Women's team defeat Raiders in friendly match

by Ayrton Galea - 25th September 2013

Kim Parnis' strike ten minutes in the second half was enough for the Birkirkara's Women's Team to beat Raiders with a 1-0 score in a friendly match played on Monday evening.

It was a balanced match and both teams created their scoring opportunities especially Raiders who were unlucky to hit the post twice.

Birkirkara were in a depleted squad as the Stripes had their four Under-19 National players, namely goalkeeper Janice Xuereb, Alishia Sultana, Martina Cilia and Raina Giusti missing due to their commitments with the National Team in the UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship. Team's Captain Rachel Cuschieri, Kelly Agius Pace, Kelly Lee, Alexia Scicluna and Sacha Camilleri were also all missing for different reasons.

With all these players missing, Coach, Mr. Johann Scicluna took the opportunity to give the chance to several youngsters and less first-team regular players.

Promising youngsters Mariah Sciberras, Julia Micallef and Alexia Galea were called-up for the first time with the senior squad. Both players already had several training sessions with the squad and their bright future put them just a step away from making their debut in the Women's top division.

The First Half

Raiders quickly settled down as they surged forward in the opening minutes. The newly-promoted side tried their luck with a long-distance shot which was turned into a corner kick thanks to an excellent save by veteran goalkeeper, Nina Dimech.

From the resulted corner kick, Raiders had a shot from outside the box ending over following a short-clearance.

The Stripes didn't hold back and they were quick to reply. Maryrose Cardona served Simone Buttigieg whose low shot was easily saved by the goalkeeper.

Goalkeeper Nina Dimech was the protagonist again by keeping the score goal-less as on the 13 minutes, the Raiders' player had a golden opportunity to put her side in the lead but Dimech made another fine save.

On the other side of the pitch, it was the Stripes who went near on surging ahead on the fifteen minutes. A low cross by Gabriella Zahra was deflected by Isabelle Mazzitelli in direction of Maryrose Cardona whose close-range effort ended over.

Raiders were unlucky not to take the lead on the 20 minutes, when following a wonderful lob, the Raiders' player's effort hit the woodwork and off the rebound, the same player had the rebound blocked by Dimech.

Close to the half-hour, Charlene Schembri set-up a perfect cross from the right which Kim Parnis' effort ended wide.

Raiders were unlucky to hit the post for the second time on the 33 minutes as a wonderful cross-shot from the left hit the crossbar.

Ten minutes from the end of the first-half, Kim Parnis had a powerful long-distance free-kick which scratched past the crossbar.

On the 40 minutes, an excellent through ball found Simone Buttigieg beating the offside trap but the Raiders' goalkeeper made an excellent outing to deny Buttigieg before clearing into safety.

Hardly a minute later, Gabriella Zahra sent a perfect through ball in direction of Kim Parnis who saw her powerful low shot blocked by the goalkeeper. From the rebound, the same player saw her effort ending over.

The end of the first-half saw both teams ending the first-half in a goal-less draw.

The Second Half

The Stripes went out on a better note in the second half as they created their first scoring opportunity in less than a minute. Charlene Schembri sent Kim Parnis through who sent an excellent cross which was met by a fine header by Isabelle Mazzitelli which ended wide.

With the Champions taking a comfortable edge over their opponents, it was little surprise that the Stripes took the lead ten minutes in the second half. A perfect ball from the back saw Kim Parnis performing a powrrful run before concluding her effort with a diagonal shot which hit hard past the goalkeeper.

Raiders made their first bid of equalising with a low shot on the hour-mark but Nina Dimech saved without difficulty.

Isabelle Mazzitelli made a fine solo-action twenty minutes in the second half. After rounding a player, Mazzitelli concluded her action with a powerful shot which ended over.

The Stripes went close on making their lead two on the 68 minutes. Maryrose Cardona served Gabriella Zahra whose fine shot ended wide.

Substitute Mariah Sciberras who was included just moments earlier lost no time before trying her luck as the promising striker had s fine shot from outside the box ending wide. On the other side of the pitch, few seconds later, Raiders had a fine shot saved by goalkeeper Dimech.

In the match's last scoring opportunity, Raiders almost grabbed the equalising goal with a shot from almost the middle of the field but the substitute goalkeeper made an excellent block.

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