Under 16's girls keeps marching on

by Ayrton Galea - 6th January 2014

Two goals each by Raina Giusti and Mariah Sciberras, enabled Birkirkara Girls Under-16's to keep their momentum by securing their fourth consecutive victory, when they beat Kirkop United 4-1 on Sunday.

Birkirkara were the superior side for most of the time, but Kirkop were resilient and they gave an improved performance in the second half.

The First Half

Birkirkara had an excellent start as they surged ahead after forty-five seconds. Raina Giusti drifted inside the area and her shot beat the goalkeeper.

Kirkop sought an early equaliser and Demi Megrin had a diagonal shot saved by goalkeeper Jennifer Galea.

Raina Giusti had a fine solo-action on the fifth minute, and she concluded with a shot that ended over.

Jennifer Galea, the Birkirkara goalkeeper made an excellent save, turning into a corner a shot by Kathryn Ellul on the eighth minute.

Kirkop were increasing their pressure and they had another scoring opportunity on the tenth minute when Demi Megrin had a fine shot, which was saved by goalkeeper Galea.

Rachel Caruana for Kirkop had a golden opportunity on the twelfth minute as she stole possession outside Birkirkara's box, but her shot sailed over the bar.

The Stripes made them two thanks to a fast break-away on the fourteenth minute. Mariah Sciberras dribbled past a player before advancing and placing the ball at the back of the net.

Hardly a minute later, the Stripes had another scoring opportunity when Raina Giusti had a shot from inside the area blocked by the goalkeeper.

Two became three on the eighteenth minute, as Mariah Sciberras managed to find the net for the second time with a fine strike.

Tara Attard was the protagonist on the twentieth minute when she blocked a powerful low free-kick off the goal-line.

Two minutes from half time, Mariah Sciberras threatened for her hat-trick but her low shot was parried by the goalkeeper.

Just before the half time whistle, Birkirkara were denied from the fourth goal. Raina Giusti had a powerful free-kick blocked by the goalkeeper, aided by the crossbar.

The half time whistle found Birkirkara enjoying a comfortable 3-0 lead.

The Second Half

Five minutes into the second half, the Stripes were denied once again as Raina Giusti had a close range shot hitting the upright.

On the other side of the pitch, Jennifer Galea made an excellent save to deny Kirkop from narrowing the gap before Alexia Galea cleared into safer waters.

Just past the half hour mark, Tara Attard had a powerful shot scratching past the crossbar.

On the thirty-eighth minute, Raina Giusti had a shot from outside the box saved by the goalkeeper.

Substitute Sarah Urpani, who had been included just moments earlier, was quick to leave her mark. On the forty-second minute, she made a solo action before serving Raina Giusti who saw her shot hitting the crossbar, being the third time that she hit the post.

However, Raina quickly made up for this lack of luck. On the forty-third minute she scored her second personal goal with a placed shot.

Kirkop pulled one back five minutes from time, thanks to a direct free-kick, despite the desperate attempt to save by goalkeeper Galea.

The full time whistle found Birkirkara securing another precious victory with a comfortable score of 4-1.

BIRKIRKARA:Jennifer Galea, Alexia Galea (32' Michela Felice), Julia Micallef (42' Mireille Bellizzi), Alishia Sultana (42' Sarah Urpani), Tara Attard, (47' Anthea Enriquez) Raina Giusti (44' Samantha Zarb), Mariah Sciberras (48' Maria Fenech).

KIRKOP:Yasmine Farrugia, Celine Galea, Charlene Cassia, Kathryn Ellul, Amy Zammit, Rachel Caruana, Demi Magrin.

Scorers: 1' Raina Giusti, 14' Mariah Sciberras, 18' Mariah Sciberras, 44' Raina Giusti (Birkirkara).

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