BOV Women’s Division 1: Third win for Hibernians

Champions Hibernians cemented their sole leadership in the BOV Women’s First Division with a fine 5-0 win over Kirkop United at the Charles Abela Stadium to register their third win in as many matches.

Despite conceding five goals, Kirkop United gave a hard time to the Paolites in the early stages of the match but Hibernians showed their superiority as time went by and netted five times through Dionne Tonna, Martina Borg, Corissa Vella White and Ylenia Carabott and an own goal. The Paolites could have added more goals to their tally but Kirkop’s goalkeeper Sharon Constantino performed some fine saves.

KIRKOP Sharon Costantino, Charlene Cassia, Tara Attard, Celine Galea (Angele Farrugia 62’), Marie Claire Aquilina (Alexia Baldacchino 67’), Yasmine Farrugia, Emily Pace, Marie Claire Cilia (Alessia Caschetto 51’), Stacie Caruana, Demi Magrin (Krystle Attard 59’), Kim Simler (Donnalise Xerri 55’).
Coach: Kevin Ellul

HIBERNIANS Keoney Demicoli, Mandy Debono, Rodiana Borg, Charlene Zammit, Dionne Tonna (Jade Flask 45′), Gabrielle Tonna, Nicole Borg (Martina Borg 57′), Ruth Steerchetham (Shona Zammit 59′), Dorianna Theuma (Kayleigh Chetcuti 73′), Francesca Chircop (Ylenia Carabott 46′), Corissa Vella.
Coach: Keith Gouder
Referee: Daniel Portelli
Scorers: Dionne Tonna 16′, Yasmine Farrugia (og) 44′, Martina Borg 57′, Corissa Vella 60′, Ylenia Carabott 73′ (H)

Birkirkara returned to winning ways as they defeated Raiders (Luxol) at the Luxol Stadium.

With both teams piling up pressure to open the score, it was Kelly Agius Pace who opened the account for the Stripes with the first half ending 1-0. Tracy Theuma equalised for Raiders but Kim Parnis notched the winner for Birkirkara.

RAIDERS (LUXOL) MarieAnne Mumford, Rebecca Vella, Rosalie Cauchi, Rebecca Bajada, Ann-Marie Said, Nicole Micallef, Tracy Teuma, Emma Xuereb, Rodianne Zerafa, Andy Zammit Mizzi, Chantelle Grech.
Coach: Johann Scicluna

BIRKIRKARA Janice Xuereb, Melania Bajada, Yasmeen Vella, Stephania Farrugia, Oriana Bedingfield, Gabriella Zahra, Catherine Campbell (Martina Cilia 66’), Raina Giusti, Alishia Sultana (Maryrose Cardona 75’), Heidi Kjaer (Kim Parnis 12’), Kelly Agius Pace (Isabelle Mazzitelli 80’).
Coach: Jean Pierre Portanier

Scorers: Kelly Agius Pace 23’, Kim Parnis 62’ (B), Tracy Theuma 58’ (R)

Mgarr United registered a convincing 4-0 win over Pembroke Athleta at the Mgarr Ground.

Mgarr held the initiative right from the start creating several goal scoring occasions. They managed to forge ahead after 22 minutes with a goal by Brenda Borg, adding another two goals before half-time thanks to Nicole Buttigieg and Amber Grech. Grech wrapped up the game with another goal on the 48th minute.

MGARR Rachel Borg (Patricia Ebejer 87’), Antionette Sammut, Abigail Camilleri (Ariana Spiteri 14’), Jasmine Vella Turner, Chantelle Bezzina, Natasha Pace, Amber Grech (Kylie Pantelleresco 70’), Claudette Xuereb, Brenda Borg (Alice Stanton 83’), Yanika Fenech (Maria Mizzi 85’), Nicole Buttigieg (Thea Difesa 79’).
Coach Ray Vella

PEMBROKE Rosemarie Baldacchino, Annabelle Rapa, Sarah Caruana (Thresa Scicluna 33’), Rachel Mifsud (Kristine Camilleri 73’), Lorna Cassar, Justine Zammit, Monique Sultana (Sarah Cassar Dymond 57’), Luana Vella (Ilenia Navarro 54’), Sonia Schembri, Leanne Micallef, Kimberly Magro (Rossella D’Antuono 80’).
Coach Shawn Meilak

Referee: Shaun Calleja
Scorers: Brenda Borg 22’, Nicole Buttigieg 35’, Amber Grech 42’ 48’ (M)

BOV-Women-Second-DivisionMeanwhile Swieqi United leapfrogged Hamrun Spartans to emerge atop the BOV Women’s Second Division following a narrow win in this direct clash. Hamrun were leading the table with maximum points after three wins from their first three matches while Swieqi were lying two points behind after being held in a draw by Mosta.

Given that leadership was at stake, one would have expected a very tactical match but instead it was an electric first forty-five minutes as both teams were piling up pressure to take the lead creating several goal-scoring opportunities but none managed to capitalise. The Spartans were the closest to open the account but their couple of efforts went inches wide ending the first half in a stalemate.

In the next forty-five minutes, both teams kept the same attitude and approach keeping the encounter very exciting. Swieqi United were awarded a freekick in the early stages of the second half whereby Galea blasted a fantastic shot which was well parried by the Hamrun goalkeeper. Few minutes later, Swieqi United forged ahead. Naudi went past her opponent with some excellent footwork, directed a shot towards Hamrun’s goalkeeper who parried at first but with the rebound dropping on Krista Montfort’s feet and she had the easiest of tasks to place the ball at the back of the net. From then onwards, Hamrun Spartans went in search of the equaliser but Swieqi managed to resist well to preserve their lead. Swieqi had also the occasion to put the game to bed when Naudi advanced upfield but her effort only hit the post.

HAMRUN Christine Galea, Brenda Borg (Tatiana Spiteri 58’), Liza Holmes (Orianne Cassar 70’), Kim Micallef, Therese Briffa, Raissa Grixti, Daniella Farrugia, Simone Buttigieg, Christine Ortiz, Amanda Buhagiar, Janice Kokavesis (Nikita Agius 46’).
Coach: Joe Carbonaro

SWIEQI Stephanie Cremona, Amy Gingell Galea, Stephanie Mamo, Sammy-Jo Barbara, Maria Elena Grech, Kate Galea, Emma Moore (Caroline Gafa 89’), Daniela Casha (Ruth Azzoaprdi 92’), Becky Naudi, Daniela Maggi (Andrea Dingli 86’), Krista Montfort (Giulia Maria Muscat 88’).
Coach: Andrea Vella

Referee: Duncan Spencer
Scorers: Krista Montfort 58’

Gozo FC overcame a young Mosta side by three goals to nil to join Hamrun Spartans in second place with nine points, one point behind leaders Swieqi United. The Gozitans were determined to get a positive result. Nonetheless, Mosta showed personality and defended well despite their defensive line was penetrated three times in the final stages of the second half.

MOSTA Maria Xuereb; Melissa Galea, Nicole Sciberras, Francesca Zarb (Tiziana Vella 68’), Lisa Vella, Lara Vella (Karen Mifsud 78’), Hannah Pekkarinen, Raisa Calleja, Alexia Galea, Brooke Azzopardi (Roxanne Borg 42’), Kirsten Attard (Bernardette Cachia 68’).
Coach Ray Sant

GOZO Melanie Cefai, Hollie Clair Vella, Leanne Cefai, Jessica Scerri, Greta Grima, Samantha Vella, Miriana Conti (Rachel Portelli 85’), Julia Vella, Joselene Gafa, Maria Farrugia, Christiana Teuma (Keeva Camilleri 40’).
Coach Melania Bajada

Scorers: Maria Farrugia (2), Joselene Gafa

Sliema Wanderers registered their first win as they beat Tarxien Rainbows 9-1 at the Mgarr Ground.

Janice Pace scored four of the goals, Jackie Abdilla and Kylie Monaco both hit a brace with Eliana Gialanze adding another. Diandra Farrugia scored Tarxien’s only goal.

SLIEMA Corinne Falzon (Andrea Pace), Leona Tabone, Victoria Sciberras (Jade Kemper), Jackie Abdilla, Venice Castrogiovanni, Evelina Jannson, Kimberly Fenech, Martina Portelli, Eliana Gialanze, Kylie Monaco, Janice Pace.
Coach Nigel McCarthy

TARXIEN Dorienne Grech, Roxanne Busuttil, Kelly Anne Coleiro (Kelsey Agius 83’), Chloe Ellul, Gabriella D’Amico, Martina Mizzi, Chantelle Muscat, Jade Schembri, Stephanie Cutajar, Diandra Farrugia, Brooke Zarb.
Coach: Louis Cutajar

Referee: Matthew Grima
Scorers: Janice Pace (4), Jackie Abdilla (2), Kylie Monaco (2), Eliana Gialanze (S); Diandra Farrugia (T)