In early December, the Club was still counting the wounded when help arrived from unexpected sources. Xaghra United halted the Youngsters, tying them 2-2. Two points recovered against Nadur. The G.F.A. deducted two points from Xewkija for crowd trouble in their first round loss to Victoria Hotspurs. Two points recovered against Xewkija. So the Blacks had to re-focus, heal the injured and start winning again.

This they have done. First up, providence sent Qala on the lush Gozo Stadium turf. With barely eleven senior players available, the Blacks carved a 3-0 win hugely aided by Qala's defensive mistakes. Next up, the first match of a double-header against Zebbug: the postponed match from October (the other is the scheduled second round encounter to be played in January). This was the worst of all possible times to play Zebbug. They had just done themselves and the rest of the title aspirants a huge favour by downing Nadur 1-0. Although the Blacks greeted this turn of events with a broad grin, this soon turned to a look of concern when they realized that Zebbug had in the process restored team morale and were now in full throttle towards their own promised land: the very first league title in club history. The pressure of such an achievement proved too much for the Rovers. Ghajnsielem still missing several players prevailed over Zebbug 2-1 in a match that restored Blacks' pride and catapulted them back into contention. 

The team has changed a little: Sammy Attard is still in goal; Brian Meilak is now paired with Joseph Scicluna at stopper; Joe Debono is the libero; Martin Cremona is flanked by Errol Grima and Tarik Belhaj; the Buttigieg cousins, Frank and Joseph, are the left and right wing-backs; Dione Lautier and Aloy Ihebulu are still striking partners. Although not the line-up envisioned by some at the start of the season, this was extremely effective in neutralizing the challenge of Zebbug and is responsible for setting the Blacks back on course.

Xewkija closed the calendar year with their sixth straight win which not only made them the hottest team in the league but established them as equal favourites with Nadur and Ghajnsielem for the title. Zebbug is hovering in mid-table. Xaghra and Victoria H. will likely fight between themselves who will join Qala for the drop to division two.

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