Birkirkara registered their 16th straight victory as a 7-0 rout of Kirkop United earned them their sixth championship with three games left, on Tuesday.
The Stripes put their feet on the gas pedal from the initial minutes as they opened a three-goal lead at half-time, with Maltese internationals Kelly Agius Pace, Alishia Sultana and skipper Stephania Farrugia listing their names on the score sheet.
After the change of ends, Tracy Teuma added a fourth while Farrugia and Agius Pace grabbed one each to make it 6-0.
In the dying minutes, youth Sarah Urpani sealed the deal with the seventh goal amid the delight of Birkirkara’s players, staff and supporters.
Birkirkara’s last title dates back to the 2012/2013 campaign and failed to top the podium again afterwards as rivals Hibernians managed to claim themselves champions in the following three seasons.
The Paolites continuous success propelled Birkirkara to effect some amendments in their team ahead of this campaign.
Former Pembroke Athleta women’s coach Shawn Meilak took the helm of the Stripes and with him he brought various players from his previous club such as goalkeeper Rosemarie Baldacchino, defender Cassie Camilleri and forward Leanne Micallef, providing more quality and depth in every department of the field.
‘’I feel very happy and proud to form part of this winning team. We set our sights on a goal and never looked back. Commitment showed by my players is something commendable,’’ Meilak said after claiming the crown.
“We worked internally to get out the collective rather than the individuality.
“My job was getting the best characteristics of each player and the players acquired prior this season helped to align our puzzle. All staff and players have contributed in this collective effort.’’
After succumbing to a 5-3 defeat against the Paolites in the Super Cup, the Stripes emerged victorious in all three league meetings against the rivals but they will have to lock horns a couple of more times against each other, in their penultimate league game and in the cup, where a place in the final will be at stake.
Meanwhile, Birkirkara continued to strengthen their squad with one of their acquisitions being Gozitan defender Ann-Marie Said on loan from Gozo.
Her defensive skills enabled her to form a tenacious relationship with her defensive counterparts established at the club such as goalkeeper Janice Xuereb, Farrugia, Kim Parnis, Gabriella Zahra and Yasmeen Vella alongside promising defender Mariah Sciberras, conceding only four goals in their 17 outings so far.
Other key protagonists in Meilak’s side during this successful campaign where winger Alishia Sultana who added more goals to her repertoire as she found the net nine times, while 19 of their goals arrived from their clinical forwards, Kelly Agius Pace and Raina Giusti, joined with five goals by their offensive partner Tracy Teuma.
As Birkirkara were strolling in the league, Meilak also managed to put in some youth players in a well-oiled team with the likes of Maria Fenech, Sarah Urpani and Samantha Zarb all earning some playing time during the season, with the latter two also listing their names on Birkirkara’s scoresheet when they were involved.
Other results: Hibernians vs Mġarr United 3-3.