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Report: Mike
Smith
It was described by many as
one of the most perfect performances by
CD Javea for a long, long time. For much
of the time the rojiblancos dominated this
game against a side that had been playing
Third Division football last season. Maybe
the players were just as vexed as the travelling
fans who had been forced to pay 10 euros
to get into friendly game; total humilation
of the home side appeared to be perfect
justice for ripping off away supporters
at the gate. Whatever the reason - and despite
cautious words that next season is merely
one in which to compromise - the travelling
army left the ramshackle Morer Stadium warmed
with enthusiasm for the coming campaign
because, on this performance, all the signs
suggest that it might be an interesting
one!
The
first half began in the warm evening sunshine
with a strong line up and one which many
suggest might be first choice for coach
Kenny Brown when the season starts in a
fortnight. Javea immediately took the game
to the hosts, passing the ball around with
confidence; some of the quick one-touch
football was truly stunning for many of
the travelling fans who had been more used
to the misplaced kicks and shabby approach
play of the last couple of seasons. Movement
down the right flank created huge problems
for Oliva and it was no surprise that they
would eventually resort to a procession
of fouls to stop the danger.
However
it was from the left flank that Javea opened
the scoring. Ribes floated a superb free-kick
into the box and there was a short melee
before the ball dropped to the feet of striker
Juanito who smashed it confidentally past
the keeper and into the back of the net
to send the sizeable travelling army into
celebration. The goal lifted the rojiblancos
another notch and wave after wave of attack
had the hosts running around without a clue
on how to stop the assault. Minutes later
Juanito almost doubled the advantage when
he swept the ball beyond the reach of the
advancing goalkeeper but his effort hit
the base of the left-hand post and bounced
back out into the area to be cleared in
a hurry by the defence.
Oliva
began to creep back into the game with their
small No.7 causing great problems down the
right-hand side. A throw-on on the far side
almost produced an equaliser when the throw
was launched high into the box and keeper
Ortolá had to be on top form to tip over
a powerful header from ex-Javea player
Salva Costa. With the rojiblanco defence
looking uncharacteristically shaky, Oliva
had another perfect chance to level the
scores but managed to slide the ball the
wrong side of the post from a matter of
yards with the keeper beaten. However Javea
hauled themselves up and battled back control
of midfield to score once again. Skipper
José Luís and Javi combined beautifully in
the middle of the park, stroking the ball
in a series of 1-2's before Javi slid the
ball into the path of Juanito and the young
striker smashed the ball past the keeper
from 20 yards to make it 2-0 at half-time.
Coach
Kenny Brown made inevitable changes for
the second-half and the game took on a different
tone with Oliva clawing their way back into
the competition and it was no surprise that
they pulled a goal back after some very
slack defending from the rojiblancos allowed
the hosts to convert a great cross from
the right-hand side at the near post. Yet
the rojiblancos looked confident and wouldn't
allow this set-back to affect their calm
play. Javi was having another great game
and was combining well with striker Alex
Cuadrado to produce a chance to ressurect
the two-goal lead when the latter was hauled
down with purpose in the box. The referee
awarded a penalty, sent off the assailant
- and then bizarrely told Alex to leave
the pitch to calm down. The tall striker
spread his arms at the bench in confusion
as he walked from the pitch; perhaps his
enthusiasm had got the better of him. Back
in the box, Javi had elected to take the
spot-kick but smashed a very weak effort
against the chest of the keeper; the ball
rebounded, Javi shot again, the ball was
blocked, Javi shot a third time and the
ball nestled in the back of the net - only
for the referee to disallow the effort for
an unknown infringement. Meanwhile Alex
kicked out at the hoardings in frustration.
The
game lifted tempo with Oliva going all out
to try and salvage an equaliser. However
the rojiblancos were not to be flustered
and contained the attacks before extending
the lead late in the game when Javi smashed
the ball into the roof of the net to make
it 3-1. The wind was truly taken from the
sails of Oliva and the game was played out
with a series of training ground passes
until the referee brought the match to a
close in the gloom under quite possibly
the worst floodlights in football. The travelling
army cheered and the players gathered in
the centre of the pitch to return the compliment.
It had been a great work-out for the team
and it was difficult for enthusiasm, quiet
or otherwise, to remain under wraps until
the season begins on September 2nd. However
the performance ranked alongside one of
the best for some time and it was hard not
to get carried away. Coach Kenny Brown's
positive approach was a breath of fresh
air to the defensive tedium of others; long
may it remain when the real thing starts
in two weeks.
CD
JAVEA: Ortolá (Bauza 45m); Ivorra; Jorge
(Alex 45min); Juanma (Chili 60min); Rubén;
Carlo; José Luís (Pablo 75min); Rubén Pla;
Ribes (Puncho 45mins); Javi; Juanito (Alex
Cuadrado 60min (Aldo 70min)).
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