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Were it not for the impressive emergence of the Nadur
Youngsters as a dominant team in the nineties, our Club would have had
even greater achievements in the past decade. This is evident when one
looks at the Blacks' overall record in this period and the record in head
to head confrontations with the Youngsters. While the overall record is
respectable, the record against Nadur is not with only eleven wins against
twenty three losses. This record is even more lopsided if one looks at the five
seasons in which Nadur claimed three titles. This match not only stopped
an 11 game winless streak against this team, but the score line went a
long way to break the mystique that had been built around these opponents.
It is true that Nadur went on to beat the Blacks two more times that
season, but the record since then has been evenly balanced with a slight
advantage to the Blacks. This was a terrific, all-round
performance with Digger Okonkwo standing out not only
because he scored a hat-trick but also for the ease with which he went
through the opposition. Sadly, the Nigerian striker was sent off in the
following match and in desperation the Club released him. Digger went on
to play for the Maltese national side.
The first half did not produce
much worthy of note. The two teams were comfortably controlling each other
and play took place mostly in midfield. In the seventh minute of the
second half, Mark Meilak opened the score with a nice lob over Sammy
Attard from a Jeremy Camilleri cross. Jonathan Xuereb then saved well from
Pavel. In the 14th minute Ghajnsielem doubled the score. Again Camilleri
was involved, this time Attard blocked his shot. Buttigieg passed the
rebound to Digger Okonkwo who made no mistake from close range. A minute
later Camilleri sent Digger Okonkwo alone. The Nigerian striker shot over
Attard's head and into the roof of the net. Nadur were stunned. They could
not put together any sort of reaction. Ghajnsielem, who had been at the
wrong end of the score for the past few seasons, were in total control and
started stroking the ball around beautifully. Sammy Attard denied Jude
Madu but could do nothing in the 25th minute. Digger Okonkwo went down the
left past his direct marker than breezed past Ray Gafa and from a very
tight angle shot the ball beyond the onrushing Attard's reach into the net
for his hat-trick. Ghajnsielem could have added to this. Two Madu drives
sailed centimeters high. But Ghajnsielem were not about to be greedy and
were happy to celebrate the four goals with which they punished Nadur.
The 4-0 score line makes this the biggest league victory over
Nadur Youngsters. This was also one of the few bright spots in
an otherwise forgettable season that was completely botched by some
horrendous moves in the transfer market by our Club. The team was
able to rise to heights such as this and then perform miserably in
others, particularly against arguably the weakest team in the five
team division Xewkija.
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