Sta Venera Lightnings endured a rough introduction to women's football last Sunday. Taking on Hibernians, the all-conquering champions, was always going to be a difficult task for the debutant Saints but, even so, few would have predicted a mammoth 17-0 defeat.
Despite missing some regular players, Hibernians were still miles ahead of their opponents who made a cardinal mistake in trying to play the offside game.
This move backfired as Hibernians players profited from their opponents' weaknesses to run amok.
The champions had already built a 10-0 lead by the end of the first half. Dorianne Theuma became the first female player to score 100 goals in Malta when hitting Hibs' fourth last Sunday. Sarah Caruana top scored for the winners with five goals.
In Sunday's second game, Birkirkara opened their league commitments with a 3-0 victory over Melita.
Play was confined to midfield in the early stages but Birkirkara gained the upperhand as the game moved on.
Eleonora Agliano had a free-kick that ended just over after 21 minutes but five minutes later, the Stripes took the lead. Collecting a through ball from Agliano, Rebecca D'Agostino advanced and lobbed the ball over the stranded Simone Zammit, the Melita goalkeeper.
Ten minutes before the half-time break, Birkirkara went 2-0 up thanks to Chantalle Demanuele who scored from the rebound after Zammit had partially saved D'Agostino's shot.
With the game now as good as over, Birkirkara opted to administer their lead in the second half. Melita's only attempt on goal came on 55 minutes when an effort by Maria Azzopardi was saved by Nina Dimech.
Three minutes earlier, Birkirkara had tripled their lead, substitute Sasha Camilleri firing home after being sent clear by the active D'Agostino.
Teams' Line-ups
Hibernians: R. Tagliaferro, L. Shead, F. Debono (C. Sciberras), M. Debono (C. Ceci), C. Grech, D. Theuma, D. Tonna, P. Borg (E. Gialanze), K. Saliba (O. Borg), S. Caruana, Y. Carabott (J. Vella).
Sta Venera Lightings: E. Brincat (L. Bugeja), D. Gatt, O. Cassar, N. Grima (R. Gatt), F. Mangion, K. Tabone Desira (R. Calleja Vella), G. Fenech, C. Barbara, P. Cassar (S. Vella), O. Micallef, M. Carabott.
Referee: J.C. Saliba.
Birkirkara: N. Dimech, S. Sammut, A. Scicluna, C. Fenech, E. Bonnici, R. D'Agostino, M. Grech, (N. Micallef), C. Camilleri, D. Pisani (V. Attard), C. Demanuele (S. Camilleri), E. Agliano.
Melita: S. Zammit, D. Allingham (K. Agius Pace), J. Ellul Soler, N. Gauci, N. Pace, M. Azzopardi (M. Zammit), D. Micallef (M. Caruana), O. Bedingfield, J. Abdilla, L. Mizzi, A. Rivero.
Referee: G. Vella Clarke.
Leading scorers: S. Caruana (Hibs) 5 goals; K. Saliba (Hibs) 3 goals; A. Rivero (Melita), J. Coates (Mosta), Y. Carabott (Hibs) 2.
Sunday Fixtures: 9 a.m. Rabat A. vs Raiders; 11 a.m. Mosta vs Hibs.