Women's Team see off Raiders, finish second in the league

by Ayrton Galea - 28th April 2015

Birkirkara FC Women's Team made sure of ending the BOV Women's League in the second place by defeating Raiders 2-0, thanks to two goals in the first half by Kelly Agius Pace and Raina Giusti.

Fielding a depleted side due to a long list of injured players, the Stripes were faced with a difficult task to face the strong challenge of Raiders, who are still aiming for a third-place finish. However, Birkirkara showed determination, and against all odds won the match by taking a two-goal lead in the first-half, while holding strong in the second forty-five minutes.

Two Birkirkara players reached an important mile-stone in their career as Gabriella Zahra and Maryrose Cardona played their 100th match with our Club. Both players were presented with a token before the match, and rounded this achievement with an excellent performance.

Coach Johann Scicluna made two changes from last week's match. Yasmeen Vella regained her place at the back replacing Alishia Sultana, while Mariah Sciberras replaced Raina Giusti. Goalkeeper Janice Xuereb is still recovering from a shoulder, injury while Tara Attard, Alishia Sultana and Kim Parnis were all unavailable for selection due to injury.

The First Half

Raiders opened as the better side and they threatened first after nine minutes when Tracy Theuma had a dangerous up-rising shot parried by goalkeeper Nina Dimech. Moments later, technical midfielder Joselene Gafa had a shot from distance ending wide.

Led by the solid duo of Ann-Marie Said and Rebecca Bajada, the Raiders' rear-guard were giving little space for the Stripes forwards, but Birkirkara began to settle down as time went by. Martina Cilia, one of the most active midfielders, sent a fine through ball on the sixteenth minute to Mariah Sciberras but goalkeeper Hollie Vella came out to stop the action.

Both teams had a scoring opportunity mid-way through the first-half. Andy Zammit's attempt from distance went wide for the Raiders, while Melania Bajada was unlucky to see her curled free-kick scratching past the post.

The Stripes broke the deadlock on the thirty-second minute. Cilia showed great vision to unzip the defence with an excellent through-ball in the path of Kelly Agius Pace, who raced forward and fired home in-front of goalkeeper Vella.

Coach Johann Scicluna wanted a fresh pair of legs in his attack, and on the thirty-seventh minute, Raina Giusti replaced Mariah Sciberras. Giusti joined Agius Pace up-field.

Agius-Pace and Giusti form a tried and trusted tandem, and three minutes from half-time they created the second goal. Agius Pace sent an excellent pass that penetrated the defence, and Giusti on the run kept calm and slotted past Vella.

With Raiders having little time to react, the Stripes headed to their dressing room leading by two goals.

The Second Half

The Stripes started superior and they threatened twice in the opening minutes. Three minutes into the second half, Giusti served Cilia inside the box but her shot was blocked by goalkeeper Vella. Just moments later, Vella was in action once again, when she denied Giusti on the run who was about to collect a brilliant long-distance through-ball by Zahra.

Birkirkara remained on the attack as the hard-working Zahra and Cilia, backed by the solid Bajada and Chircop were making the difference in midfield. Ten minutes into the second half, Kelly Agius Pace went close to scoring the third goal, but her shot was blocked into a corner kick. From the same corner taken by Giusti, Farrugia failed to direct her header and from the rebound, Zahra hit the side netting.

Raiders Coach Jose Borg replaced Kathleen Mangion by Kathy Gribbon, which led to some tactical changes for his team.

Raiders were having more possession as they sought to get back in the match. The runs of Emma Xuereb were probably the Stripes' biggest headache, but on-form Maryrose Cardona was cancelling Xuereb's efforts.

Raiders went close twenty minutes into the second-half from a free-kick by Joselene Gafa, with the ball ending over, after Farrugia had fouled Xuereb outside the box. Moments later, Raiders threatened with a shot from distance which ended over.

In Birkirkara's second substitution of the match, Kirstie Vella, who enjoyed a positive display on the right lane, was substituted by Charlene Schembri on the seventy-seventh minute.

The Stripes went close to sealing the issue on the ninetieth minute, when Agius Pace got behind the defence but was fouled by the on-rushing Vella. From the free-kick, Zahra had her effort blocked. Birkirkara held strong till the final whistle, to take the three points and make sure of the second place in the league.

BIRKIRKARA: Nina Dimech, Kirstie Vella (77' Charlene Schembri), Stephania Farrugia, Yasmeen Vella, Mariah Sciberras (37' Raina Giusti), Melania Bajada, Gabriella Zahra, Rebecca Chircop, Martina Cilia, Maryrose Cardona, Kelly Agius Pace.

RAIDERS: Hollie Vella, Andy Zammit, Michelle Zuber, Kathleen Mangion (60' Kathy Gribbon), Chantelle Grech, Rebecca Bajada, Tracy Theuma, Ann-marie Said, Emma Xuereb, Rodianne Zerafa, Joselene Gafa.

Yellow Cards: 90' Hollie Vella.

Scorers: 32' Kelly Agius Pace, 42' Raina Giusti.

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