Women's Team hopes for league title dashed

by Ayrton Galea - 21st April 2015

Birkirkara FC Women's Team saw their title aspirations blown away on Monday evening, when they fell to a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Mgarr United. This defeat means that Hibernians only need one point to secure the title.

In a frustrating evening that saw the Stripes fielding a depleted side in an off day, Mgarr converted their scoring opportunities to strengthen their third-place aspirations, while dashing Birkirkara's hopes of challenging for the title. The Stripes now lie six points under Hibernians with just two matches to go.

Goalkeeper Janice Xuereb, Tara Yasmeen Vella were only fit for the substitutes' bench, while Raina Giusti, Stephania Farrugia and Martina Cilia were not in the best condition. Rebecca Chircop and Kelly Agius Pace were back following skipping the last match. Kim Parnis and Alexia Scicluna were ruled-out injured

The First Half

The Stripes opened as the most aggressive side and they created two scoring chances early on. On the tenth minute, Raina Giusti had a shot saved by goalkeeper Rachel Borg, while four minutes later, Maryrose Cardona had a dangerous shot ending wide.

Birkirkara suffered a set-back after twenty minutes. Alishia Sultana was unable to continue playing and was replaced by Mariah Sciberras. Sciberras replaced Sultana as a side-back and Maryrose Cardona took up a position in midfield.

The Stripes should have surged ahead mid-way through the first half. On the twenty-fourth minute Cardona, one of the best players for the Stripes on the day, supplied a brilliant through ball to Giusti but the latter's careless finish was blocked by Borg.

Mgarr surged ahead five minutes from half-time. A short free-kick saw Jasmine Vella Turner receiving possession and her fierce strike went past goalkeeper Dimech.

Mgarr were found leading at the break, thanks to Vella Turner's goal.

The Second Half

The Stripes came out aggressive in the second-half, and they went close to scoring in less than a minute thanks to Cardona's powerful strike, which was turned into a corner kick. From the resulting corner kick taken by Melania Bajada, Stephania Farrugia headed high.

Birkirkara continued to attack. On the forty-ninth minute, Kelly Agius Pace fashioned a fine move by dribbling past her marker and drifted inside the box, but her shot was parried by goalkeeper Borg. Nine minutes later, the same player went close with a cute lob that ended just over the bar.

However, against the run of the play, it was Mgarr who doubled the lead on the hour mark. Mariah Sciberras was adjudicated to have fouled inside the box, and the referee ordered a penalty-kick. From the eleven metre spot, Rebecca D'Agostino made no mistake.

Two became three just five minutes later, as Birkirkara's woes increased. A cross from the right, following a short-corner, found substitute Rachel Nolan anticipating goalkeeper Nina Dimech to score the third goal for Mgarr.

The Stripes looked too vulnerable to make any sort of reaction, bar a late shot by Stephania Farrugia which was blocked into safety by goalkeeper Borg. Mgarr held strong for a surprising 3-0 defeat to strengthen their grip for the third-place challenge.

BIRKIRKARA: Nina Dimech, Alishia Sultana (20' Mariah Sciberras), Rebecca Chircop, Stephania Farrugia, Kirstie Vella, Maryrose Cardona, Gabriella Zahra, Melania Bajada, Martina Cilia, Raina Giusti (61' Charlene Schembri), Kelly Agius Pace.

Scorers: 40' Jasmine Vella Turner, 60' Rebecca D'Agostino, 65' Rachel Nolan.

comments powered by Disqus