Too easy for Birkirkara's Women Team

by Ayrton Galea - 19th December 2012

Yesterday evening Birkirkara's Women Team had one of the easiest tasks of the season. They kept their brilliant momentum and registered their biggest win of the season so far, when they started the second round in a magnificent way by defeating Hamrun Spartans with a score of 10-0.

With morale sky high following three very comfortable victories, ‘The Stripes' continued where they left in the previous matches and once again, as the score indicates, it was a one-way match, which Birkirkara dominated right from the start. This will serve as a good morale boost before the direct clash against Mosta in the next match.

Rachel Cuschieri was once again the shining star, as she netted no less than five goals to bring her tally to 18 goals in eight matches. Kelly Groves who made her debut today with the senior girls team had a day to remember. She scored a very fine goal in her first appearance. The other goals came thanks to a brace by Kim Parnis and goals by Stephania Farrugia and Gabriella Zahra.

The First Half

Birkirkara did not take long to make their intentions clear, as just after two minutes they took the lead. Rachel Cuschieri received a fine pass before advancing and beating goalkeeper Cremona with a diagonal shot.

Hamrun Spartans, already shocked with an early goal, did not have time to organise or even settle down and on the 8th minute, ‘The Stripes' made them two. Once again, it was Rachel who managed to find the net by beating Cremona.

Two quickly became three on the 12th minute. Off a cross from the right by Rachel Cuschieri, Stephania Farrugia controlled the ball well, before hitting hard past Cremona.

One could not ask for a better start from ‘The Stripes' as they came out with all guns blazing and they made sure of the three points in less than fifteen minutes.

With a three goals advantage and the three points practically in the bag, Birkirkara seemed to continue increasing the tempo and on the 12th minute, Rachel performed a solo action before her powerful but central shot was saved by Cremona. Two minutes later, Gabriella Zahra served Stephania Farrugia whose powerful shot was turned into a corner kick.

Hamrun Spartans did not even have a chance to move out of their own half as ‘The Stripes' continued their domination and the hunger for more goals seemed to increase as the time went by.

On the 18th minute Gabriella lost a fine opportunity. Rachel Cuschieri sent a perfect cross to Gabriella whose shot ended over from an ideal position with probably the wind playing its part in this scoring opportunity that was lost. On the 24th minute, Rachel Cuschieri had a shot saved by Cremona.

With the clock ticking towards the half hour mark, heavy rain and strong winds seemed to influence the tempo of the match, as it was almost impossible to play.

However, Birkirkara had other intentions and they made them four on the 31st minute. A long distance free-kick was not held by goalkeeper Cremona and Kim Parnis was in the perfect position to make the best from the rebound to score the fourth goal for Birkirkara.

Rachel Cuschieri seemed to have complete her hat-trick on the 35th minute when she fired a powerful shot which was hit the crossbar and then saved in the second attempt by the Hamrun's goalkeeper who definitely was their most busy player.

On the 38th minute, Rachel had a dangerous shot scratching past the post and less than four minutes later, she performed a fine action concluded with a shot which saved by Cremona.

The first half was enough for Birkirkara to be comfortably leading with no less than four goals.

The Second Half

With heavy rain and strong winds still the main protagonists in the match, Birkirkara came out to continue where they left in the first half and after just three minutes, they made them five. Rachel completed her hat-trick with a fine solo effort which gave goalkeeper Cremona no chance.

Kim Parnis tried a long distance shot on the 55th minute but it was saved by the goalkeeper Cremona, who despite conceding the goals, had a fine performance and she could not do much more to contain the goal-hungry Birkirkara.

Making the debut with the first team at fourteen years is already a day to remember, let alone scoring a wonderful goal in the first appearance. And that is what Kelly Groves managed to do just on the hour mark. Her shot left goalkeeper Cremona staring at the ball hitting the net for Birkirkara's sixth goal.

Hardly two minutes later, ‘The Stripes' who seemed to never have enough of scoring, made them seven. Goalkeeper Cremona rushed out on Rachel Cuschieri but failed to hold the ball, with the National player having the easy task to fire home from just two metres away.

Kim Parnis had a fine shot saved by the goalkeeper on the 65th minute and less than two minutes later, Rachel had a wonderful shot from inside the box which scratched past the left top corner.

Goal number eight was in the air and it took no one by surprise when it arrived, on the 74th minute. Gabriella Zahra had a powerful shot which hit past Cremona to score her ninth goal in the last five matches.

Hardly a minute later, Rachel Cuschieri hit the crossbar for the second time in the match when with a typical powerful shot of hers, the ball hit the crossbar to deny Birkirkara to add to their tally.

However, what Rachel failed to do, Kim Parnis did two minutes later, that is on the 77th minute. Following a cross from the right, Gabriella served Kim Parnis who hit home from a close range for her second goal and the ninth for ‘The Stripes'.

On the 82nd minute, Rachel who had been a continuous torment to the Hamrun's defence had a fine shot saved by Cremona.

'The Stripes' rounded off their brilliant performance with the tenth goal three minutes from time. Rachel Cuschieri fired a long distance effort which surprised Cremona with the National player scoring her fifth goal in the match.

However the game was not over yet and Birkirkara were close to increase the lead further with another goal. On the 89th minute, substitute Kim Simler sent a perfect cross, and Chantal Fenech, who also came on in the second half, headed high.

The full time whistle found Birkirkara starting the second round on the best possible note. On the eight day of the Women's First Division league they are currently the best attack and the team with the best goal difference.

Birkirkara will be involved in a decisive and the much awaited clash against leaders Mosta on the 15 January 2013.

BIRKIRKARA: Janice Xuereb, Simone Buttigieg, Yasmeen Vella, Maryrose Cardona, Stephania Farrugia, Kelly Agius Pace, Rachel Cuschieri, Raina Giusti, Alishia Sultana, Kim Parnis, Gabriella Zahra.

Substitutes: Chantal Fenech, Kelly Groves, Charlene Schembri, Sacha Camilleri, Kim Simler

HAMRUN SPARTANS: Karen Camilleri, Zuleika Azzopardi, Kimberly Micallef, Nicole Cutajar, Lilian Cremona, Gabrella Calleja Cremona, Claire Marie Chetcuti, Nikita Agius, Chantelle Muscat, Christina Galea, Amanda Buhagiar.

Scorers: 2' Rachel Cuschieri, 8' Rachel 11' Stephania Farrugia, 30' Kim Parnis, 48' Rachel Cuschieri, 59' Kelly Groves, 61' Rachel Cuschieri, 74' Gabriella Zahra, 77' Kim Parnis, 87' Rachel Cuschieri.

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