Women's Team draw against Hibs, stay in title race

by Ayrton Galea - 18th February 2015

Birkirkara FC played their hearts out to remain in contention of the BOV Women's League, when in the top of the table clash, they shared the spoils with Hibernians FC in a 1-1 draw.

The Birkirkara team left the Charles Abela Stadium with heads held high and brimming with confidence. In a match where they suffered the injury of two key players in the first half, the Stripes gave it their all, to achieve a respectable draw and stay in title hunt.

It was a match where Birkirkara enjoyed an edge in the opening stages of the first half, but two forced substitutions led the Paolites to enjoy a technical superiority. Hibs surged ahead early in the second half, with the Stripes levelling matters thanks to substitute Raina Giusti. Hibernians pushed forward late in the match but the Stripes held on till the final whistle.

Coach Johann Scicluna was serving his second out of a two matches ban, and John Micallef was in charge of the substitutes' bench. Birkirkara fielded an unusual 3-6-1 formation, and there were no changes in the line-up from the previous match.

The formation featured Xuereb defending the posts while Rebecca Chircop, Kim Parnis and Yasmeen Vella formed the three-line defence. Melania Bajada started as a defensive midfielder, supporting Gabriella Zahra and Stephania Farrugia, while Maryrose Cardona and Alishia Sultana patrolled the wing-backs.

The First Half

Confident of their three point lead, Hibernians had their first scoring opportunity in the opening high-tempo stage. After seven minutes, one of the most technical midfielders on the island, Dorianne Theuma had a long-distance drive which was easily saved by the Birkirkara goalkeeper, Janice Xuereb.

As the match was just ten minutes old, it had to be paused for a power cut. The match resumed after fifteen minutes, when lighting was restored.

On the fifteenth minute, Stephania Farrugia made a fine run before serving Martina Cilia who tried her luck from outside the box, but her effort was saved by the Hibernians goalkeeper, Keoney Demicoli.

The Stripes went close to surging ahead on the twenty-second minute. Kim Parnis delivered a second-post free-kick which saw Rebecca Chircop running forward to meet the ball, but her effort from inside the box ended over.

On the half-hour mark, Dorianne Theuma had another solo-action, but her shot scratched past the post.

Birkirkara were forced to make the first substitution ten minutes from half-time when Alishia Sultana was unable to continue to playing and Raina Giusti took her place. Their woes continued just five minutes later, when they met another set-back. In a challenge with Ylenia Carabott, Kim Parnis suffered an injury and Kirstie Vella took her place.

Janice Xuereb proved her excellent reflexes when she blocked another threatening shot by Theuma, and turned the ball into a corner kick.

The entertaining first-half saw both teams heading to their dressing room in a goal-less draw.

The Second Half

Forty-five seconds into the second half, Hibernians surged ahead. Ylenia Carabott's first-post cross found Martina Borg who controlled the ball, before her left-footed volley hit past goalkeeper Xuereb, with the latter only managing to touch as the ball as it was rolling into the net.

Hibernians almost made them two just past the hour-mark. Theuma proved her brilliant skills again with an in-swinging shot from outside the box, which once again brought the best out of Xuereb, who turned the ball into a corner.

However, from the resulting corner, Birkirkara levelled matters. The Stripes quickly cleared the ball, with Stephania Farrugia racing forward and serving Raina Giusti on the run. Giusti had her first attempt blocked by Demicoli, but following a miss clearance inside the box, the same Giusti hit home.

Theuma, one of the most active player for Hibernians, gave another warning of her shooting skills, with another shot but this time her effort missed the target.

Three minutes from time, in Birkirkara's third substitution, Maryrose Cardona who enjoyed an excellent match with a high work-rate, was replaced by Mariah Sciberras.

As the referee was about to signal the final whistle, Birkirkara goalkeeper's, Janice Xuereb made the best save of the match. Ylenia Carabott unleashed a thunderous shot but the Birkirkara goalkeeper made an outstanding save, much to the relief of the Birkirkara clan.

The referee's full-time whistle found the Stripes receiving a deserved standing ovation for playing their hearts out against all odds and staying in the title race, just three points under Hibernians with five matches to go.

BIRKIRKARA: Janice Xuereb, Rebecca Chircop, Yasmeen Vella, Kim Parnis (40' Kirstie Vella), Melania Bajada, Maryrose Cardona (87' Mariah Sciberras), Alishia Sultana (36' Raina Giusti), Gabriella Zahra, Stephania Farrugia, Martina Cilia, Kelly Agius Pace.

HIBERNIANS: Keoney Demicoli, Claire Sciberras, Charlene Zammit, Mandy Debono, Rodianne Borg, Dionne Tonna, Shona Zammit, Claudette Xuereb (85' Francesca Chircop), Dorianne Theuma, Ylenia Carabott, Martina Borg.

Scorers: 65' Raina Giusti (Birkirkara), 46' Martina Borg (Hibernians).

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