Hibernians celebrate seventh title in winning style

Champions Hibernians celebrated their seventh successive league title with a 2-0 victory over Melita on the final day of the women's championship.

In other matches, Sta Venera Lightnings obtained their second victory in three games against fellow minnows Rabat Ajax and Birkirkara ended their commitments with a narrow 1-0 success over Mosta.

As Hibs were crowned champions the previous weekend, their concluding match against Melita was nothing more than a formality. After the Paolites went ahead through a Dorianne Theuma free-kick on 16 minutes, most of the action was confined to the midfield.

Six minutes from half-time, a shot by Sarah Caruana was cleared off the line by Melita's Jackie Ellul Soler.

Hibs goalkeeper Shana Debono, who had replaced Rita Tagliaferro, made saves from Ingrid Vassallo and Ruth Steerchetan before the Paolites increased their lead six minutes from the final whistle.

When Theuma sent Caruana through on goal, Simone Zammit, the Melita goalkeeper, came out to block but Kathleen Saliba was quick to pounce on the loose ball and fired home.

After the match, John Farrugia, the MFA vice-president, presented the trophies to Tessie Agius and Dorianne Theuma, Hibs captain and vice-captain respectively.

Runners-up Birkirkara shrugged off the disappointment at their umpteenth failure to wrest the league crown from Hibs to beat Mosta 1-0 in their last match.

Rebecca D'Agostino notched the winning goal in the first half of a predominantly quiet match. After the break, Jane Coates tried her best to put her name on the scoresheet in a bid to finish as the league's top scorer on her own but her attempts from deadball situations failed to yield dividends.

Sunday's first match was a basement clash between newcomers Sta Venera and Rabat.

After a dull first half, the game sprang to life in the second period. Six minutes after the change of ends, Rabat took the lead thanks to a Maria Gibson free-kick which went in via the foot of the post. Four minutes later, Gibson was prominent with another dangerous free-kick but this time the crossbar came to Sta Venera's rescue.

Sta Venera first threatened on 61 minutes but Oriana Cassar's free-kick ended wide. Fifteen minutes from time, Sta Venera were back on level terms thanks to a well-taken free-kick from Fiona Mangion.

The Lightnings snatched the winner two minutes from the end when a cross-shot by Therese Briffa caught Rabat goalkeeper Christine Galea unawares. Victory meant that Sta Venera avoided the bottom spot in the standings at the expense of Rabat who ended with a poor tally of two points, three less than their rivals.

Teams' line-ups...

Hibernians: R. Tagliaferro (S. Debono), L. Shead, L.A. Galea, T. Agius, F. Debono (Y. Carabott), D. Theuma, D. Tonna (E. Gialanze), P. Borg, C. Grech (M. Debono), S. Caruana (E. Zammit), K. Saliba.

Melita: S. Zammit, J. Ellul Soler, N. Gauci, N. Pace, K. Agius Pace (D. Micallef). M. Zammit (L. Mizzi), M. Azzopardi, O. Bedingfield, J. Abdilla, I. Vassallo, R. Steerchetan.

Birkirkara: N. Dimech, S. Sammut, A. Scicluna, C. Fenech, I. Mazzitelli, R. D'Agostino, C. Camilleri (E. Agliano), S. Camilleri, M. Zammit, D. Pisani, C. Demanuele.

Mosta: K. Camilleri, A.M. Vella, M. Deguara, R. Gatt, A. Debono, K. Lia, J. Coates, V. Saliba, V. Deguara, D. Briffa, F. Sammut.

Sta Venera: C. Ciappara, D. Gatt, R. Gatt, F. Mangion, S. Vella, G. Fenech (J. Grech), T. Briffa, O. Micallef. S. Fager Bakke (C. Leonardi), G. Calleja (O. Cassar), S. Bray.

Rabat: C. Galea, C. Caruana (J. Bonnici), S. Cassar (M. Agius), M. Micallef, M. Mizzi, C. Xerri Mullan, E. Ciappara (H. Rota), N. Kelly, D. Agius, L. Debono (B. Cutajar), M. Gibson.

Top scorers: Jane Coates (Mosta), Sarah Caruana, Kathleen Saliba (both Hibs), Rebecca D'Agostino (Birkirkara) 15 goals; Dorianne Theuma (Hibernians) 14 goals.

Sunday's fixtures (KO preliminary round): 9 a.m. Sta Venera vs Rabat A.; 11 a.m. Mosta vs Birkirkara; 1 p.m. Melita vs Raiders.