The title hopefuls launched their 2013/14 GFA Division One league campaign on a winning note.
From this season, the top championship in Gozitan football is being contested by eight teams.
After two rounds, the top four will compete for the title in the Championship Pool while the remaining four will go into the Relegation Pool. The second phase will also be over two rounds.
Champions Nadur Youngsters stormed to a 4-1 win over Xagħra United. The Youngsters dominated from the start and early attempts by Jonathan Soares and Josef Buttigieg were stopped by the woodwork.
Nadur opened the scoring through Soares eight minutes from half-time.
Xagħra tried to produce a reaction after the break but conceded again during their best patch.
Captain Anthony Portelli doubled Nadur’s lead on 65 minutes. Five minutes later, the Youngsters were awarded a penalty after Xagħra goalkeeper Victor Agius fouled Soares who didn’t miss from the spot.
The Blues pulled one goal back on 73 minutes through Sunday Baala but three minutes later, new signing David Fenech sealed Nadur’s victory with a fourth goal.
Kerċem Ajax underlined their ambitions to challenge for the title with a crushing 7-0 win over newly-promoted Munxar Falcons.
Petar Kyumurdzhiev’s 12th minute free-kick hit the crossbar but the Ajax nosed ahead nine minutes from half-time with a curling shot by Joseph Chetcuti.
The former Qormi midfielder increased Kerċem’s advantage with a close-range header on 42 minutes.
Munxar collapsed as Kerċem continued to dominate after the break.
Skipper Jean Paul Mizzi made it 3-0 with a low drive on 54 minutes and five minutes later, Chris Camilleri netted the fourth goal. Further goals by substitute Andrew Mizzi, Malcolm Vella and Camilleri added to Kerċem’s lead.
Oratory Youths, the other promoted side, also had a difficult start after suffering a 3-1 defeat to neighbours SK Victoria Wanderers.
The Youths were off to a flier as they scored after 12 minutes when Christian Cardona’s cross-shot from a corner ended in the net.
The Wanderers, who have aspirations to challenge for the title, staged a good reaction to turn the result in their favour before half-time through Joseph Vella (32) and Argentine midfielder Fernando Giarrizzo (45) after good work by Peter Anizoba.
Victoria secured the three points 18 minutes from time with a direct free-kick by Eman Bugeja but finished the match with 10 men after Sam Frank Bajada was sent off for two bookings.
In the last Division One match, Xewkija Tigers and Victoria Hotspurs earned a point each after a goalless draw.
Late winner
Kerċem Ajax won the first honour of the new season after a dramatic 2-1 win over Victoria Hotspurs in the final of the GFA Division One Knock-Out.
The match was hard-fought with Kerċem seeing more of the ball but Victoria were effective when breaking forward on the counter, particularly through Saturday Nanapere and the set-pieces of David Camilleri.
Kerċem took the lead on 65 minutes with a fine header by veteran Sabri Rais.
Victoria suffered a setback eight minutes from the end when they were reduced to 10 men after Warren Chircop was sent off for a second bookable offence.
However, the Hotspurs showed character as they equalised four minutes from time through Alex Tramboo.
As the match seemed heading for extra-time, Kerċem struck the winner in the second minute of stoppage time with an overhead kick by Malcolm Vella that had the better of the Victoria goalkeeper.
After the match, Gozo FA president Alvin Grech and general secretary Joe Bajada presented the medals and trophy to the Kerċem players and officials.
Division Two
In the opening matches of the Division Two league, Għajnsielem obtained a 1-0 win over Sannat Lions courtesy of Robert Grima’s 64th-minute goal, while Għarb Rangers and Żebbuġ Rovers shared the spoils in a 2-2 draw.
Żebbuġ had Joe Hili sent off after 14 minutes but they still remained the better side, going ahead through Antoine Camilleri (24).
Għarb began to take advantage of the extra player to overturn the deficit with goals from Sam Harland (40) and Josef Muscat (53).
Għarb were also reduced to 10 men on 64 minutes when Christian Attard was dismissed. Żebbuġ saved the result when Sylvan Galea found the net deep into stoppage time.