Balzan stay top following 2-0 win over Mosta

BALZAN 2MOSTA   0Balzan retained top spot in the BOV Premier League following a 2-0 victory over Mosta on Saturday.   The leaders forged ahead on 26 minutes thanks to a first-time effort from Milos Lepovic.  Mosta tried to force a reaction, going close 10 minutes from time when Jan Tanti released Bartulovic but his volley was high. Balzan sealed their victory with a late goal from substitute Jacob Borg who tapped the ball into an empty net after receiving a perfect pass from Alex Alves De Paixao.  BOV player of the match: Milos Lepovic (Balzan).  ST ANDREWS 0VALLETTA       1 Valletta needed a last-gasp goal from striker Michael Mifsud to see off the stern challenge of St Andrews and keep their title hopes alive. The match looked destined to finish goalless but a late raid from Valletta ended with Mifsud, who had come on at half-time, lifting the ball into the net at the National Stadium. Thanks to this win, Valletta remain one point behind leaders Balzan with three matches left while St Andrews’ fight against relegation continues. Valletta had threatened just past the half-hour when Miguel Angel Alba’s cross reached Matteo Piciollo whose close-range effort came off the woodwork. From the rebound, Rowen Muscat’s header was cleared off the line. Piciollo hit the upright again with an angled shot the left three minutes from half-time but two minutes later, Kemar Reid was also denied by the crossbar with a shot from the edge of the area. In the second half, the Citizens continued to hold the initiative but were denied on several occasions by Matthew Calleja Cremona, the St Andrews goalkeeper. Yet, it was the Saints who had the best chance when Kevaughn Atkinson rattled the upright midway into the second half. However, four minutes into stoppage time, Valletta grabbed the winner thanks to Mifsud. BOV player of the match: Matthew Calleja Cremona (St Andrews). SLIEMA WIN FIVE-GOAL THRILLERĦAMRUN SPARTANS 2SLIEMA WANDERERS 3 Sliema Wanderers made it three wins in a row after edging Ħamrun Spartans 3-2 at the Hibernians Stadium. The Wanderers have moved temporarily in sixth place, three points ahead of Hibernians who play Lija Athletic on Sunday. Argentine midfielder Matias Muchardi fired Sliema ahead on 21 minutes but Arthur Faria Machado equalised for the Spartans on the 25th. Lydon Micallef put the Spartans 2-1 ahead but Sliema turned the result in their favour early in the second half. Three minutes after the change of ends, Ricardo Calixto Correa Duarte restored parity. Three minutes later, Daniel Zerafa was adjudged to have pulled down Frenci Qeros inside the box and Muchardi converted the penalty to secure Sliema’s win. BOV player of the match: Matias Muchardi (Sliema Wanderers). FONTANELLA AT THE DOUBLEFLORIANA 2NAXXAR LIONS 0 Italian striker Mario Fontanella hit a brace as Floriana beat relegation candidates Naxxar Lions 2-0.   The Greens opened the scoring inside the opening minutes, Fontanella driving his shot past Luan Polli Gomes who was making his debut for Naxxar.  Yuri Messias had two good attempts for the Lions but he was thwarted by Matthew Grech, the Floriana goalkeeper. Floriana doubled their lead midway into the second half, Fontanella heading home from Mauricio Vella’s set-piece cross. Fontanella was denied his hat-trick when his stoppage-time effort was hooked off the line by Ryan Gilmour Cassar. BOV player of the match: Mario Fontanella (Floriana). TARXIEN RAINBOWS 1BIRKIRKARA               3 Birkirkara came from a goal down to beat Tarxien Rainbows 3-1 at the Centenary Stadium on Friday and overtake Gżira United in third place, albeit the latter have a game in hand. Tarxien forward Samba Tounkara had a good chance to put his team ahead in the 13th minute but his effort from close in missed the target. A minute later, Tarxien went 1-0 up via some good work from Tounkara on the left with Ricardinho tapping in with goalkeeper Kristjan Naumovski beaten. In the 35th minute, it was all square thanks to Waldemar Acosta’s header following some good work from Edward Herrera on the right. Six minutes later Jake Grech put Birkirkara 1-2 up after receiving a through-pass from Mislav Andjelkovic. In the 58th minute, Wellington was tripped inside the box by Cain Attard. The referee ordered a penalty but Ricardinho’s shot from 11 metres was saved in style by Naumovski. Birkirkara scored their third goal from a fast-counter attack launched by Andjelkovic and rounded off by Jake Grech 18 minutes from the end. BOV player of the match: Mislav Andjelkovic (Birkirkara).