The Malta Independent on Sunday
Scrappy win keeps Balzan on top
Football - BOV Premier League
nant team, the leaders were disjointed, playing in fits and starts and offering only flashes of the fluency they have shown of late.
Perhaps they were feeling the strain of their Trophy match against Valletta in midweek.
Balzan coach Oliver Spiteri rotated his players, making five changes from the side that drew against Birkirkara in the league the previous week, dropping regular keeper Janjusevic, defender Clive Brincat, Alan Souza, Abdelkarim Nafti and Ryan Fenech.
But their start suggested those absences might not hinder them as they quickly took charge.
Yet they were playing a side who pride themselves on being obdurate opponents.
St Andrews are anything but naive these days and coach Doncic’s more streetwise team discomforted their opponents in the second half, but failed to make anything tangible of it. This was the Saints’ first defeat after five positive outings.
St Andrews were not at full strength. Their key striker Ivan Paz was suspended while Ante Bakmaz was exiled to the bench. Bong Che returned after suspension while Godwin McKay was called up in midfield.
The only noteworthy episode of a mundane first half, played in strong winds at Ta’Qali, was Balzan’s opener after 24 minutes. They won a free kick, for Kesinovic’s foul on Piciollo, from outside the area on the right. Defender Bruno De Oliveira stepped up to drill an unstoppable shot at the top corner of the keeper’s right.
The match somehow burst into life in the second period, thanks to St Andrews’ willingness to move more forward. On 51 minutes McKay tested the Balzan keeper Cassar for the first time in the match. Towards the hour Cassar ran off his line to foot the ball upfield before Nwoko could connect to McKay’s through pass.
And on 64 minutes Kastrevic headed an inviting cross by Beltre’, inches wide.
Balzan effected two substitutions, putting in Alan Souza and Terence Agius for better creativity. They showed some urgency and on 68 minutes Souza crossed for Kaljevic to hit strongly, but keeper Galea saved well.
But as St Andrews looked devoid of energy and ideas in the late stages, Balzan needed only to defend their slender lead with minimal difficulty.