Balzan claimed a deserved victory over Hamrun Spartans, jumping to 5th place on level points with Floriana and Valletta.

A fine strike from Milan Duric handed the three points to Balzan who fully deserved the victory with a very good display as they managed to control the match throughout the 90 minutes. Ħamrun, never really threatened the Balzan goal.

For this match, Balzan made three changes from their defeat to Birkirkara. Marcus Grima, Milos Zlatkovic, and Bojan Kaljevic started the match instead of Sean Cipriott, Uros Ljubomirac, and Aleksa Andrejic. On the other hand, Ħamrun Spartans made only one change from the team that beat Mosta last week as Predrag Djordjevic was preferred to Juan Corbalan.

In the opening minutes, Spartans held the majority of possession but they lacked any composure on front never threatening Balzan’s goal.

In the 24th minute, it was Balzan who created the first chance when Alex Da Paixao dispossessed Isaac Ntow and quickly served Milan Duric just outside the area, whose firm drive that was pushed away to a corner with difficulty by goalkeeper Henry Bonello.

In the 29th minute, Predag Djordjevic committed a foul just outside the area, and this time MILAN DURIC, direct free-kick flew past Bonello with the ball hitting both uprights before finishing into the back of the net.

In the 33rd minute, Ħamrun finally threatened when Luke Gambin set Franklin Sasere who headed just wide.

In the 40th minute, Balzan again threatened again when Alex Da Paixao Alves sped past a couple of defenders and serving Milan Duric who this time saw his shot finish just wide.

At the interval, Hamrun replaced Pedrag Djordjevic with Arthur Oyama to increase the attacking power.

In the second half in the 53rd minute, Ħamrun created their first chance when Joseph Mbong served Flankin Sasere whose flick was saved by goalkeeper Vukasin Vranes.

At the hour mark, Balzan had a golden chance to double the score as they were awarded a penalty when Darko Gojkovic fouled Milos Zlatkovic inside the area but from the penalty spot, Bojan Kaljevic hit wide.

Ħamrun continued to struggle to create any decent chances as they found a compact and resilient defense that gave them no chance.

In the 90th minute, Balzan should have killed off Hamrun when in a fast break, Milan Duric set Alex Da Paixao Alves but the latter was denied by the onrushing Bonello.

In stoppage time, Alex Da Paixao Alves came close again when he dispossessed Darren Borg but, from an acute angle, his powerful shot hit the bar with goalkeeper Henry Bonello beaten.

However, Balzan held on till the end to finish off with a deserved win

HAMRUN S: Henry Bonello, Darko Gojkovic, Joseph Mbong, Ailton Jorge dos Santos Soares, Franklin Sasere, Luke Gambin, Predrag Djordjevic (Arthur Oyama 46’), Karl Micallef (Soufiane Lagzir 63’), Isaac Toah Ntow (Darren Borg 63’), Claude Dielna (Christian Mercieca 76’), Emerson Marcelina.

BALZAN :Vukasin Vranes, Augustine Loof, Samir Arab, Marcus Grima, Milan Djuric, Paul Fenech (Gary Camilleri 76’), Alex da Paixao Alves, Michael Johnson, Milos Zlatkovic (Sean Cipriott 68’), Milos Mijic, Bojan Kaljevic (Aleksa Andrejic 78’)

Referee: Emanuel Grech

BOV Player of the Match: Milan Djuric