|
 THE
PROVERBIAL game of two halves. UD Carcaixent
dominated the first period, opening
their account early with a terrific
long-range effort, and should have entered
the break at least two goals up were
it not for the fine goalkeeping of Ruiberriz.
The second half saw CD Javea dominate
on a rain-sodden surface and eventually
claim all three points to notch up another
'double' and climb almost nonchalantly
back towards the play-off zone.
CD
Javea kicked off and had the best of
the opening couple of minutes with debutant
GEORGE looking keen on the left-side. However
the home side soon took control the
game and forced a succession of early
corners from which goalkeeper RUIBERRIZ had
to be at his very best in a very crowded
area to tip over a fine effort from
former Javea player Sergio.
The
opening goal came after just eight minutes.
More pressure from Carcaixent resulted
in a near siege mentality as the Javea
defence worked hard to contain wave
after wave of attack. Eventually the
ball fell to Djalma just outside
the area and his half-volley flew past
the diving RUIBERRIZ to smash into
the top right corner of the net and
put the time home side into the lead.
The
rojiblancos tried to work themselves
back into the game on a rough grass
surface. IVARS had a half-chance after
some good work from ALDO but the midfielder
collided with keeper Angel on the edge
of the box, the rotund custodian somehow
coming out worse off in the impact.
In the centre YOUSSO was once again
making himself a real nuisance to the
opposition, the Senegalese player really
enjoying his football.
However
Carcaixent soon regained control of
the match and Sergio went extremely
close with a free-kick for which RUIBERRIZ
had to be at full-stretch to tip around
the right-hand post as the ball flew
through a crowded area. Yet in the scramble
the referee had spotted at infringement
by an orange shirt - ALDO it turned
out - and awarded a penalty to the home
side. Big striker Santi confidently
placed the ball on the spot but RIUBERRIZ
reacted well to block the shot and the
ball was hoofed back by the pitch by
a relieved Javea side.
As
stormclouds gathered overhead, the rojiblancos
found themselves in a rare position
in front of goal when awarded a free-kick.
However CARBONELL appeared to make the
wrong choice, blasting the ball powerfully
into the wall when CARLOS RIBES was
free in acres of space to his right
and might have done more with the effort.
Minutes later Javea forced their first
corner of the game but GEORGE was unable
to lift the ball into the box and the
low cross was deflected into the side-netting
by a colleague.
With
six minutes to the break, strong winds
arrived accompanied by heavy rain, a
remnant of the storm with had battered
the east coast twenty-four hours earlier.
As visibility reduced and the winds
threatened to take apart the old stand
at the Quatro Caminos ground, the referee
wisely called a temporary halt to the
proceedings and led both teams in a
sprint for the changing rooms. After
a ten minute delay during which supporters
gathered in what little shelter was
available, the weather improved and
the game resumed without incident until
the break.
The
rain had softened the grass surface
and it seemed to suit Javea. Striker
JUANITO replaced GEORGE for a tactical
change in which the rojiblancos moved
to a 3-5-2 formation; the effect was
almost immediate. Javea looked far better
and there was real confidence and enthusiasm
to find the equaliser - and maybe even
win the game. Just two minutes into
the second period, the orange shirts
forced a succession of corners and ONIEVA
might have provided the leveller had
his flick-on on the near-post found
its mark instead of falling into the
chest of a relieved goalkeeper.
Carcaixent
battled to preserve their advantage,
sadly resorting to play-acting to try
and gain the upper hand, young striker Adri
guilty of several dramatic dives in
an attempt to deceive the referee, encouraged
by the home crowd. Frustrating as such
as tactic was, the rojiblancos got on
with their game and responded in perfect
style with pressure on the increasingly-worried
home defence eventually winning a free-kick
in perfect position on the left-hand
side. RIBES floated the ball into the
box to which ONIEVA might have connected
but the keeper was able to block the
effort - but not hold it. The ball broke
loose to ONIEVA who passed across the
face of the goal to JUANMA, in acres
of space on the far side, who blasted
the ball into the back of the net from
close range to equalise.
Some
of the small number of travelling fans
might have settled for the draw but
the players were out for maximum points
and they got their chance three minutes
from time when Carcaixent defender Simeno
handled on the line and was dismissed
with a straight red card; the rojiblancos
were awarded a penalty kick. ONIEVA
made no mistake, blasting the ball beyond
the keeper and into the bottom left
corner of the net to hand Javea the
lead.
The
referee added on some five minutes of
extra time and Javea had to keep their
heads to secure their victory. Carcaixent
tried to move the ball into position
but every orange shirt worked hard to
preserve the lead. When the whistle
finally sounded, they punched the air
in delight. Two wins in a row lifted
CD Javea into sixth spot and back into
contention for a play-off spot, just
five points adrift of third place.
C.D.
JAVEA:
Ruiberriz,
Carbonell,
Ochando, Juanma, Aldo,
Yooussu, Carlos
Ribes (Rubén Serrío 90min),
Canari, George (Juanito 46m), Onieva,
Ivars (Dino 84m).
Man-of-the-Match:
Ruiberriz.
|
