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Unrelenting Balzan still setting the pace

Published: 12-03-2017 20:10
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This season Balzan are no longer regarded as the surprise package of the BOV Premier League after proving themsleves last year as a force to be reckoned with. They have now been in pole position for so long that one rightly considers them as genuine candidates for the championship title.  On Sunday, it was the turn of fourth-placed Floriana to succumb 2-0 to their imperious charge towards Malta’s top football honour. Hot on Balzan’s heels are Hibernians, one point behind on 53, with Valletta still in contact, four adrift of the leaders, both the Paolites and the Lilywhites having blown away the feeble challenge of bottom teams Mosta and Pembroke respectively. Birkirkara have leapfrogged the Greens after beating Ħamrun Spartans 3-0 in the last match of the weekend card, a victory that puts the Stripes on the 44-point mark, one ahead of Floriana. Both Balzan and Floriana more than tweaked their line-ups after effecting four changes from their previous outings. Oliver Spiteri’s side were a smarter lot and went ahead after 11 minutes when Elkin Serrano headed in off a Ryan Fenech free-kick. They doubled their advantage 12 minutes from the end of the first half when Anderson de Barros hit a diagonal shot to leave the opposing goalkeeper stranded. It was status quo after the interval as the Greens could not summon enough power to save the game despite some sporadic efforts. The Yellow-Reds were in confident mood after beating the Spartans on Sunday. They were the absoulute masters throughout the 90 minutes, leaving their opponents on the receiving end most of the time. Gonzalo Malan put them in front after  36 minutes while a header by Christian Babalovic soon after the hour mark doubled their lead. Srdjan Dimitrov sealed the issue with a third goal one minute before the end.