The First Division championship in Gozo, the 65th in history, wrapped up with the last two matches on Sunday.

Xewkija Tigers, already sure of retaining the title a second year in succession, suffered a 3-1 defeat to second-placed Nadur Youngsters. Xewkija topped the standings with 50 points, just one more than the Youngsters.

Nadur opened a two-goal lead following a Claudio Antunes double inside the first half hour as Xewkija’s best opportunity to pull one goal back arrived through a cross-shot by Gennaro Hili that was stopped by the crossbar.

The Tigers increased their efforts after the break but a Martin Hrubsa ‘goal’ was disallowed for offside and on another occasion a John Camilleri shot hit the Nadur woodwork.

Xewkija were rather wasteful up front and Antunes punished the champions with a third goal on 72 minutes.

Nine minutes from time, Xewkija scored a consolation goal when referee Alan Mario Sant ordered a penalty after a foul by Charles Mercieca on Eric Nwankwo.

Daniel Bogdanovic scored from the spot but there was little time left for the Tigers to avoid defeat.

At the end of the match, the numerous Xewkija supporters joined the players and officials on the pitch for celebrations which reached a peak when GFA president Samuel Azzopardi presented them with the cup.

In another match from the last day of the Championship Pool, Victoria Hotspurs made sure of third place with a 3-0 win over Kerċem Ajax.

The Hotspurs sealed it early on following goals by Nicholas Mercieca (4), Gabriel Sillato (13) and Antoine Camilleri (18).

Kerċem could have reduced the deficit but a Petar Kyumyurdzhiev penalty was stopped by keeper Matthew Vella.

Ajax’s woes were further compounded on 43 minutes when they had Aaron Buttigieg sent off for a last-man foul on Camilleri.

St Lawrence survive

St Lawrence Spurs, who finished the season second bottom in Division One, retained their status for another year after a comfortable 6-0 win over Munxar Falcons, the Division Two runners-up, in a play-off.

As the scoreline clearly shows, St Lawrence dominated the en-counter and victory was never in doubt.

Cedric Sciberras (12), Mambaye Boye (17, 66), William Barbosa (75), Fabian Xuereb (78) and Louis Buttigieg (90) scored for the Spurs.

Top scorers
C. Antunes (Nadur) - 23 goals
D. Shields (Xewkija) - 16
A. Ribeiro (Kerċem) - 14
D. Bogdanovic (Xewkija) - 14
J. Camilleri (Xewkija) - 13

BOV GFA Cup SFs
Nadur vs Oratory Youths - 0-4
Għajnsielem vs Xewkija Tigers - 2-8

Final: Sunday, 4pm.

Final standings

  P W D L F A Pts
Xewkija T. 20 16 2 2 57 19 50
Nadur Y. 20 16 1 3 51 17 49
Victoria H. 20 7 4 9 35 33 25
Kerċem Ajax 20 6 3 11 30 42 21
               
SK Victoria W. 20 8 3 9 27 30 27
Oratory Y. 20 7 5 8 31 39 26
St Lawrence 20 6 4 10 31 48 22
Sannat Lions 20 0 6 14 9 43 6

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