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In May the
Club wrapped up its league commitments with an easy win against relegated side Xaghra
United. Ghajnsielem finished as league runners-up for the second time
in four years, and for the fourth time since their last championship
twenty nine years ago. The Blacks set a Club record for goals scored in a
season, 50 in 18 league matches. Having said that this team was nowhere
close to the 1969/70 Blacks which scored twenty six goals in just eight
league matches, a pace of over three goals per match. Furthermore, the
vaunted Blacks forward line came up short in the direct confrontations
with Nadur Y. scoring just once in three matches against them. Aloy Ihebulu was Club
and First Division top scorer. Ihebulu's 17 league goals also set a Club
mark for goals scored in first division league play.
The Club
lost in the semi-finals of the Noel Vassallo Cup and the Super Cup, to
Zebbug Rovers and Xewkija Tigers respectively. The elimination from these
two competitions was extremely disappointing. The Noel Vassallo Cup is
sponsored by Club supporter and benefactor, Joseph Vassallo, and it hurts
that the Blacks were not the winners of the first edition. The Super Cup
had been a competition in which the Blacks had appeared in four
consecutive finals. Not to reach the final signals a step backwards of
sorts for the Club. There was, however, a silver lining in this gathering
mass of dark clouds. The finals of these two cup competitions were held in
the week preceding the G.F.A. Cup final, the top cup competition in Gozo.
Nadur Youngsters marched triumphantly to all three finals and won the
first two. In the process they expended a tremendous amount of physical
and psychological energy, not to mention losing due to suspension three
key players ahead of the G.F.A. Cup final. The Blacks meanwhile licked
their wounds and geared up for one final confrontation with the
all-conquering Whites.
The Blacks
started the season by winning the Independence Cup in the hardest possible
way because they had to eliminate Nadur, Zebbug and Xewkija before lifting
the trophy. Now they were destined to close the season by walking away
with the G.F.A. Cup without breaking a sweat. The Blacks scored a total of
fifteen goals as they brushed Gharb Rangers and Qala St. Joseph aside on
the way to the final. These goals contributed a great deal to the record
77 goals that the Blacks scored in the 29 matches (also a record) that
they played over the whole season. The 3-2 win over an under-strength and
over-worked Nadur in the final was the twentieth of the season. This too
set a new Club mark. Here, however, one should note that in terms of
winning percentage, the 1970/71 Blacks remain tops with a 90% winning
record (17 wins in 19 matches).
Aloy
Ihebulu's total of 27 goals in all competitions was one goal short of Jude
Madu's Club record set in 1998/99. Ihebulu now has a total of 48 goals
which puts him third on the all time scorers list of the Club behind
Vincent Cutajar (75) and Madu (55). His scoring rate of 48 goals in 55
matches is second only to Madu's 55 goals in as many matches. Brian Meilak
set a new Club mark for appearances in a season with 28--all starts. He
missed out on being the only player to appear in every match when he was
rested against Xaghra United in the league with the decisive match against
Nadur coming up. Joe Debono became the oldest player to score for the Club
(39 years, 7 months and 21 days) when he scored against Qala St. Joseph in
the G.F.A. Cup semi-final.
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