Easy for Hibs but Birkirkara made to fight hard

Title candidates Hibernians and Birkirkara maintained their perfect start to the 2004-2005 Women's League after victories over Rabat Ajax and Mosta respectively.

While the defending champions enjoyed a stroll in the park against modest Rabat, beating them to the tune of 8-0, Birkirkara were made to fight hard by Mosta before they prevailed by the odd goal in five.

Five goals inside the opening 45 minutes secured the three points for Hibs on Sunday.

Kathleen Saliba hit two of her side's first-half goals with the remaining three coming from Dionne Tonna, Dorianne Theuma and Ylenia Carabott.

In the second half, Hibs coach Roland Sollars made five changes to his starting line-up but this did not alter the one-way pattern of the game.

On 63 minutes, Ottilia Borg released Saliba who beat Christine Galea with a low shot to notch a personal hat-trick, her second of the season

Six minutes later, Theuma made it 7-0 and then turned provider, delivering the centre which was headed home by Tonna.

Birkirkara's defence was breached for the first time last Sunday but that did not prevent them from collecting the three points.

Mosta took just three minutes to break the deadlock, Roxanne Gatt lobbing over Nina Dimech after a confused clearance by the Birkirkara defence.

Catherine Camilleri produced a strong shot that ended just wide for Birkirkara.

On 24 minutes, the Stripes' task was further complicated as they fell further behind, Jane Coates firing home from a free-kick.

Mosta's second goal was met with an instant reaction by Birkirkara who went close with efforts from Camilleri, Attard and Rebecca D'Agostino between the 32nd and 40th minutes.

Starting the second half in the same offensive fashion, Birkirkara netted twice in five minutes to wipe out their two-goal deficit.

A minute from the restart, D'Agostino pounced on a goalmouth scramble to blast the ball home. D'Agostino was at it again four minutes later, beating Karen Camilleri with a fine drive after receiving from Eleonora Agliano.

Birkirkara maintained their pressure on Mosta's fort and 20 minutes from time, their persistence looked as though it had brought desired dividends when they were awarded a penalty for a handball. Chantal Fenech failed to ease her team's nerves when her strike from the penalty spot flashed against the post.

However, the Stripes were not to be denied and after a string of near misses, they finally found a way past the Mosta defence thanks to a cross-shot from Deborah Pisani.

Teams' Line-Ups

Hibernians: R. Tagliaferro, M. Debono, L. Galea, L. Shead (C. Sciberras), D. Tonna, D. Theuma, C. Grech (J. Vella), P. Borg (E. Gialanze), S. Caruana, Y. Carabott (O. Borg), K. Saliba (E. Zammit).

Rabat Ajax: C. Galea, S. Cassar (C. Caruana), E. Scerri Mullan, C. Ciappara (L. Khan), M. Mizzi, M. Gibson, N. Kelly (H. Rota), D. Bonello, J. Zahra, L. Debono (D. Agius), D. Debono (J. Bonnici).

Referee: Sandro Spiteri.

Birkirkara: N. Dimech, A. Scicluna, C. Fenech, M. Grech, C. Camilleri, D. Pisani, E. Agliano (N. Micallef), S. Camilleri, S. Farrugia, S. Sammut, V. Attard (C. Demanuele).

Mosta: K. Camilleri, M. Gatt (M. Vella), L. Piscopo, A. Vella, M. Deguara, T. Fenech (D. Briffa), V. Deguara (V. Saliba), J. Coates, A. Debono, R. Gatt, F. Sammut (Y. Fenech).

Referee: Emanuel Calleja.

Leading scorers: K. Saliba (Hibernians) seven goals; S. Caruana (Hibernians) five goals; E. Agliano (Birkirkara), R. D'Agostino (Birkirkara) four goals.

Sunday's fixtures at Pace Grasso: 9 a.m. Melita vs Sta Venera; 11 a.m. Raiders vs Hibernians.