Balzan failed to climb into fourth place as they were held to a goalless draw by Sirens.
This draw puts Balzan on level points with Hibernians in fifth place. Sirens, on the other hand, move fourth from bottom on four points as they continue to chase their first win, earning the four points from four draws.
Balzan made some changes from their last outing against Pieta with goalkeeper Jonathan Debono replacing Rudy Briffa and Nikola Braunovic and Alex Satariano being replaced by Marcus Grima and Angel Torres. On the other hand Sirens preferred Kei Sano and Alex Cini to Marcelo Pereira Muniz and Paulo Vyctor Bento.
More was expected from Balzan as they struggled to penetrate the Sirens defence apart from missing an excellent opportunity to take the lead when they were awarded a penalty but failed to score.
After a quiet start, Balzan had their first chance in the 13th minute, when, following a free kick, Suleiman Jalu finished just high over the crossbar.
In the 22nd minute, Sirens had an angled shot by Wellington de Oliveira partially saved by the goalkeeper Jonathan Debono, with the rebound falling into the same player’s path. He tried his luck again with a cross-shot which was parried once again by the goalkeeper.
In the 36th minute, Balzan were awarded a penalty when goalkeeper Andrea Cassar received a back pass but lost the ball when challenged by Bojan Kaljevic who served Angel Torres, only for the latter to be pushed down by substitute Marcelo Pereira Muniz. Referee Emanuel Grech ordered a penalty but Angel Torres’ effort from the penalty spot was neutralised by Cassar.
In the second half Balzan pushed forward but the shots at goal were few.
In a rare counterattack, in the 62th minute, Wellington de Oliveira failed to connect off an inviting assist by Kei Sano from the right.
In the 68th minute, Ivan Bozovic delivered a cross from the right and Uros Ljubomirac tested the goalkeeper with a header but Andrea Cassar denied him.
In the 81st minute, Uros Ljubomirac brought the best out of goalkeeper Andrea Cassar with a fierce shot from inside the area which he turned into a corner.
Two minutes later, off a Bogdan Mladenovic corner from the left Momcilo Raso headed just wide.
Three minutes from time, Sirens could have notched the winner. Paulo Vyctor Bento delivered a corner from the right but Balzan goalkeeper Debono performed a good save on a fine header by Gabriel Fernandes Ventura.
BALZAN: Jonathan Debono, Ivan Bozovic, Samir Arab, Marcus Grima, Paul Fenech, Angel Torres (Alexander Satariano 73’), Uros Ljubomirac, Milos Zlatkovic, Suleiman Jalu (Bogdan Mladenovic 46’)(Luca Mallia 90’), Momcilo Raso, Bojan Kaljevic.
SIRENS: Andrea Cassar, Gary Camilleri, Kei Sano (Emmanuel David Promise Oluwatobi 68’), Rei Tachikawa, Wellington De Oliveira, Sean Cipriott, Adrian Borg (Paulo Vyctor Bento de Vale 31’), Alexander Cini, Gabriel Fernandes Ventura, Degran Jackson, Stephane Sessegnon (Marcelo Pereira Muniz 26’).
Referee: Emanuel Grech
BOV Player of the Match: Andrea Cassar (Sirens)