Women's Team sweat to beat Raiders

by Ayrton Galea - 26th February 2016

Birkirkara FC Women's Team consolidated their second place in the BOV Women's First Division League on Tuesday evening, when a brilliant strike by Stephania Farrugia just past the half-hour mark enabled them to defeat Raiders FC 1-0, in a very hard-fought match.

In a balanced match, Raiders enjoyed an edge over the Stripes in the first-half but it was the latter who converted a fast counter-attack to break the dead-lock. In the second half, the Stripes made a big improvement and it was only a string of fine saves by goalkeeper Jodie Attard that kept Raiders in the match.

With this victory, Birkirkara remained in the second place with twenty-eighth points, eleven under Hibernians, while preserving their six-point lead over Mgarr United. They also extended their lead over fourth-placed Kirkop to sixteen points, nineteen points over Raiders and twenty-seven over bottom-placed Pembroke Athleta.

The First Half

The Stripes had their first opening opportunity on the eighth minute, when Kelly Agius Pace sprinted forward before serving Sarah Urpan, who saw her fierce shot ending over. Raiders replied a minute later with a shot ending wide by Emma Xuereb.

Raiders were unlucky not to surge ahead on the half-hour when Oriana Bedingfield floored a Raiders forward player outside the box, and the referee ordered the free-kick before cautioning the Birkirkara player. From the resulting free-kick, Ann-Marie Said saw her well-placed strike hitting the crossbar.

Raiders were playing better but it was the Stripes who surged ahead. Stephania Farrugia made an excellent overlap and a short clearance fell at her feet, and she struck a wonderful low-bottom shot past goalkeeper Jodie Attard.

The first-half ended with the Stripes having a narrow lead thanks to Farrugia's strike.

The Second Half

At the start of the second half, Coach Portanier introduced Mariah Sciberras off Charlene Schembri. Moments later the Birkirkara Coach was forced to make the second substitution, as Raina Giusti left the field with a muscle injury, and she was replaced by Isabelle Mazzitelli.

Isabelle Mazzitelli almost left an instant mark on the fifty-seventh minute but she could have done better when her strike from inside the box ended totally over. Five minutes later, goalkeeper Jodie Attard denied Gabriella Zahra with a brilliant save, and from the rebound, the same goalkeeper made another fine save to stop a low shot by Sarah Urpani.

On the sixty-eighth minute, in Birkirkara's third change, Samantha Zarb replaced Sarah Uprani while few minutes later, Michela Felice, one of the key players of the Under-16's Team, made her debut with the Senior Team as she replaced Kelly Agius Pace.

The Stripes held strong for the victory as goalkeeper Janice Xuereb, who was rarely tested, ensured another clean-sheet in the Women's League.

BIRKIRKARA: Janice Xuereb, Charlene Schembri (46' Mariah Sciberras), Stephania Farrugia, Yasmeen Vella, Oriana Bedingfield, Gabriella Zahra, Kim Parnis, Sarah Urpani (68' Samantha Zarb), Raina Giusti (48' Isabelle Mazzitelli), Kelly Agius Pace (75' Michela Felice)

Yellow Cards: 29' Oriana Bedingfield.

Scorers: 32' Stephania Farrugia.

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