Champions Birkirkara registered their fourth win in the BOV Women’s League as they defeated Swieqi United 4-1 at the Mgarr Ground on Wednesday.
For this game, Birkirkara coach Melania Bajada handed a starting debut to newly-signed Esther Anu, replacing Ylenia Carabott who has swapped the Stripes for an adventure in Italy with Chievo Fortitudo.
The Stripes made their pressure count as they opened a two-goal lead inside the first 25 minutes following goals from skipper Stephania Farrugia on the 22nd and Tracy Teuma three minutes later.
Swieqi pulled one back through Chantelle Grech who capitalised from a set-piece situation on the 37th. Despite trying to stage a reaction in search of a leveller, the Stripes remained composed and it took them just two minutes after the restart when Raina Giusti restored the two-goal lead for Birkirkara.
On the 68th minute, Ethiopia forward Loza Abera netted her fifth goal of the season to seal the win for the Stripes.
B’KARA Janice Xuereb; Ann-Marie Said, Stephania Farrugia ©, Tracy Teuma, Alishia Sultana, Loza Abera Geinore, Gabriella Zahra (Samantha Zarb 69’), Raina Giusti (Michela Felice 83’), Veronique Mifsud (Simone Buttigieg 69’), Esther Douye Toikumo (Mariah Sciberras 76’), Yasmeen Vella (Jelena Sakic 79’).
SWIEQI Vesna Vitanova; Sonia Schembri, Jessica Lee Dimech, Dorianne Theuma, Celeste Grech, Jade Flask, Emma Xuereb (Ruth Steer-Chetham 83’), Cassandra Camilleri (Demi Magrin 71’), Kayleigh Chetcuti, Charlene Zammit (Jade Schembri 74’), Chantelle Grech.
Referee: Massimo Axisa
Mgarr United registered a most comfortable 9-0 win over Raiders Gharghur at the Dingli Ground on Tuesday.
The Greens’ hero was young Haley Bugeja who netted seven of the nine goals scored by Mġarr. Last season, Bugeja was the top scorer in both the U-19’s and seniors league.
Six goals in the opening 45 minutes helped Mġarr wrap up the win quickly in a one-sided affair against Raiders with Bugeja grabbing four goals on the 2nd, 16th, 34th and 40th. Francesca Chircop added the other two goals on teh 41st ad 44th to make it four goals in as many appearances with the Greens.
After the change of ends, Raymond Vella’s side added two more goals courtesy of Bugeja on the 55th and the 80th.
RAIDERS Jodie Attard; Michela Bonello Ghio, Emma Ciantar Piccinino (Cherise Zammit 89’), Nicole Micallef (Rosalie Borg Cauchi 46’), Andy Zammit Mizzi, Miriana Conti, Maya Lucia, Rebecca Naudi, Rohanne Zahra (Rodianne Zerafa 46’), Sarah Caruana (Monique Sultana 46’), Anna Aloisio © (Laura Muscat 65’).
MGARR Rachelle Lynn Borg; Haley Bugeja, Abigail Camilleri (Yolande Attard 46’), Maia Debono (Emma Zammit 46’), Rebecca Bajada (Mirayah Aquilina 46’), Charlene Cassia (Alexandra Gatt 46’), Francesca Chircop (Leanne Cefai 46’), Yanika Fenech, Brenda Borg ©, Amber Grech, Claudette Xuereb.
Referee: Wayne Sammut
In another match, Hibernians earned their first point in a 1-1 draw with Mosta at the Charles Abela Stadium on Tuesday.
The Paolites forged ahead through a Shakira Bugeja penalty on the 69th minute but Mosta pegged them back thanks to Lynn Fenech eight minutes later.
MOSTA Giulia D’Antuono; Lynn Fenech, Lara Vella (Megan Cauchi 75’), Oriana Bedingfield, Rhea Borg, Natasha Pace, Ilenia Navarro (Leah Ayres 46’), Rossella D’Antuono ©, Simona Krstanska, Rebecca D’Agostino, Dijana Hristovska (Shania Borg 87’).
HIBS Keoney Demicoli; Lorna Cassar ©, Julia Winkler (Alessia Abela 82’), Sarah Cassar, Kirsty Paris (Larissa Debono 69’), Sarah Grech (Katryna Grech 88’), Shakira Bugeja (Jasmine Camilleri 75’), Kelsey Ann Vella, Aleksandra Marinkovic, Katie Gribbon, Manuela Bogdanovic.
Referee: Paul Apap
Meanwhile in the Women’s Under-19 League, Swieqi United made it five wins in a row thanks to a 2-0 win over Birkirkara. Raiders GFC and Mosta registered identical 6-0 wins over Kirkop United and Mtarfa while Mgarr United beat Hibernians 3-2.
On the other hand, in the Women’s Under-15 League, Zebbug Rangers defeated Mtarfa 23-0. Raiders GFC dropped their first points in a 1-1 draw with Mgarr United. Birkirkara registered their first win as tey beat Mosta 5-1 while Kirkop United defeated Senglea Athletic 6-0.