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 A
GOAL after just 57 seconds set CD Javea
off to a glorious start on the windswept
Quatre Camins ground in Canals. But
a horrific injury to centre-half
Ochando midway through the first-half
changed the tempo of the game in favour
of the home side who almost strolled
to a 3-1 victory, dominating the
second-half in front of a boisterous
partisan crowd. In fairness, the scoreline
doesn't really reflect the nature of
the game as a whole, which the 'rojiblancos'
controlled for much of the opening half-hour.
And if it wasn't for the injury to Ochando,
this game might have finished a lot
closer. But a lack of cover in the centre
of defence proved costly and CD Javea's
resurgence is put on hold for a week.
Canals
was cold and windy but the sun was shining
and those who braved the chill sought
out shelter in the sunshine. The Quatre
Camins ground is far from aesthetically-pleasing,
lacking character and a decent stand
from which to watch the action. And
it was another ground that had recently
been presented with a new artificial
surface, albeit one that was threatening
to blow away in the high winds, so bad
was the installation. But for what
it lacked in character, it owned in
atmosphere. Over 400 turned out to watch
their local side, an attendance augmented
by about two dozen or so from Javea,
and they made their presence well-known
with drums, megaphones and catchy songs
of support. Just a step adrift from
intimidation, the noise leant to
a great atmosphere inside an otherwise
dump of a ground.
The
'rojiblancos' silenced the noisy support
before they had even had a chance to
finish their first can of beer. DAVID
IVARS swept a superb ball to ONIEVA
on the right and the striker charged
into the area before unleashing a powerful
shot across the face of the goal and
the hopeless dive of the goalkeeper
to hit the inside left of the goal and
give the travelling fans an early chance
to make their own presence known. Javea
dominated the opening minutes against
a side that recently sacked its coach,
former Javea man Miguel Angel, and installed
former Javea player Piter in his place.
Canals looked a side which many problems,
unable contain the powerful surges on
ONIEVA and DAVID IVARS. The former got
himself into a great position on the
right-hand side but his cross was too
long and sailed over the left where
RIBES was able to drive a low cross
in return. DAVID IVARS, keen to add
to his tally after opening his account
the previous weekend, collected under
pressure just inside the box but his
snatched shot was easily blocked.
Javea
looked dead-certs to double their advantage.
DAVID IVARS might had done better after
meeting another good cross into the
box by RIBES but couldn't quite connect
well enough to direct his header beyond
the reach of the keeper. Minutes later
JUANITO, making a rare start due to
a one-match suspension handed to SCOTT,
picked out ONIEVA charging through the
centre but the striker couldn't quite
compose himself well enough under pressure
to shoot accurately and his shot sailed
well wide of the goal to ironic cheers
from the home fans.
And
then, much against the run of play,
Canals found themselves level. A free-kick
was conceded midway into Javea territory
and Canals' Auriña floated a high ball
into the box. There was a commotion
as bodies jumped to meet the cross and
the ball appeared to deceive RUIBERRIZ,
the custodian flapping as it bounced
over him and towards the back of the
net. The keeper appeared to have done
enough to drop onto the ball and
prevent it from crossing the line but
the home players and fans were convinced
it was a goal and, after a minute or
two of confusion as the referee consulted
his linesman, the goal was awarded to
bring the match level. RUIBERRIZ, ready
for a drop-kick, smashed the ball into
the ground in frustration and his tantrum
attracted the first caution of the game.
The
game changed and a newly-confident Canals
drove forward with recent signing Senior
creating havoc in the box. Tackles became
more ferocious and OCHANDO was taken
out in dramatic fashion on the touchline.
The tall centre-half lay prostrate on
the ground, much to the exasperation
of the home fans, but it seemed that
the clash proved to be far more damaging
than first thought. The 'rojiblancos'
were reduced to ten man as OCHANDO received
treatment and then walked slowly around
the pitch to the bench where the decision
was taken to send him to the local hospital
for precautionary observation. Amazingly,
UD Canals is one of the few clubs that
choose to host semi-professional football
games without adequate medical cover.
DINO was drafted in as a replacement
and coach Kenny Brown was forced to
shuffle his side early.
Canals
responded with determination and RUIBERRIZ
did wonderfully well to palm away an
effort from the giant striker Senior.
The fans responded by lifting the tempo
and the players continued to attack
the 'rojiblancos'. However the
home side didn't quite have it all their
own way as half-time approached and
ONIEVA was unlucky to see another powerful
effort saved at the post.
The
second period began with a bit of confidence
from Javea and RIBES was unlucky to
see his free-kick sail over the bar
from distance. But then Canals dealt
a cruel blow when Senior finally got
himself onto the scoresheet with a header
from close-range which head RUIBERRIZ
well beaten. Two minutes later and the
advantage was extended when Auriña floated
a delightful free-kick into the top
right corner of the net from 25 yards
with the keeper well-beaten once again.
Driven
on by their noisy fans, Canals looked
confident to claim more goals. ALDO,
who had a terrific first-half, found
the going tough in front of an unforgiving
and noisy local peña and every slight
miskick or misplaced pass was greeted
with ironic cheers. Heads began to drop
and heated conversations between players
marred any lingering hope of a comeback
from the 'rojiblancos'. RIBES was particularly
downcast and was replaced by RUBÉN SERRIO
to provide a little more cover in defence
as the home side threatened to run rampant.
To give him some credit, JUANMA worked
terrifically well to hold together his
threadbare back line, devoid of a key
element after the forced departure of
OCHANDO. But Canals substitute Berto
was fast becoming a huge thorn in the
side of the Javea defence, and provided
a terrific opportunity to extend the
lead but his powerful shot from a narrow
angle pinged noisily against the right-hand
post and behind for a goal-kick.
With
five minutes remaining Javea might have
claimed a consolation after local lads
DINO and DAVID IVARS combined well but
the attempt on goal was cleared by the
home defence. Aside from that last attack,
Canals cruised comfortably towards their
first win in four games and the referee
brought the game to a conclusion after
playing more than five minutes of added
time. The home fans responded with obvious
approval for the win, noisily applauding
their players from the pitch. By contrast,
the 'rojiblancos' trudged dejectedly
towards the changing rooms; the normally-chirpy
RIBES was already sitting alone outside,
head in hands, staring into space wondering
what might have been.
In
truth, it was a game that had all the
hallmarks of a victory for a side under
new management. UD Canals played
Javea off the park back in September
but had been troubled by financial problems
and a run that saw them lose four of
the five previous games prior to this
encounter. On paper at least, Javea
might have claimed revenge - and might
have done so had OCHANDO not been
forced off through injury early in the
game and SCOTT been available for it
was his sort of game, physical and challenging.
But recent statistics wouldn't have
accounted for a change at the helm at
Canals and coach Piter can be congratulated
for giving his side renewed confidence.
Canals might be there or thereabouts
come the end of the season. Whether
Javea will be is solely dependent on
KENNY lifting his side from this disappointment
and preparing them for an even tougher
encounter at Alberic next weekend.
C.D.
JAVEA:
Ruiberriz,
Carbonell,
Ochando (Dino 27min), Juanma, Aldo,
Youssopha, Carlos
Ribes (Rubén Serrio 66min),
Canari, Juanito, Onieva (Dani 78mins),
Ivars.
Bookings:
Ruiberriz, Onieva, Juanma, Canari, Ivars.
Man-of-the-Match:
Carbonell - worked hard.
Attendance:
400
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