Winning start for Mosta, Melita

Mosta enjoyed a very positive start to their 2005-2006 Women's League campaign when they defeated Birkirkara 2-1 in their first outing. In the other game played on Sunday, Melita obtained a 2-0 victory over Raiders.

Three of the four teams involved in last weekend's matches each made a significant signing during the close season.

Mosta secured the services of Pamela Cohen from Hibernians, Melita acquired Patricia Borg from Hibs and Rebecca D'Agostino from Birkirkara respectively. The Stripes signed Michelle Zahra from Hibernians.

In the first half of their match with Mosta, Birkirkara went ahead after seven minutes, Catherine Camilleri firing a low shot past Karen Camilleri after a fine move between Eleonora Agliano and Stephania Farrugia.

Thereafter, Birkirkara continued to enjoy more possession but rarely troubled the Mosta defence. On 33 minutes, Mosta had a shot from Roxanne Gatt finishing over the bar.

After the change of ends, it was Mosta who began to dictate the run of play. Ten minutes into the second half, a cross-shot from Jane Coates flew wide with Birkirkara creating a shot by Agliano that also ended off target.

Fifteen minutes from time, Mosta scored their equaliser. Karen Lia won possession outside the Birkirkara box and her shot took a decisive deflection off Ritianne Buhagiar which wrong-footed Nina Dimech, the Stripes' goalkeeper.

Mosta's plucky second-half performance resulted in a second goal 10 minutes from time, courtesy of an angled shot from Lia.

Birkirkara tried to force an equaliser in the final minutes but their efforts were easily controlled by Mosta who thus celebrated their first victory over the Stripes since their 1-0 win in season 2002-2003.

Borg and D'Agostino made their mark in their first appearance for Melita by notching the goals with which their new team beat Raiders.

Melita were the better side in the first half but had to wait until the last minutes to move ahead through a Borg penalty.

In the second half, Melita maintained the initiative, making sure of the points when D'Agostino beat Raiders goalkeeper Sonia Farrugia with a lob from the edge of the box.

Team line-ups

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

Birkirkara: N. Dimech, A. Scicluna (R. Buhagiar), S. Sammut, I. Mazzitelli, C. Fenech, C. Camilleri, S. Farrugia, E. Agliano, D. Pisani, C. Demanuele, S. Camilleri (K. Vella).

Melita: S. Zammit, J. Fleri Soler (L. D'Amato), C. Scicluna, R. D'Agostino (D. Micallef), N. Pace, O. Bedingfield, J. Abdilla, P. Borg, J. Busuttil (K. Agius Pace), I. Vassallo (L. Tabone), R. Steerchetam.

Raiders: S. Farrugia, K. Mangion, B. Axisa, R. Xerri, D. Midolo, K. Galea, C. Borg, A. Atkins, A. Mifsud, M. Zammit, N. Calleja.

Top scorers: Ylenia Carabott (Hibs) 6 goals; Dorianne Theuma (Hibs) 5 goals.

Sunday's matches: 9 a.m. Rabat Ajax vs Hibernians; 11 a.m. Sta Venera Lightnings vs Birkirkara.