The women's championship entered a decisive stage with the start of the second phase at the Luxol Ground this week.

Leaders Birkirkara start their Group A commitments, the Championship Pool, with a three-point advantage after completing the first round with a 3-1 win over Melita in midweek.

Also this week, Mgarr United chalked up their first point of the season after a 2-2 draw in a Group B match against Sta Venera.

The match between Birkirkara and Melita had a slow start with little scoring opportunities in the opening 30 minutes.

Alexia Scicluna threatened early on for the Stripes but her header sailed over. Eleonora Agliano's throughball then released Kelly Agius who was stopped by a timely tackle from Melita's Jackie Abdilla.

Birkirkara took the lead on 33 minutes. Deborah Pisani was quickest to react before firing the ball home following a melee in the Melita box.

Melita hit back strongly and drew level three minutes later.

Ruth Steerchetham won possession in midfield before serving Natasha Pace who ably set up Gabriella Zahra. The latter advanced before shooting past Michelle Zahra to make it 1-1.

Melita took a more defensive approach after the break with Bir-kirkara making most of the running. Keeper Simone Zammit did well on 58 minutes to tip over Catherine Camilleri's header and four minutes later the Melita no.1 was well positioned to save Rachel Cuschieri's shot.

Birkirkara regained the lead on 69 minutes, however, when Kelly Agius was clean through before placing the ball past Zammit.

The Stripes made sure of the points with a third goal two minutes from time and, again, Agius was the scorer. She profited from a defensive mix-up between Zammit and Abdilla before slipping the ball home.

On Wednesday, Mgarr and Sta Venera got the second phase underway with an exciting 2-2 draw.

The Saints had some first team players unavailable, giving the fringe players a chance to shine. The regulars were sorely missed, however, as after barely two minutes the Lightnings fell a goal behind.

Goalkeeper Monique Borg failed to hold from a corner and the referee awarded the goal after his assistant signalled that the ball had bounced beyond the line.

Sta Venera tried to react but, at first, were kept at bay by Mgarr goalkeeper Maria Said who denied Sta Venera forward Christine Dalli twice in quick succession.

Said, however, was beaten by Mary Rose Cardona's angled drive on 11 minutes.

Sta Venera were in control now. They turned the tide in their favour with a second goal on 20 minutes, Orianne Cassar's firm shot having the better of Said.

On the stroke of half-time Cassar was unlucky to see her two efforts stopped by the woodwork.

The second half saw the Lightnings maintaining their dominance but for all their efforts they could not beat Said and score a third goal to kill off their opponents.

Instead, it was Mgarr who stunned Sta Venera with a last-gasp Abigail Camilleri equaliser.

Line-ups:

Melita: S. Zammit, N. Gauci, J. Abdilla, I. Vassallo, N. Pace, C. Zammit, R. D'Agostino, R. Steer-chetham, D. Micallef, O. Bedingfield, G. Zahra.

Birkirkara: M. Zahra, F. Mangion, A. Scicluna, I. Mazzitelli, K. Parnis (S. Camilleri), S. Farrugia, K. Agius, R. Cuschieri (C. Demanuele), E. Agliano, C. Camilleri, D. Pisani.

Sta Venera: Monique Borg, Melissa Borg, A. Vella, A. Micallef, L. Caruana, M.R. Cardona, T. Briffa, O. Cassar, J. Celeste, C. Dalli, O. Borg.

Mgarr: M. Said, M. Vella, D. Azzopardi, S. Mamo, L. Camilleri, A. Sammut, M. Galea, A. Camilleri D. Ebejer, J. Fenech, A. Chetcuti.

Next fixtures

Tuesday - (Group A) 7.30 p.m. Hibernians vs Mosta.

Wednesday - (Group B) 7.30 p.m. Sliema Raiders vs Rabat Ajax.