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 AN
IMPROVED performance on last weekend's debacle
against Carlet resulted in a share
of the spoils with Group 3's form team UD
Alginet but more points dropped means
that CD Javea's hopes of promotion have
almost been extinguished as the season moves
into its final phase. Coach Kenny Brown
came under criticism from some of the
desperately disappointed home crowd (and
sadly some of it was unnecessarily
foul and abusive at times) but
the blame - if there is any - should lie
squarely on the shoulders of the players
who continue to fail to perform on the pitch.
The post-match analysis in the changing
rooms was reported to have been 'heated'
and many questions needed to be answered.
With a one week rest affording a longer
preparation period for the next match, a
tough away game at UD Oliva, Kenny will
need to work to lift his players to face
the challenge for they are more than capable
enough when they want to be.
UD
Alginet arrived at the Municipal Stadium
boasting not only an unbeaten run of ten
games stretching back to mid-December but
also one of the meanest defences, their
record of 12 clean sheets in 24 games even
surpassing the three pace-setters at the
top of the table. Much of this record can be
attributed to the experience of goalkeeper
Aurelio, one-time custodian at CD Javea
who remembers his time with the club with
genuine fondness.
CD
Javea kicked off the game with a number
of changes from the side that strolled to
defeat at Carlet the previous weekend. Many
were pleased to see tenacious midfielder
Javi make his first appearance for the club
for some time, an enforced absence through
injury depriving the rojiblancos
of another attacking option. The youngster
looked as keen as ever, sometimes overly
so, and charged around the pitch as if unleashed
for the first time.
Javea
pushed deep into opposition territory but
Alginet held firm, defending in numbers
when required to do so and relying on fast
counter-attack through Ten and Mendoza.
The rojiblancos put together some
decent passing moves through the centre
of the park but the final ball was still
missing as the forward line continued
to lack anticipation, especially in response
to some great flicks from Scott who was
playing with his usual passion. Indeed it
was the Englishman who forced the first
real chance of the game, compelling the
visiting defence to concede a corner on
the right-side of goal. David Ivars floated
in a delightful ball which Onieva rose to
meet with some power. However his effort
from close range was saved comfortably by
Aurelio.
Midway
through the first-half, Onieva went close
once again, meeting a corner from the left-side
taken by Javi but the forward's header was
cleared off the line by Josep with Aurelio
beaten. Javea continued to sweep forward
to force a succession of corners. Javi then
reminded everyone of his relative naivety
by collpasing in dramatic fashion in the
box in an attempt to win a penalty. The
midfielder was lucky not to be booked for
such stupidness and it was understandable
that the effort to deceive the officials
rattled the opposition.
Minutes
later Alginet took an unlikely lead with
their first real opportunity of the game.
Once again it came through a defensive error
dealing with a high ball with both Ochando
and Juanma failing to clear and allowing
Mendoza to slide the ball under the advancing
Ruiberriz and into the net. The home fans
looked on in silence as the away contingent
celebrated as if they had just hit the winning
goal in a cup final.
As
if to emphasise that the goal had come very
much against the run of play, Javea continued
to sweep forward and might have had justification
for a penalty when a long-range effort from
David Ivars appeared to strike an arm inside
the area. The referee seemed unsure and
waved away the confident appeals from the
rojiblancos. Two minutes later, another
corner from Javi floated through a crowded
area and out for a goal-kick on the far
side. For all the attempts, something had
to give sooner or later.
Javea
began to dominate the midfield but couldn't
find a decisive ball with which to break
a resolute defence. Javi was trying his
best down the left flank but his efforts
were often in vain. He then let himself
and the team down once again trying to deceive
the officials, taking a quick free-kick
and blasting it into the holding defender
in an attempt to gain an advantage and get
the player booked for failing to retreat
ten yards. The effort failed miserably and
Alginet claimed possession of the ball when
Javea should have had a real advantage.
Coach Kenny was livid and understandably
so.
The
second-half began in similar fashion with
Javea dominating play. David Ivars had a
glorious chance to equalise just five minutes
into the second period when he collected
a blocked clearance but chipped his effort
over the bar. Minutes later Onieva skipped
down the right-hand side and delivered a
deceptive low cross into the six-yard box
which had beaten Aurelio and fallen to an
unmarked Scott on the far post. However
the ball seemed to get caught under the
Englishman's feet and he couldn't quite
find enough room to smash the ball into
the back of the net; David Ivars swing wildly
as the ball finally dropped clear but his
effort was fired just wide of the left post.
Scott lay prostrate on the ground, head
in hands, knowing that a real chance to
equalise had been squandered.
On
the hour mark that goal finally arrived
when Pablo scored with a half-volley from
just inside the area, connecting with the
ball perfectly to send it across the face
of the goal and in off the left-hand upright.
A sense of relief spread across the ground
as Pablo raced towards the bench to embrace
Dani, closely followed by his team-mates
who joined the throng jumping together in
front of the home bench.
The
goal lifted the spirits. Onieva almost put
the rojiblancos into the lead when
he met a great cross from David Ivars but
his effort sailed just wide of the left
post and into the side-netting. As Dino
came on for the tiring Javi, the home side
looked more lively and the substitute was
unlucky not to get himself onto the scoresheet
when he met another great cross from David
Ivars but his effort was pushed clear by
Aurelio.
And
then Javea took the deserved lead. Youssoupha
blocked an attempt at a clearance and laid
off a superb ball to Scott who ran through
acres of space to slot past Aurelio from
just inside the area and give the rojiblancos
a 2-1 lead. Alginet appealed for offside
against the scorer and Chiri was booked
for complaining just that little too much
for the referee. Aurelio also charged out
of his area to confront the official but
escaped a caution when he wisely retreated
when it was clear that the goal would stand.
As
the game moved into the last quarter-of-an-hour,
the match turned a little sour as this time
it was Alginet who would be searching for
an equaliser - by any means. David Ivars
and Onieva were both booked in quick succession
as the visitors tried every trick in the
book to gain an advantage. Alginet's Bati
almost brought his side level with a cheeky
chip which almost beat Ruiberriz but the
former Pego custodian managed to pluck the
ball from the air as it looked to pass over
his head and clutched it into
the safety of his arms.
Alginet
tried to take control of the game but
Javea, knowing that the one-goal lead might
not be enough, looked to increase the advantage.
A free-kick from Ruben Serrio from
some distance almost beat the keeper but
curled a little to much to pass the wrong
side of the right-hand upright. Then Pablo
rose to meet another great corner from David
Ivars but his pwerful header at the far
post was caught by Aurelio.
And
then the inevitable happened once again.
Much against the run of play, Alginet grabbed
the equalising goal when Chimo chipped over
the defence to find Ten in space on the
far right, the striker blasting easily past
the exposed Ruiberriz. The last five minutes
was real end-to-end stuff as both sides
fought to grab a late winner. And it was
Javea who were very much of the back foot
when the referee finally brought a close
to the proceedings.
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