Birkirkara FC starts Women's League with a narrow victory
by Ayrton Galea - 30th September 2015
Birkirkara FC Women's Team kicked off their BOV Women's First Division League commitments with a narrow victory over Pembroke Athleta as own goal before the half-time whistle made all the difference despite dominating for long stretches.
The narrow score-line and with an own goal suggests that the Stripes struggled, but for long stretches they enjoyed superiority and after scoring the opening goal in the first half, they were unlucky not to increase the score particularly after being by the crossbar twice in a space of a minute fifteen minutes from the end.
Mr. Jean Pierre Portanier made four changes from last Tuesday's defeat against Hibernians. Goalkeeper Nina Dimech defended the posts while Isabelle Mazzitelli and Melania Bajada who were both included as substitutes in the last match started the match. Mariah Sciberras was also given the nod for her first start. Catherine Campbelle made her debut as she was included as a substitute after all her paperwork was registered on time with the MFA.
The First Half
Both teams threatened for the opening goal in the early stages. The Stripes were first to produce the opportunity as after two minutes, Kelly Agius Pace beat the offside trap but her effort was deflected into a corner kick. On the other hand, minute later, Leanne Micallef won possession outside the box but her up-rising shot ended over the bar.
The Stripes were dictating matters but with Pembroke defending in number, they were struggling to penetrate in the final third. On the sixteenth minute, Maryrose Cardona had a diagonal low shot saved by goalkeeper RoseMarie Baldaccinho.
Birkirkara went close again as technical player Melania Bajada had a direct free-kick saved by Baldaccinho on the twenty-eighth minute while two minutes later, Kelly Agius Pace found space in the box but her shot was neutralised by the alerted goalkeeper.
The Stripes remained in command and on the thirty-ninth minute they were unlucky not to surge ahead. Melania Bajada sent an accurate corner on the second post that saw Stephania Farrugia rising high to hit a powerful header only to see her effort cleared off the goal-line, with goalkeeper Baldaccinho beaten.
Pembroke were reprieved but not for long as Birkirkara broke the dead-lock in their next attack. Bajada and Farrugia were among the protagonists once as Bajada's free-kick found Farrugia who headed the ball outside the box with Raina Giusti having her shot deflected by Monique Sultana for an unfortunate own goal.
The end of the first-half found the Stripes leading by one.
The Second Half
For the start of the second half, AlIshia Sultana was included on the right wing for the expenses of Raina Giusti. The first change by Mr. Jean Pierre Portanier featured no tactical changes as the Stripes went out with the same 4-4-1-1 approach.
The Stripes could have doubled the lead three minutes inside the second half when a short-clearance fell to the feet of Isabelle Mazzittelli but the latter show her shot scratching past the post with goalkeeper Baldaccinho beaten.
Danish Forward Heidi Kjaer was included off Mariah Sciberras on the fiftieth minute in Birkirkara's second substitution and she quickly left an impact. Hardly minute on the pitch, the Danish forward received possession from Kelly Agius Pace and saw her shot ending wide by inches.
Birkirkara threatened again. Gabriella Zahra, who was enjoying an outstanding display in the heart of midfield, delivered an accurate first-post cross to Stephania Farrugia who the latter controlled before saw her effort ending wide.
In Birkirkara's third substitution ten minutes inside the second half, Chantal Fenech replaced Maryrose Cardona. It was a fine day for Cardona who patrolled the right-back with an excellent performance thanks to her continuous runs.
The Stripes remained in command by keeping possession and turning the ball around. With just one goal lead, they stayed calm and continued to play ball on the ground. On the other hand, Pembroke continued defending in number and trying to operate with the counter-attacks, with Leanne Micallef the main figure in attack thanks to her speed and technique.
English midfielder Catherine Campbelle made her debut for the Stripes on the sixty-sixth minute when she was included off technical midfielder Melania Bajada while four minutes later Kim Parnis replaced Kelly Agius Pace.
Both substitutes were unlucky not to increase the score. On the seventy-fifth minute, Kim Parnis picked-up possession from a short-clearance and controlled the before her fierce drive smashed against the crossbar.
The same luck had the Birkirkara's debutant Catherine Campbell just minute later. The towering midfielder controlled the ball outside the box and unleashed a powerful strike that was blocked by the goalkeeper and hit the crossbar.
Leanne Micallef caught the Birkirkara defence on the wrong-foot in the final moments when she sprinted inside the box but defender Stephania Farrugia produced a brilliant tackle to not only block the ball but also hits the ball with the Pembroke strike as the ball ended into a goal-kick as the Stripes held for a narrow victory.
BIRKIRKARA: Nina Dimech, Maryrose Cardona (55' Chantal Fenech), Yasmeen Vella, Stephania Farrugia, Oriana Bedingfield, Gabriella Zahra, Melania Bajada (66' Catherine Campbell), Mariah Sciberras (50' Heidi Kjaer), Isabelle Mazzitelli, Raina Giusti (46' Alishia Sultana), Kelly Agius Pace (70' Kim Parnis).
PEMBROKE: Rosemarie Baldacchino, Annabelle Rapa, Sarah Cassar Dymond, Ottilia Debattista, Lorna Cassar, Cassandra Camilleri, Sonia Schembri, Leanne Micallef, Sarah Caruana, Rachel Mifsud, Monique Sultana.
Yellow Card: 60' Yasmeen Vella
Scorer: 41' Own Goal.
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