Women's Team beat Mgarr United in hard-fought match

by Ayrton Galea - 17th January 2017

Birkirkara FC Women's Team regained a comfortable seven-point lead on top of the BOV Women's First Division League on Tuesday evening thanks to a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Mgarr United FC.

Two brilliant goals in the first-half by prolific striker Kelly Agius Pace and rapid-winger Alishia Sultana were enough for the Stripes to start their third round commitments on a positive note, as they managed to hold strong after Mgarr United pulled one back late in the match.

It was a hard-fought match that saw the Stripes having the match under control for long stretches. However, a goal five minutes from time saw Mgarr United piling the pressure but failed to break Birkirkara's resistance as the Stripes extends their unbeaten run to eleven matches.

The build-up for this match for Coach Shawn Meilak was anything than easy as Kelly Agius Pace, Stephania Farrugia and Sonia Schembri all relied on their last-minutes condition to make it on time. On the other hand, Raina Giusti was missing due to flu.

There was no change of fortune during the match for the Birkirkara mentor as the Stripes were forced to make no less than three substitutions as Tracy Teuma, Mariah Sciberras and Cassie Camilleri all had to be replaced after suffering different injuries.

The Stripes had three changes from the last match against Gozo. Goalkeeper Janice Xuereb Alishia Sultana and Kelly Agius Pace regained a place in the first-eleven as they replaced Rosemarie Baldacchino, Cassie Camilleri and Raina Giusti.

The First Half

Following a quiet start, the Stripes surged ahead after twenty minutes. It was a quick transition from the back that saw the ball arriving to Gabriella Zahra. The creative midfielder was quick to put Kelly Agius Pace through and the Birkirkara forward hit a powerful strike past goalkeeper Rachel Borg.

Encouraged by the opening goal, Birkirkara settled. They were dictating the play with Zahra the main player involved into midfield. Wingers Leanne Micallef and Alishia Sultana were having an excellent match on the wings as their dazzling runs were tormenting the Mgarr rear-guard.

The speed that Birkirkara posses when shifting the ball from the back to their fast forward line was evident once again nine minutes from half-time when they made them two thanks to an excellent team goal. It was Zahra again who supplied an excellent through-ball towards Alishia Sultana who calmly lobbed the ball over the on-rushing Borg.

Mgarr were stunned and they were unable to make a reaction as the Stripes held strong till the end of the first half to head to their dressing room with a comfortable two-goal cushion.

The Second Half

The Stripes threatened for the third goal after just sixty seconds in the second half. Sultana and Agius Pace showed great combination as they exchanged possession with Agius Pace serving Sultana who had her fine shot deflected into a corner kick.

Despite having the wind blowing against their way, the Stripes remained the most creative side. Substitute Isabelle Mazzitelli, who had to replace the injured Tracy Teuma, served Agius Pace who controlled well but had her shot saved by goalkeeper Borg.

Birkirkara produced an excellent opportunity fifteen minutes from time. Leanne Micallef made fine work before picking-up Agius Pace inside the box who left the ball to the on-running Sultana but the latter was unlucky to see her shot deflected into a corner kick with goalkeeper Borg beaten.

Mgarr got back in the match six minutes from time. A well-taken corner kick found veteran Rebecca D'Agostino rising high to hit a fine header past goalkeeper Xuereb.

Mgarr put everything forward in the last stages of the match but the Stripes showed great determination as they held strong for another important victory. Thanks to this victory, the Stripes regained a seven-point lead over Hibernians and fifteen over Mgarr United, but the latter have a game in hand.

BIRKIRKARA: Janice Xuereb, Yasmeen Vella, Ann-Marie Said, Stephania Farrugia, Mariah Sciberras (52' Sonia Schembri), Gabriella Zahra, Kim Parnis, Tracy Teuma (46' Isabelle Mazzitelli), Alishia Sultana, Leanne Micallef, Kelly Agius Pace (84' Cassie Camilleri) (90' Sarah Urpani).

Yellow Cards: 80' Isabelle Mazzitelli, 90+4' Leanne Micallef.

Scorers: 20' Kelly Agius Pace, 36' Alishia Sultana (Birkirkara), 84' Rebecca D'Agostino (Mgarr United).

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