Efficient Stripes torment Kirkop United

by Ayrton Galea - 4th November 2015

Birkirkara FC Women's Team registered a brilliant victory on Tuesday evening and climbed to the second place of the BOV Women's League when they defeated Kirkop United FC with a 5-0 score thanks to a brace by Kelly Agius Pace and a goal each by Catherine Campbell, Maryrose Cardona and Kim Parnis.

Boosted by the 2-1 victory over Raiders FC, one expected that the Stripes will continue building on last Tuesday's performance and with a five-star display, they certainly reached their objectives. They built a comfortable three-goal lead at the break and added another two in the second half to register the biggest victory of the season.

Inspired by the electrifying performance of forwards Catherine Campbell and Kelly Agius Pace who combined three goals, as Agius Pace netted a brace and set Campbell for the first goal of the season, the Stripes tormented their opponents who hardly tested goalkeeper Janice Xuereb.

Birkirkara's Coach Mr. Jean Pierre Portanier kept trust in the 4-4-1-1 formation but made two changes from the 2-1 victory over Raiders. Charlene Schembri replaced Alishia Sultana while Heidi Kjear was only fit to start on the bench and was replaced by Maryrose Cardona.

This led to tactical adjustments on the right side as Schembri started as a side-back, taking the place of Melania Bajada who was advanced in her usual midfield position. In the other change, Maryrose Cardona was included on the right wing instead of Alishia Sultana.

Janice Xuereb defended the posts with Stephania Farrugia and Yasmeen Vella formed the central-backs with Charlene Schembri and Oriana Bedingfield as side-backs. Gabriella Zahra and Melania Bajada composed the midfield department while Maryrose Cardona and Raina Giusti patrolled the wings. Catherine Campbell took a roaming role behind Kelly Agius Pace in attack.

The First Half

The Stripes registered the perfect started as they took just five minutes to break the dead-lock. Catherine Campbell unzipped the defence with a fine pass to Kelly Agius Pace and the latter sprinted forwarded before she produced a wonderful lob over the goalkeeper.

Despite taking an early lead, the opening stages were balanced but Birkirkara could have doubled the lead on the thirteenth minute. Campbell and Agius Pace combined well again with the English midfielder putting Agius Pace through but the latter's failed the target.

Kirkop's sigh of relief lasted only five minutes as the Stripes doubled the lead. The speed of Raina Giusti was clear to see as she surged on the left flank and her shot was blocked by the goalkeeper but from the rebound, Kelly Agius Pace slammed home.

The combination of Campbell and Agius Pace caught the eye again on the twenty-fifth minute. This time, they exchanged roles as Agius Pace served Campbell but the latter's up-rising shot ended just over the bar.

Birkirkara made them three on the twenty-eighth minute. The attacking tandem of Campbell and Agius Pace was tormenting the defence and their excellent combination led to the third goal. Campbell sent Agius Pace through and the latter returned the pass to Campbell who controlled and hit past the goalkeeper.

Leading by three, the Stripes were now dictating matters. They were enjoying large swatches of possession and before half-time, they could have made them four. Campbell set Agius Pace in-front of the goalkeeper but her shot ended wide by inches.

The end of the first half saw the Stripes leading by three thanks to a brace of Agius Pace and anither one by Catherine Campbell.

The Second Half

Three became four three minutes inside the second half. Kelly Agius Pace got past the Kirkop United defence and her shot was blocked by the goalkeeper but from the rebound, Maryrose Cardona was the quickest to make the best and hit home from close-range to score her first goal this season.

Mr. Jean Pierre Portanier utilised his first substitution on the fifty-fourth minute as Charlene Schembri was replaced by Alsihia Sultana. Sultana was included on the right flank while Cardona was deployed as right back.

The brilliant of combination of Campbell and Agius Pace remained evident once again. On the fifty-seventh minute, Agius advanced on the right before picking-up Campbell who had her shot blocked by the goalkeeper. Three minutes later, substitute Sultana had shot blocked by the goalkeeper.

In Birkirkara's second substitution, Kelly Agius Pace, scorer of a brace and setting Birkirkara's third goal, was substituted by Kim Parnis on the sixty-second minute. Undoubtedly, it was the best performance so far for Agius Pace.

Raina Giusti could have made them five twenty minutes inside the second half when she sprinted forward down the left flank and cut inside the middle but goalkeeper Sharon Costantino made an excellent save.

The flowing movement of Campbell continued to un-settle the defence as she combined well with the tireless midfielder Gabriella Zahra but the latter's shot was saved on the seventieth minute.

Birkirkara added the fifth goal on the seventy-second minute. It was a direct free-kick by Gabriella Zahra which was not held by goalkeeper Sharon Costantino, and from the rebound, Kim Parnis slotted home from short distance.

Winger Raina Giusti was replaced by Isabelle Mazzitelli in Birkirkara's third substitution on the seventy-third minute.

The match continued to be a one-sided match as Birkirkara were all over their opponents. On the seventy-third minute, Alishia Sultana stole possession outside the box but her shot ended wide. The same luck was for Stephania Farrugia, now advanced in attack, as she fired wide after served by Kim Parnis.

Kirstie Vella made her first appearance this season after she recovered from an injury as she was included as a substitute on the seventy-sixth minute by replacing Maryrose Cardona while in the final change, Catherine Campbell who was among the best players, was substituted by Martina Cilia four minutes later as the score remained unchanged.

Thanks to this victory, the Stripes climbed in the second place with nine points from four matches, two over Mgarr United who suffered a 3-1 defeat against Hibernians. The Stripes will be facing Mgarr in their next match in a direct clash for the second place.

BIRKIRKARA: Janice Xuereb, Oriana Bedingfield, Stephania Farrugia, Yasmeen Vella, Charlene Schembri (54' Alishia Sultana), Melania Bajada, Gabriella Zahra, Maryrose Cardona (76' Kirstie Vella), Raina Giusti (73' Isabelle Mazzitelli), Catherine Campbell (80' Martina Cilia), Kelly Agius Pace (62' Kim Parnis.

Scorers: 5' Kelly Agius Pace, 18' Kelly Agius Pace, 28' Catherine Campbell, 48' Maryrose Cardona, 72' Kim Parnis.

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