Women's Team register ninth consecutive victory

by Ayrton Galea - 8th January 2017

Birkirkara FC Women's Team completed their second round commitments of the BOV Women's First Division League with a comfortable victory, when two goals in each half enabled them to defeat Gozo FC with a 4-1 score.

The Stripes had ended the year on a high after beating arch-rivals Hibernians to open a comfortable seven-point lead and today's victory put them ten points over the same Paolites who will take on Raiders this Tuesday.

It was a collective effort from the Stripes who saw them having an edge over their opponents for long stretches. From their side, Gozo did well and they managed to bring to an end Birkirkara's clean-sheet after nine matches when they pulled one back after the Stripes had opened a two-goal lead.

The First Half

The Stripes surged ahead after eight minutes. It was an excellent through-ball by towering midfielder Gabriella Zahra towards Raina Giusti who saw the rapid-winger dribbling past two players before placing a powerful shot in the net.

Birkirkara doubled their lead just before the half-hour mark. Leanne Micallef, who was making her return after missing the last game, sent Giusti through and her diagonal cross-shot was blocked by the goalkeeper but the defender put the ball into her own net in an attempt to clear.

Gozo pulled one back just a minute later. Maria Farrugia stole possession off Stephania Farrugia and hit a wonderful strike that gave no chance to goalkeeper Rose-Marie Baldaccinho.

The Second Half

The Stripes started the second-half on a high as they sought to regain a two-goal lead to put their minds at rest. A powerful shot by Kim Parnis after sixty seconds was turned into a corner kick thanks to a good save by the goalkeeper while moments later, Gabriella Zahra had a shot ending wide.

Birkirkara made them three on the hour mark. It was a powerful free-kick by Kim Parnis that saw goalkeeper blocking her attempt but from the rebound, Tracy Teuma slotted the ball home into an empty net.

Teuma was denied moments later when she rattled the crossbar with a fine shot but she found the back of the net again thirteen minutes from time. The Birkirkara playmaker rose high to hit home with a fine header off a free-kick by Gabriella Zahra to seal the issue.

Thanks to this victory, the Stripes are temporally ten points clear but Hibernians have a game in hand. The Stripes will start their third round commitments in a difficult match against Mgarr United.

BIRKIRKARA: Rosemarie Baldaccinho, Cassie Camilleri (52' Kelly Agius Pace), Stephania Farrugia, Yasmeen Vella, Ann-Marie Said, Mariah Sciberras, Gabriella Zahra (80' Maria Fenech), Kim Parnis, Tracy Teuma, Leanne Micallef, Raina Giusti (73' Sarah Urpani).

Scorers: 8' Raina Giusti, 29' Own Goal, 60' Tracy Teuma, 77' Tracy Teuma (Birkirkara), 31' Maria Farrugia (Gozo).

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