Six in a row for the Women's Team
by Ayrton Galea - 8th December 2015
Birkirkara FC Women's Team kept marching on and registered their sixth consecutive victory in the BOV Women's First Division League when a goal in each half by Melissa Stickland and Catherine Campbell gave a fine 2-0 victory over Kirkop United FC.
The Stripes showed great character to overcome the resilient challenge and bold defensive display of opponents Kirkop United when an early goal by Melissa Stickland put the Stripes ahead early in the match before Catherine Campbell put their heads at rest with the second goal mid-way through the second half.
It was the team's latest signing who stole the lime-light in this match as the English forward Melissa Stickland scored her first goal with our Club while she set-up the second goal scored by Catherine Campbell. For Campbell, this was her fourth goal from her last five outings.
Thanks to this victory, the Stripes assured of facing Hibernians in next week's big-match with just three points less than the Paolites, who defeated Mgarr United with a 4-2 score to regain sole-leadership. Hibernians are leading the table with twenty-four points, three over the Stripes.
Birkirkara's Coach Mr. Jean Pierre Portanier made two changes from the last match against Raiders. Melissa Stickland was handed her first start at the expense of Isabelle Mazzitelli while Charlene Schembri replaced Melania Bajada.
The Birkirkara Coach set out a 4-4-1-1 formation. Xuereb defended the posts with Stephania Farrugia and Yasmeen Vella as central-backs while Oriana Bedingfield and Charlene Schembri on the sides. Gabriella Zahra and Kim Parnis composed the midfield department while Melissa Stickland and Raina Giusti patrolled the wings. Campbell and Kelly Agius Pace started in attack.
The First Half
The Stripes started brightly. One minute past and they went close. Charlene Schembri was quick to serve Melissa Stickland who unleashed a powerful shot from diagonal angle that almost surprised goalkeeper Costantino but the shot scratched past the far post.
Birkirkara surged ahead in their next attack on the seventh minute. Raina Giusti produced a terrific run on the left channel as she sprinted forwards before supplying and excellent low cross that found Stickland in the perfect position to slam home from close-range and score the first goal with our Club.
Settled by the opening goal, the Stripes continued to show better ideas. On the thirteenth minute, Giusti, once again penetrating on the left channel, cut inside the middle before having her shot ending wide.
The Stripes produced another fine scoring opportunity on eighteenth minute. Stickland showed great skills to avoid two markers before serving Campbell who had a powerful shot from outside the box ending over by inches.
Birkirkara remained on the attack. Giusti delivered an excellent cross from the left side on the twenty-seventh minute to the path of Kelly Agius Pace that saw the latter's shot from inside the box ending narrowly wide.
The Stripes continued to show better ideas. They dictated the play and enjoy large swatches of possessions but they were struggling to penetrate in the final third. On the thirty-eighth minute, Kim Parnis delivered a dangerous free-kick on the second post that saw Campbell failing to hit from close-range.
As the match approached half-time, Birkirkara threatened twice to double their lead. Three minutes from time, Kim Parnis had a fierce shot from outside the box blocked by goalkeeper Costantino while minute later, the same player had a shot from inside the box parried by Costantino as the first-half score remained unchanged.
The Second Half
The Birkirkara Coach affected the first substitution five minutes inside the second-half. Melania Bajada was introduced on the right side-back as she replaced Charlene Schembri who enjoyed a fine performance.
Bajada quickly left her impact as after three minutes, her cross was short-cleared by the defence with the ball ending at the feet of Kim Parnis who had a fierce strike ending wide by inches with goalkeeper Costantino beaten.
In Birkirkara's second substitution, Mr. Portanier included Isabelle Mazzitelli as she replaced Kelly Agius Pace just past the hour mark. Mazzitelli was included on the right wing as Stickland was advanced in the attack.
Birkirkara goalkeeper Janice Xuereb was called into action twenty minutes inside the second half as made a routine save of nuetralising a long distance free-kick.
The Stripes put their mind at rest with the second goal on the sixty-eighth minute. The mobile movement of Stickland unsettled the defence as the English striker found space outside the box to serve Catherine and the latter showed fine skills to control the ball before she struck a wonderful shot past the goalkeeper.
Winger Raina Giusti who set-up the first goal was substituted by Kirstie Vella twenty minutes from time in Birkirkara's third and final substitute on the day.
Stickland could have made them three fifteen minutes from time as she sprinted forward to collect a wonderful through-ball by Gabriella Zahra but the English striker's shot from an ideal position was blocked by the Kirkop goalkeeper.
In the last action of the match, Campbell unleashed a wonderful shot from inside the box but goalkeeper Costantino produced another fine save as the margin remained by two and the Stripes extended their winning streak to six matches.
BIRKIRKARA: Janice Xuereb, Oriana Bedingfield, Yasmeen Vella, Stephania Farrugia, Charlene Schembri (50' Melania Bajada), Gabriella Zahra, Kim Parnis, Raina Giusti (70' Kirstie Vella), Catherine Campbell, Melissa Stickland, Kelly Agius Pace (61' Isabelle Mazzitelli)
Yellow Cards: 55' Kelly Agius Pace.
Scorers: 7' Melissa Stickland, 68' Catherine Campbell.
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