February 10 is the date in which Malta commemorates the shipwreck of St. Paul on the Maltese shores and celebrates the nation's conversion to Christianity. For Ghajnsielem F.C., February 10 and the days surrounding it might as well be marked as a time of remembrance, a time to remember matches that live in infamy, and perhaps to celebrate the effort of those that tried in vain.

February 10, 2000 Blacks lose to Nadur Youngsters 1-2
February 11, 2001 Blacks lose to Oratory Youths 2-5
February 17, 2002 Blacks lose to Oratory Youths 1-2

The impact of these losses is fresh enough in the Club's collective memory and warrants no further comment. This bizarre sequence of negative results goes back to the mid-nineties when the repercussions were almost just as dire.

February 12, 1995 Blacks draw with Xaghra United 0-0 (loss of sole possession of first place)
February 3, 1996 Blacks lose to Nadur Youngters 0-2 (failure to overtake NY for first place)
February 2, 1997 Blacks lose to Sannat Lions 1-2 (loss to fellow strugglers)
February 7, 1998 Blacks lose to Xewkija Tigers 3-4 (loss to direct rival for relegation)
February 10, 1998 Blacks lose to Xaghra United 0-3 (Club mired deeper in relegation zone)
February 2-17, 1999 Blacks do not lose (because they do not play!?)

And now, February 9, 2003...

This was the date for the third and final encounter between the numbers one and two in the league. Two points separated Ghajnsielem from Nadur before this match. A win for the Blacks would have given them a five point-lead over their nearest rival. With five matches left to play, this would not have been an insurmountable lead. However, it would have dealt the Youngsters a severe psychological blow and put the Blacks in a situation where they could afford a slip in the remaining matches. A draw would have been good too for Ghajnsielem since that would have kept them above the Youngsters with no direct clashes left between the two. All the Blacks would have had to do was just to track the Youngsters, careful not to slip unless they do. A position Nadur would enjoy only with a win. 

Nadur emerged 1-0 winners with a prudent display of football. They nicked an early lead and protected it dearly to the bitter end. Ghajnsielem had Sammy Attard in goal; Loreto Scicluna was in his third game back at libero; Brian Meilak and Joseph Scicluna, later replaced by Joseph Attard I, were stoppers; Martin Cremona had Errol Grima and Matthew Portelli, next to him, the latter replacing Tarik Belhaj; Belhaj came in midway through the second half; Frank Buttigieg was on the right flank and Reuben Mercieca played in his third game for the Club, but the first one on the left; Dione Lautier and Aloy Ihebulu were strikers. Joseph Attard II, a starter in the two previous wins, was dropped from the starting line-up and was introduced only late in the game.

As expected, the aftermath of the narrow loss to Nadur was a period rife with recriminations and accusations. As Peter Caruana tried to rally his squad, talk around the Club turned to something close to a post-mortem, however premature, of the Blacks' performance. A team many had predicted to sweep to a league title is now desperately behind.

On either side of this defeat the Blacks beat Xaghra U. 6-2 and Xewkija T. 4-0. These were two resounding victories the value of which is vastly reduced by the no show against the Youngsters. These were two matches that further highlight the folly of the Nadur match. 

So Nadur are in pole position once again. Judging by their campaigns since the mid-nineties the odds are that they will be tough to dislodge from this position. The rest of the division is even more segmented now. Zebbug and Xewkija have nothing but pride to play for. Only one out of the trio of bottom clubs, Victoria H., Xaghra U. and Qala St. J., will play first division football next season. Much will hang on the outcome of the direct clash between Xaghra and Victoria Hotspurs in mid-March.

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