Women's Team hit eight past Hamrun
by Ayrton Galea - 29th October 2014
Birkirkara FC Women's Team clinched their third win on the trot in the BOV Women's First Division League, when in a one-sided match, Birkirkara showed total superiority to hit eight with no reply past Hamrun Spartans FC.
It was yet another one sided match in the Women's league. The main concern remains the new format of the league, where all teams play against each other in one division, with the difference in level of the teams being too evident.
Fresh from an excellent 2-0 victory over Hibernians, the Stripes delivered another bold statement of the team's strength and aspirations of being among the main contenders for the BOV Women's First Division League title.
Mr. Johann Scicluna fielded a 4-1-3-2 formation and made no less than four changes from the team that defeated Hibernians. Notably was the inclusion of Mariah Sciberras from the start for the first time in the Senior Team, who also scored her first goal with the Senior Team. Under-16's player, Giulia Micallef also made her debut with the Senior Team, after being introduced in the second half, and had a satisfactory performance.
Janice Xuereb kept her place between the posts. Tara Attard replaced Yasmeen Vella at the back, with Stephania Farrugia, while Charlene Schembri and Mariah Sciberras patrolled the side backs by replacing Alishia Sultana and Maryrose Cardona. Melania Bajada was deployed in front of the defence, supporting Gabriella Zahra and Hanna Tegelmann. Martina Cilia had a roaming role behind the two strikers Kelly Agius Pace and Raina Giusti, who regained a first-eleven call following her performance against Hibernians.
The First Half
Birkirkara took only two minute to surge ahead. Martina Cilia made some fine footwork in midfield, before serving Gabriella Zahra who hit a powerful strike from outside the box that smashed against the crossbar and went in.
The lead was doubled just two minutes later. A loose ball in the box was not cleared, with the ball reaching Raina Giusti who had a routine task of slotting the ball into the net.
Mariah Sciberras scored her first goal with the senior team, with a close-range effort following a cross from the left.
Birkirkara were unlucky on the seventieth minute, when Gabriella Zahra unzipped the defence with a perfect pass in the path of Kelly Agius Pace, who served Raina Giusti, who in turn hit a powerful volley that smashed against the upright.
On the twenty-second minute, Kelly Agius Pace showed good football skills to dribble past two players but her shot was blocked by a Hamrun defender. Two minutes later, the same player raced forward on the left side, but her shot ended over.
Close to the half-hour mark, Raina Giusti won possession outside the Hamrun box and hit a first-time strike which was parried by the Hamrun goalkeeper, Christine Galea. Three minutes later, Kelly Agius Pace had a shot blocked by the goalkeeper.
Birkirkara made them four on the fortieth minute. Melania Bajada's first-post corner kick found Stephania Farrugia to have her header deflected by the Hamrun defender into her own net.
The end of the first half saw the Stripes leading by four.
The Second Half
For the start of the Second Half, Mr. Johann Scicluna made four changes. Central-back duo Tara Attard and Stephania Farrugia were replaced by Yasmeen Vella and Alexia Scicluna. Melania Bajada was replaced by Alishia Sultana while Charlene Schembri was replaced by Maryrose Cardona.
Five minutes into the second half, Raina Giusti had a shot parried by the Hamrun goalkeeper. Three minutes later, off a short-clearance, Hanna Tegelmann had a first-time effort ending wide off the far post.
Birkirkara made them five on the fifty-third minute. Raina Giusti served Hanna Tegelmannn who sent an excellent pass in the direction of Kelly Agius Pace, who anticipated the goalkeeper and her low shot ended in the net.
In Birkirkara's fifth and last substitution on the fifty-eighth minute, Under-16's Team player Giulia Micallef replaced Mariah Sciberras.
Five became six on the hour mark. Raina Giusti showed great composure of the ball to dribble past two players and hit a powerful low strike that hit hard past the Hamrun goalkeeper to score her second goal of the day.
Twenty minutes into the second half, Raina Giusti was in action once again, when she had a good shot from distance saved by the goalkeeper. Ten minutes later Kelly Agius Pace had a brilliant strike from outside the box scratching the post.
The Stripes made them seven on the seventy-fifth minute. Hanna Tegelmann increased the lead when she had possession outside the box and hit an excellent strike to score her second goal in the second consecutive match.
Alishia Sultana had a shot smashing against the crossbar eighth minutes from time and two minutes later, Giulia Micallef made an excellent work down the left wing to see her cross-shot ending over.
Birkirkara rounded off their superb performance with the eighth goal, three minutes from time. Raina Giusti completed her hat-trick by finishing calmly in the left low corner following an excellent cross by second-half substitute Maryrose Cardona.
BIRKIRKARA: Janice Xuereb, Stephania Farrugia (46' Alexia Scicluna), Tara Attard (46' Yasmeen Vella), Mariah Sciberras (58' Giulia Micallef), Charlene Schembri (46' Maryrose Cardona), Melania Bajada (46' Alishia Sultana), Gabriella Zahra, Hanna Tegelmann, Martina Cilia, Kelly Agius Pace, Raina Giusti.
Scorers: 2' Gabriella Zahra, 4' Raina Giusti, 10' Mariah Sciberras, 40' Own Goal, 53' Kelly Agius Pace, 60' Raina Giusti, 75' Hanna Tegelmann, 87' Raina Giusti.
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