2018–19 Gozo First Division

The 2018–19 Gozo First Division (known as the BOV GFL First Division for sponsorship reasons) was the 72nd season of the Gozo Football League First Division, the highest division in Gozitan football. The season began on 14 September 2018.[4] Victoria Hotspurs were able to defend the title won the previous season, winning their thirteenth title in their history.[3][5]

Gozo Football League First Division
Season2018–19
Dates14 September 2018
ChampionsVictoria Hotspurs
(13th title)
Matches played60
Goals scored246 (4.1 per match)
Top goalscorerElton da Silva (30 goals)
Highest scoringXewkija Tigers 9–0 Munxar Falcons
(25 November 2018)[1]
Munxar Falcons 5–4 Xewkija Tigers
(10 March 2019)[2]
Xewkija Tigers 2–7 Victoria Hotspurs
(14 April 2019)[3]
All statistics correct as of 17 March 2019.

Format

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The season is composed of a round-robin system where each team plays each other three times, totalling 21 games. The seventh-placed team will play a relegation play-off with the second-placed team in the Second Division. Most of the matches are scheduled to be played at the Gozo Stadium, with Sannat Ground and Kerċem Ajax Stadium being used as well.

Teams

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Locations of the 2018–19 GFA First Division teams

Eight teams compete in the league – the top six teams from the previous season, the winner of the relegation play-off between the seventh-placed team and the second-placed team in the Second Division, and a promoted team from the Second Division. Second Division winner Munxar Falcons replaced Oratory Youths.[6]

Team Home city 2017–18 season
Għajnsielem Għajnsielem 4th
Għarb Rangers Għarb 6th
Kerċem Ajax Kerċem 5th
Munxar Falcons Munxar 1st (Second Division)
Nadur Youngsters Nadur 2nd
S.K. Victoria Wanderers Victoria 7th
Victoria Hotspurs Victoria 1st
Xewkija Tigers Xewkija 3rd

League table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Victoria Hotspurs (C) 21 19 1 1 68 22 +46 58
2 Nadur Youngsters 21 15 4 2 72 25 +47 49
3 Xewkija Tigers 21 8 3 10 57 45 +12 27
4 Għajnsielem 21 7 5 9 41 52 −11 26
5 S.K. Victoria Wanderers 21 6 3 12 29 44 −15 21
6 Kerċem Ajax 21 5 6 10 26 44 −18 21
7 Għarb Rangers (O) 21 4 6 11 32 50 −18 18 Qualification for the relegation play-off
8 Munxar Falcons (R) 21 5 2 14 30 73 −43 17 Relegation to the Gozo FA Second Division
Updated to match(es) played on 28 April 2019. Source: RSSSF
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Play-off (only if deciding champion); 3) Head-to-head points; 4) Head-to-head goal difference; 5) Head-to-head goals scored; 6) Goal difference; 7) Goals scored.[7]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (R) Relegated

Results

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Matches 1–14

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Teams play each other twice, once assigned as home and once away.

Home \ Away GĦJ GĦB KRĊ MXR NDR SKVW VCH XWK
Għajnsielem 2–2 2–2[a] 3–2 2–3 2–6[b] 2–3 4–2
Għarb Rangers 0–3[c] 4–2 1–2 1–3 2–2 1–3 1–2
Kerċem Ajax 0–2 1–1 1–3 1–1 0–1 0–3 1–1
Munxar Falcons 2–2 0–2 1–5[d] 1–7 4–1 0–8[e] 5–4
Nadur Youngsters 6–2 5–0 3–0 6–0 1–0 2–2 1–1
S.K. Victoria Wanderers 0–2 1–0 1–3 1–2 2–4 0–2 2–5
Victoria Hotspurs 3–1 3–1 6–1 3–2 3–2 2–0 2–1
Xewkija Tigers 1–1 7–1 2–3[f] 9–0 1–2 5–0 2–0
Updated to match(es) played on 28 April 2019. Source: RSSSF
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Notes:
  1. ^ The match played on 12 October was abandoned at half–time due to heavy rainfall with Kerċem Ajax winning 1–0.[8] The second half was played on 15 October.[9]
  2. ^ S.K. Victoria Wanderers is originally the home team in this tie
  3. ^ Għajnsielem is originally the home team in this tie
  4. ^ Kerċem is originally the home team in this tie
  5. ^ Victoria Hotspurs is originally the home team in this tie
  6. ^ Kerċem is originally the home team in this tie

Matches 15–22

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Teams play every other team once (either assigned at home or away).

Home \ Away GĦJ GĦB KRĊ MXR NDR SKVW VCH XWK
Għajnsielem 1–4 1–2 1–5
Għarb Rangers 1–1 2–2 0–3 2–4
Kerċem Ajax 1–1 0–6 1–0
Munxar Falcons 1–2 1–4 0–3
Nadur Youngsters 4–1 3–1
S.K. Victoria Wanderers 1–1 2–2 2–0 1–4
Victoria Hotspurs 2–1 2–0 4–2 2–1
Xewkija Tigers 2–5 4–2 1–2 2–7
Updated to match(es) played on 28 April 2019. Source: RSSSF
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Relegation play-off

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A play-off match took place between the seventh-placed team from the First Division, Għarb Rangers, and the second-placed team from the Second Division, Sannat Lions, for a place in the 2019–20 GFL First Division.

30 April 2019 Għarb Rangers (1) 1–0 Sannat Lions (2) Xewkija
R. Zammit   16' Report Stadium: Gozo Stadium
Referee: Sandro Spiteri

Season statistics

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Top goalscorers

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As of 28 April 2019[10]
Rank Player Club Goals
1   Elton da Silva Victoria Hotspurs 30
2   Marcelo Junior Barbosa Nadur Youngsters 28
3   Luis André de Melo Lima Għajnsielem 23
4   Hugo Santa Rosa Cruz Għarb Rangers 17
5   Darko Krstic Xewkija Tigers 15
6   Leiner Garcia Panesso Munxar Falcons/Nadur Youngsters 12
7   Augustine James Obaje S.K. Victoria Wanderers 11
8   Felipe Augusto de Oliveira Kerċem Ajax 10
  Henrique de Souza Maciel Victoria Hotspurs
10   Claudio Antunes Pavlidis Xewkija Tigers 9
  Yuri de Jesus Messias Nadur Youngsters

Awards

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Monthly awards

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Month Player of the Month
Player Club
September[11]   Elton da Silva Victoria Hotspurs
October[12]   Adrian Parnis Victoria Hotspurs
November[13]   Joseph Cefai Xewkija Tigers
December[14]   Marcelo Barbosa Nadur Youngsters
January[15]   Felipe Augusto de Oliveira Kerċem Ajax
February[16]   Mark Grima Xewkija Tigers
March[17]   Ferdinando Apap Victoria Hotspurs

References

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  1. ^ Cassar, Darren (26 November 2018). "Darko Krstic hits five goals in large win for Xewkija". Gozo Football Association.
  2. ^ "Munxar win nine-goal thriller against Xewkija". Gozo Football Association. 17 March 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Victoria Hotspurs clinch 13th title". Gozo Football Association. 16 April 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
  4. ^ Cassar, Darren (2 August 2018). "BOV GFA Competitions Fixtures Drawn". Gozo Football Association.
  5. ^ Abela, Stefan (29 April 2019). "Victoria Hotspurs crowned BOV GFA 1st Division Champions". The Malta Independent. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
  6. ^ "BOV GFA Div. II: Munxar Falcons crowned Champions". The Malta Independent. 30 April 2018.
  7. ^ "Gozo First Division 2018/2019 - Season rules". Scoresway. Archived from the original on 31 March 2017. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  8. ^ Cassar, Darren (13 October 2018). "Ghajnsielem, Kercem match abandoned due to heavy rain". Gozo Football Association.
  9. ^ Cassar, Darren (16 October 2018). "Ghajnsielem avoid a defeat with a goal scored in stoppage time". Gozo Football Association.
  10. ^ "Gozo Football League First Division". MaltaFootball.com. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  11. ^ "BOV GFA Player of the Month - Elton Alexandre Da Silva (Victoria Hotspurs) wins September Award". Bank of Valletta. 29 October 2018. Archived from the original on 3 November 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  12. ^ "BOV GFA Player of the Month – October 2018 - Victoria Hotspurs Goalkeeper Adrian Parnis". Bank of Valletta. 29 November 2018. Archived from the original on 1 December 2018. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  13. ^ "BOV GFA Player of the Month - Joseph Cefai (Xewkija Tigers) wins November 2018 award". Bank of Valletta. 2 January 2019. Archived from the original on 7 January 2019. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  14. ^ "BOV GFA Player of the Month - Marcelo Barbosa (Nadur Youngsters) wins December award". Bank of Valletta. 28 January 2019. Archived from the original on 3 February 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  15. ^ "BOV GFA Player of the Month – January 2018 - Award goes to Kercem Ajax's Felipe Augusto de Oliveira". Bank of Valletta. 21 February 2019. Retrieved 21 February 2019.[permanent dead link]
  16. ^ "BOV GFA Player of the Month - Xewkija 'keeper Mark Grima wins February award". Bank of Valletta. 3 April 2019. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  17. ^ "BOV GFA Player of the Month - Ferdinando Apap (Victoria Hotspurs) wins March Award". Bank of Valletta. 17 April 2019. Retrieved 17 April 2019.