Girls Under-16's register first victory

by Ayrton Galea - 27th October 2014

Birkirkara FC Girls Under-16's showed great character to register their first victory in the league when they came from behind to beat Tarxien Rainbows 2-1 thanks to a last minute goal, by substitute Michela Felice.

Two defeats in the first two matches certainly did not reflect the true potential of the girls, but in the third match they showed great determination to turn the match in their favour with two goals in the second half, after Tarxien had surged ahead just before the break.

Goalkeeper Anthea Enriquez had a brilliant display, aided by the solid performance of defenders Alexia Galea and Maria Fenech. Captain Giulia Micallef led the midfield alongside with wingers Nicole Zammit and Alanis Cardona, who both were given the nod from the start for the first time this season. Mariah Sciberras who made her debut with the Senior Team last Tuesday, was the only striker for the Stripes.

The substitutes also had an important part. Michela Felice scored the winning goal in the last minute. Other substitutes like Sarah Urpani, Samantha Zarb and Janine Harmsworth all gave a satisfactory performance.

The First Half

Birkirkara had the first scoring opportunity on the third minute when Mariah Sciberras hit a powerful volley that scratched past the far post. Tarxien replied a minute later with a close-range shot that ended wide.

The Stripes threatened once again on the tenth minute. Sciberras, who was being a continuous threat, stole the ball off the Rainbows defender and raced forward, but her shot ended wide. Two minutes later, the same player had another fine effort turned into a corner kick.

Tarxien had two scoring opportunities on the fifteenth minute. First a shot from outside the box was parried by the Birkirkara goalkeeper, Anthea Enriquez, and moments later, a shot from inside the box ended wide.

Birkirkara went close to surge ahead on the twentieth minute. Mariah Sciberras hit a powerful strike which was turned into a corner kick by the Tarxien goalkeeper, Mandy Caruana.

Tarxien broke the deadlock just three minutes before the break. Leah Marie Pisani dribbled past a Birkirkara defender to hit hard past the Birkirkara goalkeeper, Anthea Enriquez.

The first half ended with Tarxien leading by one.

The Second Half

At the start of the Second Half, Mr. Johann Scicluna made his first two substitutions when Nicole Zammit and Alanis Cardona were replaced by Sarah Urpani and Michela Felice respectively.

Birkirkara took only three minutes to grab the equalizer. Mariah Sciberras hit a perfect free-kick to surprise goalkeeper Caruana to score Birkirkara's first goal in the competition.

Mr. Scicluna made his third substitution when defender Maria Fenech was replaced by Samantha Zarb.

Just past the half-hour mark, Mariah Sciberras sent an excellent cross in the direction of Michela Felice who saw her powerful strike being turned into a corner thanks to an excellent block by goalkeeper Mandy Caruana.

Birkirkara threatened once again ten minutes into the second half. Michela Felice and Samantha Zarb combined well in an action built by one-two passes with Zarb serving Felice who saw her strike deflected into a corner. Three minutes later, Mariah had a shot from distance ending over.

In Birkirkara's last change, Janine Harmsworth replaced Alexia Galea ten minutes from time with Janine joining Giulia in the Birkirkara's rearguard.

Tarxien went close to regaining the lead on the forty-fourth minute with a fine effort but goalkeeper Enriquez saved in two attempts while four minutes later, Sarah Urpani for Birkirkara had a shot saved by the goalkeeper.

The Stripes turned the score in their favour with a dramatic last minute goal. It was substitute Michela Felice who rounded off a perfect half time by controlling the ball in an excellent before hitting hard past the Tarxien goalkeeper.

BIRKIRKARA: Anthea Enriquez, Alexia Galea (40' Janine Harmsworth), Maria Fenech (30' Samantha Zarb), Giulia Micallef, Nicole Zammit (25' Sarah Urpani), Alanis Cardona (25' Michela Felice), Mariah Sciberras.

TARXIEN: Mandy Caruana, Leah Marie Pisani (Gabriella D'Amico), Amy Busutill (Maria Aquilina), Chloe Ellul, Jessica Dimech (Tammy Agius), Kim Borg, Lara Theuma (Martina Mizzi).

Referee: Warren Zammit.

Scorers: 28' Mariah Sciberras, 49' Michela Felice.

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