Sole leadership was at stake as Hibernians and Birkirkara cross swords in a match from the BOV Women’s First Division at the Charles Abela Stadium on Wednesday. It was the Paolites who emerged as victorious with a 2-1 win capped by Jade Flask’s first goal in a Hibernians’ shirt.

Hibs held the initiative right from the start and their half time lead could have been bigger but they were denied by the post several times and also due to some Janice Xuereb’s brave saves. Dorianne Theuma opened the score for Hibernians when off Oriana Bedingfield’s clearance off the line, the Maltese international netted from the rebound.

Raina Giusti equalized for the Stripes with a great goal which kept their hopes alive as the match became more thrilling. As the match headed towards half time at 1-1, Jade Flask had other plans and with a superb header she netted her first goal for her new club.

This goal seemed to be a hard blow for Birkirkara as their reaction was not so aggressive in the following forty-five minutes. The match was dominated by lot of possession in the middle, leaving no opportunities to neither team in creating chances with Hibernians remaining strongly compacted and resisting any type of Birkirkara’s pressure.

B’KARA Janice Xuereb; Gabriella Zahra, Kim Parnis, Stephania Farrugia ©, Heidi Kjaer (Martina Cilia 75’), Catherine Campbell (Melania Bajada 53’), Alishia Sultana, Raina Giusti, Yasmeen Vella, Oriana Bedingfield, Maryrose Cardona (Kelly Agius Pace 53’).
Coach: Jean Pierre Portanier

HIBS Rita Tagliaferro; Jade Flask, Charlene Zammit, Dionne Tonna ©, Mandy Debono, Shona Zammit, Ylenia Carabott, Francesca Chircop (Ruth Steerchetham 46’), Corissa Vella White, Dorianne Theuma (Rodiana Borg 84’), Martina Borg.
Coach: Keith Gouder

Referee: Shaun Calleja

Raiders (Luxol) and Mgarr United provided another nail-biting match which ended in a 1-1 draw at the Mgarr Ground on Tuesday.

Mgarr United started the match strong and forged ahead thanks to Brenda Borg who headed the ball home from a corner.

Raiders (Luxol) replied to Borg’s goal early in the second half when Nora Agliano equalized with a stunning first-timer following an assist by Ann Marie Said.

The protagonists of this encounter were undoubtedly both goalkeepers, Rachel Borg and Marie Anne Mumford who both performed a good string of saves.

MGARR Rachelle Borg, Abigail Camilleri, Nicole Cutajar, Brenda Borg, Antoinette Sammut (c), Nicole Buttigieg, Jasmine Vella Turner, Chantelle Bezzina, Claudette Xuereb, Alice Stanton (Thea Difesa 55’), Rebecca D’Agostino.
Coach: Ray Vella

RAIDERS (LUXOL) Maryanne Mumford, Rebecca Vella (Katie Gribbon 80’), Rebecca Bajada, AnnMarie Said, Miri Pagan (Francesca Cauchi 85’), Andy Zammit Mizzi, Tracy Theuma, Chantelle Grech, Nora Agliano, Emma Xuereb (c), Rodianne Zerafa.
Coach: Johann Scicluna

Following a good performance against Birkirkara in their first outing, Pembroke Athleta seemed a bit lost in their encounter against Kirkop United who managed to shed first blood early in the second half keeping their lead until the final whistle at the Zebbug Ground.

Kirkop were tactically disciplined right from the start with their first goal-scoring opportunity occurring on the 11th minute through Alessia Caschetto but her effort hit the post. On the other side of the pitch, Kim Magro almost opened the score surprisingly for Pembroke but her effort went wide.

Kathryn Ellul scored on the 48th minute of the second half when she took advantage of confusion inside the area following a corner.

PEMBROKE Rosemarie Baldacchino (c), Annabelle Rapa, Sarah Caruana (Rachel Mifsud 46’), Justine Zammit, Monique Sultana (Thresa Scicluna 77’), Ottilia Debattista (Luana Vella 17’), Lorna Cassar, Cassandra Camilleri, Sonia Schembri, Leanne Micallef, Kimberly Magro (Sarah Cassar Dymond 51’).
Coach: Shawn Meilak

KIRKOP Sharon Costantino (c), Emily Pace, Charlene Cassia, Catherine Camilleri (Yasmine Farrugia 62’), Stacie Caruana, Alessia Caschetto (Alexia Baldacchino 86’), Marie Claire Aquilina, Kathyn Ellul (Krystle Attard 59’), Demi Magrin (Kim Simler 68’), Tara Attard, Marie Claire Cilia (Donnalise Xerri 83’).
Coach: Kevin Ellul

Referee: Theodor Zammit

Meanwhile in the BOV Women’s Second Division, Hamrun Spartans maintained a perfect start with a third win, this time 2-1 over Tarxien Rainbows at the Luxol Stadium.

The Rainbows though who knocked first when after just 30 seconds, Simone Buttigieg headed towards goal but her effort was in vain. However, the Spartans started to impose their game but when they missed a couple of open chances, it was the Rainbows who went in front through Chan Muscat, former Hamrun Spartans’ player. Eight minutes later, Daniela Farrugia equalized for Hamrun Spartans. Raissa Grixti turned around the score in favour of the Spartans on the 36th minute with a delightful lob. The Spartans remained dominant in the second half but failed to increase the lead further.

TARXIEN Dorienne Grech (c), Roxanne Busuttil, Lara Theuma, KellyAnne Coleiro (Elise Abela 32’), ChloeAnn Ellul, Kim Borg, Maria Aquilina (Diandra Farrugia 82’), Stephanie Cutajar (Gabriella D’Amico 85’), Lighea Spiteri, Chantelle Muscat (Jade Schembri 60’), Brooke Zarb.
Coach: Louis Cutajar

HAMRUN Christine Galea, Brenda Borg (Janice Kokavessis 75’), Kim Micallef (Leona Gafa 90’), Liza Holmes, Therese Briffa, Raissa Grixti, Daniela Farrugia, Simone Buttigieg, Christina Ortiz, Amanda Atkins, Orianne Cassar (Amanda Buhagiar 34’)
Coach: Joe Carbonaro

Referee: Massimo Axisa

Swieqi United registered their second win as they beat Kirkop United Team B 4-0 at the Charles Abela Stadium.

Swieqi marched into the pitch with determination to grab the three points despite being held in a draw by Mosta last week where they held the initiative but failed to conclude. On the other hand, Kirkop United Team B are still finding ways of adapting at senior level.

Swieqi imposed their game from the kick off with their opponents resisting well until in the 30th minute, a quick run from Emma Moore confused Kirkop’s defence conceding a penalty from which Kate Galea capitalized to open the account for Swieqi.

In the second half, Swieqi United were determined to add more goals and seal the win. Kate Galea doubled the score from a fantastic free kick while Maria Kristina Agius made it 3-0 two minutes later. Not even the time to react for Kirkop B, as Swieqi added another one sealing their poker over Kirkop through Krista Montfort.

SWIEQI Stephanie Cremona, Amy Galea Gingell, Stephanie Mamo, Sammy Jo Barbara, Maria Elena Grech, Kate Galea, Emma Moore (Caroline Gafa 65’), Daniela Casha (c) (Daniela Maggi 57’), Rebecca Naudi (Giulia Maria Muscat 70’), Maria Kristina Agius (Justine Busuttil Gearty 65’), Kirsta Montfort (Claire Vella 70’).
Coach: Jochen Lenders

KIRKOP B Jennifer Atkins, Sarah Cioffi (Amanda Bezzina 57’), Angelica Tanti (Roberta Cassar 80’), Yasmine Ciantar, Chelsea Stivala (Stephanie Mifsud 41’), Jasmine Grech, Sarah Attard (Gabriella Atkins 72’), Martina Bonello, Roxanne Galea (c), Rachel Caruana, Dorianne Bonello (Kylynn Cassar 76’).
Coach: Vince Galea

Referee: Ryan Chircop

Gozo FC ended up as victorious in what was a thrilling five-goal contest against Sliema Wanderers at the Mgarr Ground.

Joselene Gafa and Maria Farrugia gave Gozo an early two-goal lead and Keeva Camilleri added another in the second half. Janice Pace and Eliana Gialanze reduced the gap for the Wanderers and despite the effort they put in to at least return home with a point, they suffered their second consecutive loss of the season.

SLIEMA Corinne Falzon (c), Leona Tabone (Evelina Jannsoon), Victoria Sciberras, Jackie Abdilla, Venice Castrogiovanni, Paula Ellul (Inez Fernandez) (Paulianne Incorvaja), Megan Cauchi, Martina Portelli, Eliana Gialanze, Kylie Monaco, Janice Pace.
Coach: Nigel McCarthy

GOZO Hollie Clair Vella, Leanne Cefai, Jessica Scerri, Greta Grima, Samantha Vella, Miriana Conti, Julia Vella (c), Joselene Gafa, Maria Farrugia, Angela Marie Grech (Whitney Bajada 46’) (Silvana Xuereb 85’), Christiana Teuma (Keeva Camilleri 46’).
Coach: Melania Bajada