Marsaxlokk climbed to fourth place in the table with a drab draw against Balzan.

They are now seven points behind third-placed Sliema Wanderers, just one ahead of Birkirkara and Naxxar Lions and three ahead of HIbernians and Balzan.

On the other hand, Balzan share the seventh place with the Hibernians, four points ahead of Valletta and Gzira.

During the first half, there was really nothing noted to report as both teams were cautious not to concede a goal and the two goalkeepers were hardly tested.

In the second half chances were few and far between for both teams, with Marsaxlokk upping the ante as Yuri de Jesus Messias woke up to his responsibilities.

In the 53rd minute, we had the first action to note when Sunday Akinbule received a ball from the right but his shot finished way over the crossbar.

Just past the hour, Aleksandar Katanic received the ball from half pitch and advanced briskly but only to see his a powerful shot finish over the post of Marko Drobnajk.

Balzan’s best attacking move came five minutes from time when Samir Arab fed the overlapping Jake Grech who squared the ball for Aleksa Andrejic only to see his shot blocked by the defenders.

In the final minutes of the game, Marsaxlokk opted to put everything in front and in the 86th minute, they did go close to breaking the deadlock. Substitute Anthony Abah Obonogwu delivered an excellent ball, from the edge of the box, to Yuri de Jesus Messias who reacted well to hit a powerful shot against the crossbar.

BALZAN: Danilo Golovic, Ivan Bozovic, Samir Arab, Triston Caruana, Paul Fenech (Marcus Grima 86’), Manyluak Aguek (Aleksa Andrejic 58’), Jake Grech, Aleksandar Katanic, Nikola Zerjal (Oluwatobiloba Dimeji Awosanya 90’), Nikola Braunovic, Olivier Rommens.

MARSAXLOKK: Mako Drobnjak, Weder Soares ds Silva , Karl Micallef, Nikolai Muscat (Anthony Abah Obonogwu 79’), Yuri De Jesus Messias, Jacob Walker, Samuel Boakye (Diego Pires Dall’Oca 64’), Leonardo Aguirre, Nikola Raden, Ryan Scicluna, Sunday Akinbule.

Referee: Alex Johnson.