Women's Team sweat to beat Kirkop United

by Ayrton Galea - 26th January 2017

Birkirkara FC Women's Team registered their eleventh consecutive victory in the BOV Women's First Division League on Wednesday evening, when they defeated Kirkop United FC with a 2-0 score.

With current Champions Hibernians defeating Mgarr United the night before to trim the gap to four points, the pressure was all on the Stripes. However, the Stripes produced another determined performance and despite they had to encounter a hard-fought match, they scored twice in the second half to regain their seven-point lead on top of the table.

It was anything than a walk in the park for the Stripes as opponents Kirkop United, who continued to build on their recent positive performances, produced a very resistant challenge but a marvelous goal by substitute Samantha Zarb and a late goal by Kelly Agius Pace undone their efforts.

Thanks to this victory, the Stripes have thirty-four points, seven over Hibernians and sixteen over Kirkop United. Mgarr are fourth with sixteen points, but they have a game in hand, while Raiders and Gozo have four points each but the latter also have a game in hand.

Coach Shawn Meilak handed Sarah Urpani her first appearance from the start this season as she replaced Kelly Agius Pace. In the other change, Raina Giusti, who returned after skipping the last match, replaced Tracy Teuma who was only fit to start on the substitutes' bench after suffering a knock in the last match.

The First Half

Both teams threatened for the opening goal inside the first seven minutes. It was the Stripes first who after six minutes, they produced a good chance. Raina Giusti drifted inside the box and sent an inviting cross to Alishia Sultana but the latter failed to connect from just some yards out.

Kirkop didn't hold back and they went close just moments later. Their positive and quick transition saw them catching the Birkirkara's rear-guard on the wrong foot but Captain Stephania Farrugia produced an excellent tackle to block Liiz Pello's shot from a good position inside the box.

The match continued to be entertaining inside the opening minutes. On the eleventh minute, Urpani did well to give a fine pass to Giusti but the latter's shot was too central to trouble goalkeeper Dorienne Grech.

On the fifteenth minute, Leanne Micallaf and Alishia Sultana combined well and the latter's cross-shot was turned into a corner kick by Grech. Four minutes later, Pello served Demi Magrin but her close-range shot was blocked by goalkeeper Janice Xuereb.

Mid-way through the first-half, Coach Shawn Meilak was forced to make his first change. Raina Giusti, still struggling with flu, was far from in the best condition and she was replaced by Kelly Agius Pace.

Agius Pace was involved in the last action of the first half as she produced a solo-action that saw her drifting forward but her shot was saved by Grech, as the first-half ended goal-less.

The Second Half

With forty-five minutes to go, there was a sense of pressure on the Stripes players. The Stripes looked to try more numbers up-front but it was Kirkop United who could break the dead-lock after ten minutes, but with only Xuereb to beat, the Blues' player hit wide.

The Stripes looked unsettled and Coach Shawn Meilak made two substitutions in space of four minutes when Sonia Schembri replaced Mariah Sciberras while Samantha Zarb replaced Sarah Urpani.

The inclusion of Zarb left the desired result as the up-and-coming youngster scored a gem of a goal with her first touch of the game twenty minutes inside the second half. There was a short clearance from the back and the ball reached Zarb outside the box who struck a first-time wonderful uprising shot that stunned the Kirkop goalkeeper. The delight of Zarb was more than deserved as this was her first appearance this season.

One goal down, Kirkop began to pile-up the pressure by playing more direct long-balls. Twenty minutes from time, undoubtedly one of their best performers, Viverly Erazo hit a powerful free-kick which saw Janice Xuereb saving in two attempts.

The Stripes made sure of the three points on the first minute on added time. A free-kick from the ball by Stephania Farrugia reached forward Kelly Agius Pace who calmly in-front Grech slotted home to score her second game as from matches to put the three precious points in the bag.

BIRKIRKARA: Janice Xuereb, Mariah Sciberras (58' Sonia Schembri), Ann-Marie Said, Stephania Farrugia, Yasmeen Vella, Gabriella Zahra, Kim Parnis, Leanne Micallef, Alishia Sultana, Raina Giusti (25' Kelly Agius Pace), Sarah Urpani (62' Samantha Zarb).

Scorers: 65' Samantha Zarb, 90+1' Kelly Agius Pace.

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