Carabott scores four as Hibs make sure in first half
Hibernians 7Melita 0\nThere was only one match at the Luxol Ground this week from the women's football championship as the organisers effected some changes to the original programme due to the national team's friendly match against Switzerland at the...
Hibernians 7
Melita 0
\nThere was only one match at the Luxol Ground this week from the women's football championship as the organisers effected some changes to the original programme due to the national team's friendly match against Switzerland at the Hibs Ground later on this month.
In a match from Group A, Hibernians maintained their challenge at the top of the standings with a comfortable 7-0 victory over Melita. The champions, who had top-scorer Ylenia Carabott in fine form, are now on equal points with the other front-runners of the championship, Birkirkara. The Stripes, however, have a game in hand.
Melita's plan for this match was surely to keep Hibs at a distance as much as they could and avoid an early goal. However, their plot was lost after only two minutes.
The hot-shot Carabott won possession outside the box, forced her way through and fired home past a stranded Simone Zammit from an acute angle.
Hibs looked to make the most of their fine start but after a series of near misses, it was Melita who almost drew level when goalkeeper Rita Tagliaferro was quick to stop a Rebecca D'Agostino shot.
D'Agostino then dribbled past the Hibs keeper but her shot sailed just over the bar.
Hibs made sure to avoid any surprises in the last minutes before half-time. On 37 minutes, Dorianne Theuma delivered a perfect corner for the unmarked Dionne Tonna who headed home from close in.
Then, Carabott scored a hat-trick in quick succession for the Paolites to go for the interval leading 5-0.
Theuma added another goal for Hibs soon after the restart. Melita looked jaded but until the final whistle they managed to stay focused and only conceded one other goal.
That came on 80 minutes when Kathleen Saliba, playing her 100th match for Hibs, placed the ball home from close distance.
Hibs: R. Tagliaferro, L.A. Galea, N. Grima (M. Portelli), L. Shead, M. Azzopardi, R. Chircop, D. Theuma, D. Tonna (M. Camilleri), K. Saliba, Y. Carabott (C. Sciberras), R. Farrugia.
Melita: S. Zammit, D. Allingham (J. Abdilla), C. Scicluna (L. Tabone), N. Pace, D. Micallef (L. D'Amato), C. Zammit, I. Vassallo, R. Steerchetham (O. Runco), O. Bedingfield, R. D'Agostino, G. Zahra.
Top scorers:
Y. Carabott (Hibs) 16 goals
C. Dalli (Sta Venera) 10 goals
S. Caruana (Hibs) 9 goals
D. Theuma (Hibs) 9 goals
A. Atkins (Sliema Raiders) 8 goals
Next match - Tuesday, 20.15 Birkirkara vs Mosta