Women's Team begin Championship Pool on a high note

by Ayrton Galea - 14th March 2013

The Birkirkara FC Women's Team had the perfect start in the Championship Pool phase of the BOV Women's First Division League when thanks to great character they came from a goal behind to defeat Hibernians with a 3-1 score.

With Mosta beating Gozo with a comfortable 7-0 score to move six points clear on top of the table, Birkirkara needed nothing less than a win to keep their title hopes alive and they managed to do just that.

The match seemed to turn into an up-hill struggle for the Stripes after Ylenia Carabott had put Hibernians ahead. But the Stripes, thanks to their resilient character, quickly equalised before hitting home another two goals in the second half to pick up a priceless win.

Mr. Johann Scicluna kept faith in the 3-5-2 formatilon with the only change from the last victory against Pembroke was that Kelly Agius Pace replaced Charlene Schembri in the starting line-up.

The First Half

The match started on a low rhythm as both sides used the opening minutes to study well their opponents and despite there being some shots on goal, both teams were rarely dangerous.

On the first minute, Kim Parnis sent a dangerous freekick in direction of Gabriella Zahra but Hibernians' goalkeeper Stephanie Cremona was on time to come out and nuetralise the danger.

Eight minutes later, Kim Parnis took charge of another freekick which was deflected. Gabriella Zahra lobbed the ball in the direction of Kelly Agius Pace, but once again goalkeeper Cremona came out and anticipated well.

On the 19th minute, Birkirkara went close when Raina Giusti served Kelly Agius Pace a precise through ball but Cremona, who seemed to be in top form at the early minutes, came out and rescued the danger. Hardly a minute later, Gabriella Zahra tried her luck with a long distance shot which was saved by Cremona.

Hibernians had their first attempt on target on the 26th minute when Charlene Zammit's powerful freekick was saved by goalkeeper Janice Xuereb in two attempts. Two minutes later, they continued to pile pressure on the Stripes' defence when a corner on the second post was met with a fine header which was turned into another corner by the Birkirkara goalkeeper.

In an early substitution for Birkirkara, on the half-hour mark, Alishia Sultana who was back from a two match suspension replaced Simone Buttigieg.

Despite Birkirkara having a slight edge over their opponents till then, it was Hibernians who took the lead on the 37th minute. Ylenia Carabott won a controversial freekick from a diagonal angle and the prolific striker converted with a great strike.

Conceding a goal in the late stages of the first half against a top team like Hibernians could be fatal. But the Stripes showed great resilience and it was a wake up call, as without losing any time, they went all out looking for the equalising goal.

Just four minutes after conceding the goal, Birkirkara equalised. Raina Giusti sent a perfect corner which saw Stephania Farrugia rising high to powerfully beat Cremona. A goal which regained confidence in the Birkirkara players.

With little time left to the first half whistle, no side managed to make an attempt on goal with the first forty five minutes ending in a 1-1 draw.

The Second Half

In the half time break, Mr. Johann Scicluna utilised his second substitution as he included Rachel Cuschieri for Raina Giusti.

Rachel Cuschieri quickly tried her luck, when two minutes in the second half her long distance shot ended wide. Seven minutes later, Kim Parnis had a fierce long distance shot ending wide.

Birkirkara surged ahead for the first time in the match ten minutes in the second half. Alishia Sultana served Isabelle Mazzitelli who surprised Cremona with a great lob.

Hibernians' woes increased when just three minutes later, Birkirkara made them three. An unmarked Alishia Sultana fired home with a shot from inside the box to score her first goal in the Women's First Division League.

With a two-goal advantage, Birkirkara dropped to theIn half of the pitch and made the best to defend their lead. With no space at the back, Hibernians piled up the pressure on the Stripes by putting them in their own half but they seemed that they could not find a way to penetrate.

On the 70th minute, Hibernians had a great chance to pull one back, but in a one versus one situation, Janice Xuereb deflected the ball into a corner.

Birkirkara replied five minutes later when Alishia Sultana had a diagonal shot ending wide.

Ten minutes from time, Hibernians had a long distance shot ending over.

In the last stages of the match, Mr. Scicluna utilised the third and fourth substitution when Kelly Groves replaced Maryrose Cardona, and Kim Simler replaced Rachel Cuschieri.

The final whistle found the Birkirkara players erupting with joy as they managed to overcome their first hurdle in the Championship Pool, however with still a long way to go.

BIRKIRKARA: Janice Xuereb, Stephania Farrugia, Yasmeen Vella, Kirstie Vella, Isabelle Mazzitelli, Maryrose Cardona (88' Kelly Groves), Gabriella Zahra, Kim Parnis, Simone Buttigieg (30' Alishia Sultana), Raina Giusti (45' Rachel Cuschieri) (89' Kim Simler), Kelly Agius Pace.

HIBERNIANS: Stephanie Cremona, Rosalie Cauchi, Sherianne Zammit, Maria Azzopardi, Claire Sciberras, Dionne Tonna, Charlene Zammit, Francesca Chircop, Ylenia Carabott, Corissa Vella, Ruth Steer Chetam.

Scorers: 37' Ylenia Carabott (Hibernians), 41' Stephania Farrugia, 55' Isabelle Mazzitelli, 58' Alishia Sultana (Birkirkara)

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