SK Victoria Wanderers champions and promoted

18 March 2023

GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division II (MD 15) Gozo Stadium

SK Victoria Wanderers: 5

Gharb Rangers FC : 0

11’ (1-0) Aud-Gustine James Obaje

29’ (2-0) Neil Camilleri

30’ (3-0) Sam Harland

56’ (4-0) Emerson Zammit

70’ (5-0) Luke Fenech

SK Victoria W:

O. Xuereb, N. Camilleri, A.J. Obaje (M. Gafa), E. Bugeja (T. Azzopardi), E. Zammit, S. Harland (J. Saliba), S.F. Bajada, O. Fenech, N. Vella (J.W. Meilak), J.G. Vella, L. Fenech (D. Kuru).

Gharb R:

V. Agius (E. Bajada), S. Farrugia, C. Cutajar, C. Cardona (M. Tabone), C. Buttigieg, J.P. Grima (J. Xerri), R. Portelli (S. Azzopardi), J. Buttigieg (D. Vella), V.G. Soarez Souza, O. Calleja, N. Attard.

SK Victoria Wanderers, who were relegated to the second division at the end of the last season, will be making a quick return to the top flight of Gozitan football as they ended champions of the BOV Gozo Football League of the second division.  The Wanderers needed just one point from their last match of the campaign against bottom-placed Gharb Rangers but they managed to impose their superiority over their opponents throughout the ninety minutes and earned the full points at stake from a 5-0 win.

Victoria held command of play from the early stages and paved the way to the win by scoring three goals during the opening half-hour of play.  As time passed by the Wanderers reduced their pressure but Gharb continued to struggle to produce a reaction so that the win was never in contention.

The Wanderers lived up to the expectations as they were favourites to obtain a victory over Gharb Rangers and were therefore prepared to celebrate the achievement of the main honour of the category.  The Citizens were followed by a sizeable crowd that created entertainment and that continued to celebrate after the final whistle and during the presentation of the trophies.

This match crowned a successful campaign from the Wanderers as they managed to lead the category since the last Match-Day of the first round.  The Wanderers conceded two defeats from three matches against their main rivals Xaghra United but they were consistent in all the other matches so they maintained the command of the table for most of the duration of the league.  Victoria’s success can also be measured by the numbers as they had the strongest defensive department which conceded 13 goals from 15 matches and also the best forward line which scored 38 goals.  Victoria’s striker Aud-Gustine James Obaje also ended up as the top scorer of the category with 14 personal goals.

At the end of the match Ms Charmaine Borg, Regional Manager of the BOV for Gozo, and the President of the Gozo Football Association, Dr Samuel Azzopardi, in the presence of other GFA officials, presented the medals to all the SK Victoria Wanderers players and technical staff and the trophy of champions to skipper Nicholas Vella among the celebrations of the supporters who were present at the Gozo Stadium. 

Timeline:

SK Victoria Wanderers came out very aggressive and tried to produce pressure on Gharb’s defence from the first minutes of play.  The Wanderers capitalised from the good chances created during the first part of the encounter so that they took the driving seat and administered play with authority,

6’ Gharb could have created more danger but a header by Vitor Gabriel Soarez Souza from a free kick by Christian Cardona ended wide.

11’ (1-0) The Wanderers opened the score when Gharb’s goalie failed to clear a corner kick by Joseph George Vella and Aud-Gustine James Obaje took full advantage and pushed the ball into the goal.

14’ Victoria’s Joseph George Vella had an attempt directly from a free kick that was neutralised by Gharb’s goalie Victor Agius.

29’ (2-0) Victoria doubled their lead through Neil Camilleri who placed in the net from close distance following a free kick from the right flank by Owen Fenech.

30’ (3-0) The Wanderers added another goal when Aud-Gustine James Obaje entered Gharb’s area from the right and from his low cross Sam Harland concluded into an open goal with a tap-in.

33’ The Citizens could have increased their lead when Gharb’s defence failed to clear the ball from their area but the attempt by Sam Harland ended just wide.

HT (3-0)

Second Half

Play for most of the second period was a formality as Gharb seemed demoralised while SK Victoria Wanderers continued to be the better side on the field although their actions towards Gharb’s goal were far apart.  The Wanderers were well organised to keep control of the result and made it difficult for their opponents to produce a reaction.

2’ Victoria’s Sam Harland could have scored another goal for his side but his shot on the run following a low cross by Emerson Zammit ended wide.

8’ Gharb could have created more danger but a header by Carlos Cutajar from a free kick by Steve Farrugia ended high.

10’ Gharb once again threatened Victoria’s defence but a shot by Carlos Cutajar was saved easily by Victoria’s keeper Omar Xuereb.

11’ (4-0) The Wanderers increased their lead with a goal scored by Emerson Zammit who concluded in the net from close distance following a cross from the left flank by Aud-Gustine James Obaje.

21’ SK Victoria Wanderers missed a good opportunity to score another goal when Emerson Zammit entered Gharb’s territory with a counter break and released Joseph George Vella inside the area.  The latter delivered an inviting low cross towards the goalmouth by the attempt by Aud-Gustine James Obaje was blocked by substitute goalie Etienne Bajada.  From the rebound, the ball arrived to Sam Harland who saw his strike that was blocked to a corner by Gharb’s defender Richard Portelli.

24’ Victoria were again dangerous when a header by Aud-Gustine James Obaje following a cross from the right by Sam Harland was deflected by the defence to a corner.

25’ (5-0) From the same corner kick by Owen Fenech, Luke Fenech arrived on the ball and headed into the goal.

32’ Victoria’s goalie Omar Xuereb denied Gharb from scoring a consolation goal when he saved to a corner a shot by Carlos Cutajar.

40’ Gharb were again dangerous through a strike from outside the area by Cyriel Buttigieg that was blocked to a corner by the defence.

45+2’ Victoria’s goalie Omar Xuereb denied Gharb from scoring a consolation goal with a good save to turn to a corner a free kick by Steve Farrugia.

FT (SKVW 5 – GR 0)

Referee: Jason Portelli