Stripes, Paolites end first phase unbeaten

Defending champions Birkirkara defeated Kirkop United by four goals to nil at the Charles Abela Stadium as they ended their first phase commitments of the BOV Women’s League with maximum points.

Raina Giusti made sure of her top spot on in the top scorers list with 15 goals, as she scored the 2-0 on the 28th minute after Gabriella Zahra had broke the deadlock on the 16th. On the brink of half-time, youth players Sarah Urpani (44′) and Veronique Mifsud (45′) sealed the win with two goals.

Meanwhile, their rivals Hibernians broke little sweat as they swept past Mosta 6-0 at the Mgarr Ground, with midfielder Shona Zammit netting a hat-trick. Emma Xuereb put them ahead on teh 25th and Dorianne Theuma doubled the score from the penalty spot on the 36th with Zammit making it 3-0 two minutes later. Mandy Debono increased the lead on the 55th with Shona Zammit scoring another two goals on the 75th and 82nd.

Mġarr United moved third after beating Raiders (Luxol) 3-0 at the Charles Abela Stadium. Brenda Borg scored twice on the 22nd and 71st before Amber Grech chalked up the victory with a goal three minutes in added time.

Tarxien Rainbows secured a spot in the top six after overcoming Swieqi United in a direct clash. Youth Kailey Willis netted her seventh goal of the season on the 34th minute when she put the Rainbows ahead. Swieqi leveled matters through Kate Galea on the 64th but Tarxien made sure of the win with a brace from Jade Schembri on the 67th and 81st to seal the win.

From the next round, joint-leaders Birkirkara and Hibernians, Mġarr, Raiders, Kirkop United and Tarxien Rainbows will be playing in the Championship Pool for three rounds while the bottom three – Fgura United, Swieqi United and Mosta – will face a survival test, also spread on three rounds.