBUQUERQUE DE SOUZA who slid the ball into the net.

Two minutes later,Tarxien fired their first shot at goal of the second half but, once more, Rudy Briffa was on the alert to push away Matthew Spiteri’s shot.

In the 65 minute, substitute Bojan Kaljevic was close to add his name to the scorers list but Matthias Debono denied him by saving his shot from point-blank range.

While Tarxien tried their best to get a consolation goal, Balzan controlled the remaining minutes to secure their place in the next round of 16.

BALZAN: R. Briffa, S. Arab, M. Grima, B. Mladenovic, P. Fenech (73 Z. Grech), L. Mallia (60 I. Bozovic), N. Zerjal (73 J. Grech), N. Braunovic, M. Raso, M. Nogureira (60 B. Kaljevic), A. Andrejic (60 A. Torres).

TARXIEN R : M. Debono, N. Micallef, C. Conceicao, B. Muscat, M. Spiteri, T. Nonato (56 D. Agius), D. Falzon (82 K. Cutajar), S. Bezzina, B. Farrugia (56 A. Correa), J. Cabral, J. Filho (69 D. Abela)

Referee: Daniel Portelli