Valletta ended a poor run of results, suffering four defeats and two draws in the last six matches, as they returned to winning ways defeating Balzan 3-1 at the Centenary Stadium .
A win which lifts Valletta to nine points, five points behind Balzan. For the latter, this was the third match without a win following two back-to-back draws.
Valletta came out looking for a goal and after five minutes Brandon Paiber’s in-swinger was stopped Balzan goalkeeper Jonathan Debono.
In the 8th minute, Balzan responded when Milos Zlatkovic served Bojan Kaljevic but who’s the latter’s shot finished wide.
Alexander Satariano came close in the 10th minute but his effort flew over.
However, it was Valletta who took the lead in the 13th minutes. Oke Akpoveta served KILAN BEVIS inside the area who did not mis the target and headed the ball home.
In the 21nd minute Balzan almost equalised s when the Valletta defence failed to clear the ball in a melee inside the box and Alexander Satariano took the advantage but fired wide.
On 23 minutes, following a corner kick by Brandon Paiber, Oke Akpoveta shot at goal but Paul Fenech came to his side’s rescue when he cleared the ball off the line.
But from here on, Balzan stepped up the pressure and managed to level matters in the 36th minute. Angel Yesid Torres Quinone sent a low pass towards UROS LJUBOMIRAC who hit past Alessandro Guarnone.
Three minutes from the break, Balzan had a good chance to take the lead. Alexander Satariano was denied by goalkeeper Guarnone.
Satariano was close again a minute later when this time his shot was stopped by Guarnone with the aid of the upright.
Early in the second half, Valletta almost restored their lead when Oke Akpoveta was denied by the onrushing Debono.
In the 61st minute, Bojan Kaljevic hit a low drive that was pushed away by the goalkeeper, the ball fell into the path of Uros Ljubomirac who, however, fired into the side netting.
But in the 65th minutes it was Valletta who took the lead when from a Brandon Paiber delivery from a corner, OKE AKPOVETA headed past goalkeeper Debono.
Valletta sealed the issue in stoppage time thanks to a goal by SHAUN DIMECH whose direct freekick gave Jonathan Debono no chance.
BALZAN : Jonathan Debono, Samir Arab (Benjamin Hili 79’), Marcus Grima (Matheus Nogureira Albuguerque de Souza), Paul Fenech, Angel Yesid Torres Quinone, Uros Ljubomirac (Luca Mallia 79’), Milos Zlatkovic, Alexander Satariano (Adam Bradshaw 60’), Nikola Braunovic, Momcilo Raso, Bojan Kaljevic.
VALLETTA: Alessandro Guarnone, Jean Borg, Ryan Camilleri, Oke Akpoveta (Flavio Silva Cheveresan 80’), Christian Gauci (Shaun Dimech 52’), E.nmy Mauel Pena Beltre, Bradely Steed Kamdem Fewo, Brandon Paiber (Triston Caruana 67’), Eslit Sala, Joseph Willy, Kilian Bevis.
Referee: Andrea Sciriha.
BOV Player of the match : Oke Akpoveta (Valletta FC).