Title-challengers Birkirkara and Mosta were both held in draws and therefore with one game to go, both continue to share the top spot in the BOV Women’s First Division.
Birkirkara were held in a 1-1 draw at the Sannat Ground on Sunday.
Gozo were determined to take a positive result from the game, taking the lead after just ten minutes through Tracy Teuma. To make the matters worse for Birkirkara, Rachel Cuschieri had to leave the pitch injured a frew minutes later. However five minutes in the second half, they were awarded a penalty after Stephania Farrugia was floored inside the area. From the penalty spot, Kim Parnis converted. Mary Rose Cardona was sent off for Birkirkara three minutes from time.
GOZO Fabiann Vella, Ann-Marie Said, Rita Azzopardi, Tracy Teuma, Rebecca Bajada, Felicienne Mercieca, Michelle Pace, Emma Xuereb, Moddyann Refalo, Joselene Gafa, Melania Bajada.
Coach: Melania Bajada
B’KARA Janice Xuereb, Kelly Agius Pace, Raina Giusti (Kelly Groves 75’), Yasmeen Vella, Kirstie Vella, Stephania Farrugia, Kim Parnis, Gabriella Zahra, Alishia Sultana, Maryrose Cardona, Rachel Cuschieri (Simone Buttigieg 23’) (Isabelle Mazzitelli 46’).
Coach: Johann Scicluna
Referee: Shaun Calleja
Scorers: Tracy Teuma 10’ (G), Kim Parnis 50’ pen (B)
On Tuesday, Mosta were held in another 1-1 draw by Hibernians at the Charles Abela Stadium.
After Birkirkara’s draw, Mosta were all out to claim the three points which would have handed them sole leadership. However Hibernians gave them a very hard time. In fact, following a goalless draw at the end of the first half, early after the break, Ylenia Carabott put the Paolites ahead. On the 70th, Hibs defender Maria Azzoaprdi handled the ball inside the area and the referee ordered a penalty and showed Azzopardi the red card. Dorianne Theuma converted from the penalty spot.
This means that next week’s clash between Mosta and Birkirkara will decide which way the championship will go. In case of a draw, another deciding match would be necessary.
MOSTA Sharon Costantino, Rebecca D’Agostino, Natasha Pace, Karen Lia, Oriana Bedingfield, Shona Zammit, Dorrianne Theuma, Yanika Fenech, Nicole Buttigieg, Jade Flask, AnnMarie Muscat.
Coach: Kenneth Costantino
HIBS Keoney Demicoli, Claire Sciberras, Ylenia Carabott, Dione Tonna, Ruth Steer Chetam (Nicole Borg 73’), Rosalie Cauchi, Marie Claire Aquilina (Maria Azzopardi 67’), Charlene Zammit, Rebecca Vella (Corissa Vella White 76’), Sherianne Zammit, Francesca Chircop.
Coach: Keith Gouder
Scorers: Ylenia Carabott 46’ (H), Dorianne Theuma 70’ (M)
Tarxien Rainbows defeated Hamrun Spartans 3-0 at the Tarxien Ground.
They managed to take the lead on the 15th minute when Lisa Senecal served Janice Zahra who managed to beat Hamrun goalkeeper Karen Camilleri. Zahra doubled the score on 31 minutes when Kim Magro hit the posts and she placed the ball at the back of the net.
Hamrun tried their best to reduce the gap but Tarxien goalie Dorienne Grech kept them at bay. In the dying minutes, Kristine Camilleri scored a direct freekick to make it 3-0.
TARXIEN Dorienne Grech, Antionette Vella (Elise Abela 65’), Cheryl Cachia, Diane Bonello, Kristine Camilleri, Lisa Senecal, Kim Magro, Leah Marie Pisani, Joanne Chetcuti (Diandra Farrugia 56’), Janice Zahra (Francesca Cauchi 72’), Chantel Spiteri.
Coach: Norbert Bugeja.
HAMRUN Karen Camilleri, Christabelle Bonello, Zuleika Azzopardi, Shana Zerafa, Kimberly Micallef, Amanda Atkins, Tedia Attard (Chantelle Muscat 64’), Nikita Agius, Lilian Cremona, Christine Galea (Shaya Ciantar 52’), Amanda Buhagiar.
Coach: Sean Scicluna
Referee: Sandro Spiteri
Scorers: Janice Zahra 15’ 31’, Kristine Camilleri 90+1
In another match, a goal two minutes in stoppage time by Brenda Borg gave Mgarr United a 1-0 win over Pembroke Athleta at the Mgarr Ground.
The two teams shared the exchanges during the first half with Amber Grech going close for Pembroke as she hit the crossbar and Alice Stanton also hitting the bar for Mgarr. Brenda Borg was also unlucky to hit the woodwork on 32 minutes.
After the break, both sides continued to try to break the deadlock until a counter-attack for Mgarr which saw Brenda Borg dribbling a defender and beating the Pembroke goalkeeper with a low shot.
MGARR Ruth Debono, Claudette Xuereb, Abigail Camilleri, Antionette Sammut, Mariana Vella, Maria Mizzi, Daniela Ebejer, Alice Stanton, Jasmine Vella Turner, Brenda Borg, Chantelle Bezzina.
Coach: Ray Vella.
PEMBROKE RoseMarie Baldacchino, Sarah Cassar Dymond, Sarah Caruana (Charlene Leonardi 74’), Monique Sultana, Cassandra Camilleri (Ilenia Navarro 89’), Amber Grech, Annabelle Rapa, Martina Borg, Ottilia Debattista, Sonia Schembri, Thresa Scicluna.
Coach: Rikky Pace
Referee: Peter Abela
Scorers: Brenda Borg 90+2 (M)