The new football team included almost all the best players from the two former local clubs. Their first season in 1996–1997 was very successful, winning Eccellenza hands down and returning to Serie D. The first season for the new club in the Italian fifth-ranked division ended with just Mazara earning one point above the relegation limit. The 1998–1999 campaign was even harder. Since Mazara ended the season with the same number of points as Sancataldese, they were forced to play a single-legged relegation playoff. Held in Termini Imerese, the match ended in a 1–0 win for Mazara, which escaped relegation again.