Hibs open three-point lead

The women's league resumed on Sunday following a two-week break for the national team's World Cup qualifier in Slovenia.

Champions Hibernians and Sta Venera Lightnings enjoyed fruitful outings as they beat Melita and Raiders respectively.

Hibernians have opened a three-point lead at the top of the standings after their 4-1 success over Melita. The Paolites were simply too strong for the Amateurs who conceded their first defeat after three successive wins.

The only negative aspect for the dominant Hibs was that they suffered the first league goal after 290 minutes of play.

Hibs went on the offensive from the start, going close with efforts from Maria Azzopardi and Ylenia Carabott. They eventually broke the stalemate on 21 minutes. Dorianne Theuma passed the ball to Carabott who intelligently set up Kathleen Saliba. Melita goalkeeper Simone Zammit came out to block but she failed to hold on to the ball and Saliba was on hand to hit the ball into an empty net.

Hibs kept pushing forward and on 35 minutes Theuma's shot hit the side-netting. The score became 2-0 a minute from the break when Saliba beat the Melita offside trap and fired the ball past the onrushing Zammit.

The Paolites retained the upperhand after the break, making the score 3-0 in the 63rd minute when Theuma's grounder rolled into the Melita net.

The Amateurs managed to pull one back on 67 minutes. Leslie Ann Galea fouled Ingrid Vassallo inside the area and from the resultant spot-kick, Patricia Borg beat Hibs goalkeeper Rita Tagliaferro.

A minute later Carabott should have extended Hibs' lead but shot incredibly over with only Zammit to beat. But the fourth goal eventually arrived on 74 minutes when, from a Theuma corner, Dionne Tonna headed past the Melita goalkeeper.

In the other game, Sta Venera Lightnings scored their second win of the season after edging Raiders 1-0 in a match played in heavy rain. The Lightnings were without Donatella Gatt who has been ruled out for the rest of the season with an ankle injury.

Raiders showed little signs of improvement and they appear to be a weaker outfit when compared to previous seasons. The team has kept faith with the same players but their confidence is at a low ebb.

Sta Venera's winner came as early as the eighth minute. Raiders goalkeeper Sonia Farrugia fumbled Odette Micallefís free-kick with the ball sailing agonisingly into the net.

Raiders pushed forward in search of an equaliser but they could not breach the Saints' defence. The closest they came was midway through the second half when Amanda Mifsud's shot smacked the upright.

Team Line-ups

Hibernians: R. Tagliaferro, L.A. Galea, M. Debono, L. Shead, T. Agius, D. Theuma, M. Azzopardi, D. Tonna, H. Wadefalk (C. Grech), Y. Carabott (T. Zammit), K. Saliba (R. Farrugia).

Melita: S. Zammit, C. Scicluna (L. Mizzi), N. Gauci (R. Steerchelan), J. Abdilla, I. Vassallo, R. D'Agostino, O. Bedingfield, N. Pace, P. Borg, K. Agius Pace, D. Micallef (J. Ellul Soler).

Sta Venera: S. Costantino, A. Vella (P. Cassar), J. Grech, R. Gatt, F. Mangion, S. Vella, M. Carabott (O. Cassar), T. Briffa, O. Micallef, S. Bray, G. Calleja.

Raiders: S. Farrugia, K. Mangion, R. Xerri, C. Borg, M. Meli, G. Bonnett, G. Vella, K. Zammit, N. Agius, A. Atkins, A. Mifsud.

Leading scorers: D. Theuma (Hibernians), Y. Carabott (Hibernians) 11 goals; D. Tonna (Hibernians) 5 goals.

Sunday's matches: 9 a.m. Rabat Ajax vs Mosta; 11 a.m. Qormi vs Birkirkara.