After touring Malta in 2014, when C&K Basildon beat Malta U-19s 5-0, the FAWPL South East Division 1 champions report on their return visit to face the full international side.
Following an early morning training session at Mgarr United FC, Basildon defeated Malta in the early evening kick off through goals from Karissa Rodney, Zoe Rushen, Claire Lacey (2) and Carly Eagles.
Malta opened the match well, and had an early chance when a dangerous cross into the Basildon penalty area saw Ylenia Carabotthe shoot over the bar when well placed after just 2 minutes. Basildon’s first serious attack saw Merrick Will’s play in Amy Nash out on the right flank, but Nash’s cross was well held by the goalkeeper.
On 12 minutes, Nicola Carty’s pass found Eagles whose diagonal ball picked out Rodney, who beat the full back before lifting the ball over the advancing goalkeeper. Malta equalised on 28 minutes when a well worked move ended with Emma Xuereb shooting low past Mel Kinsalla from the edge of the penalty area.
Three minutes later, a Rushen free kick, following a foul on Sara Sinclair was blocked by the wall. But, Rushen got her name on the scoresheet on 40 minutes as Basildon went back in front. Sara Sinclair held the ball up well, before back heeling the ball to Rushen, who struck the ball over the goalkeeper from thirty yards.
On 44 minutes, Nicola Carty released Sinclair in behind the Malta defence, and Sinclair’s cross found the head of Rodney, but her header was blocked at the expense of a corner. From the flag-kick Basildon added a third goal as Nash’s ball found Carty whose cross to the far post was headed in by Lacey.
Basildon went further in front just 4 minutes into the second half when a Nash corner found Hannah Porter, and although her header was tipped onto the post by the goalkeeper, Eagles was on hand to convert the rebound.
Basildon added a fifth goal on 58 minutes from yet another corner from Nash, which Lacey powerfully headed in.
Two minutes later, Malta had a good opportunity from a corner, but the header just cleared the bar.
The following day Basildon played Kirkop and Mgarr in a triangular tournament. Basildon began with a 4-0 win against Kirkop thanks to goals from Laura Bryant (2), Porter and Merrick Will. Against Mgarr, a penalty from Rushen was enough to earn the visitors a 1-0 win and with it the tournament.
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