Another win keeps dominant Balzan in sight of the title

Football - BOV Premier League

Fenech and Milos Lepovic excellent in midfield and Carlos Mendes bullish with set pieces.

The leaders were in total control in the first half. They went ahead through Milos Lepovic and Effiong hit the post.

They dominated more possession and territory during the second half but sharpness eluded them, even because Mosta remained passive and tight at the back. They finally made sure of the points with a late second goal through substitute Jacob Borg.

Mosta rang the changes yesterday as they tried to arrest the slump, having won none of their previous five matches. Only five players, Thomas Veronese, Tyron Farrugia, Dexter Xuereb and Damir Bartulovic, as well as goalkeeper Andreas Vella, from the eleven who lost against Gzira United the previous week, kept their place in the side.

Johann Scicluna’s side showed endeavour but offered little in the way of an attacking threat and could hardly get a sniff at the Balzan goal in a game that always felt like an exercise in damage limitation.

Balzan gained the upperhand, after a probing first part of the half, with the opening goal on 25 minutes. Milos Lepovic’s grounder from outside the area surpeised keeper Vella, probably unsighted by the players in front of him, as it hit the back of the net.

Effiong twice went very close of putting Balzan further ahead. Towards the half hour he headed Leboivic’s cross but the ball was turned into a corner by the Mosta keeper.

And before the break, on a Mendes corner from the right, Effiong headed against the upright.

Mosta barely left their half in the second period and Balzan increased their dominance but struggled to find openings.

A Fenech shot on 68 minutes was saved in two attempts by keeper Vella.

Mosta produced a rare threat on 80 minutes as Bartulovic chased a long ball inside the Balzan area but hit it well over.

This one-sided contest was over five minutes from the end as Balzan scored their second, with two substitutes involved. Alves, who had goen in for Ljubomirac, sent a low cross from the left which was missed by all and sundry but other substitute Jacob Borg, steaming from the right, could blast the ball past the helpless Mosta keeper.

■ Balzan keep showing the consistency of champions. They must feel like they are within touching distance of that crown on an afternoon Micovic’s side cantered to their 15th win of the season, against inferior Mosta, and stay above nearest challengers...