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MATCH REPORT JORNADA 13
Sunday 25th November 2007
ORIHUELA CF "B" 4 CD JAVEA 4
Author: Mike Smith

Shell-shocked Javea travelled back north with a share of the spoils but should have been returning with all three points from an incredible game against Orihuela CF “B”. The rojiblancos were leading 4-2 at the end of the regulation 90 minutes when the referee added an amazing ten minutes of stoppage time which allowed the home team to rally themselves, apply pressure to a tiring Javea side and ultimately score twice and level the scores. Players and fans alike were left confused by the amount of time added on and the anguish was made even worse when Pablo was dismissed with a straight red card after a crunching tackle borne out of frustration just seconds before the referee finally brought this amazing game to a conclusion. However, CD Javea now move to within three points of top-placed Altea, who lost at home to Pinoso at the weekend, and continue to stake a leading position in the race for promotion.

The pitch at the barren, windswept Cuidad Deportiva Horchillo, situated a couple of kilometres outside Orihuela, was poor and the modest travelling army that made the long trip south for the midday kick-off sensed that the game just might produce something special. Orihuela B had made an early claim for a play-off spot, having lost just once in the last six games, and were determined to maintain that goal. And it was the home side who took the lead after 15 minutes when skipper Toni Lidón broke clear, easily beating a poor attempt at an offside trap, to  collecting a looping ball lifted high over the static back-line and slotted it with comparative ease past the exposed Ortola.

However this season the rojiblancos have not been a side to sit back and lifted their determination to get themselves back into the game. Puncho was playing one of the games of his career on the right-hand side and worked incredibly hard in both defence and offence. With the wind swirling around the exposed football field, Javea kept the ball low, passing to feet and making the opposition do all the work in perfect text book style. Orihuela looked uncomfortable, crashing to the floor at every opportunity to try and stop the momentum of their opponents and it would be a feature of their game for the rest of the afternoon.

As the game approached the mid-point, the rojiblancos finally got themselves back into the game. Rubén Plá was brought down a few yards outside of the area and Carlos Ribes lined up to take the shot at goal. The travelling army waited with anticipation, remembering the fine goal that he scored at Finestrat from the same  position, and were not to be disappointed. The ball swept with ease over the ineffective wall, took a deflection of a static defender position just behind, and continued into the net beyond the reach of the diving custodian Juanjo.

Javea began to take control of the game and should have taken the lead when a free-kick from Puncho was perfectly floated across to Iborra who headed down for Rubén Plá in the area. However the tenacious midfielder could only fire the ball directly at the keeper who used his chest to deflect the ball away and Puncho, who seemed to be everywhere during this match, quickly pounced on the loose ball but his snatched effort was blasted harmlessly well wide on the right-hand post with the keeper exposed; a flag for offside saved his blushes as he endured the stifled laughter of the home fans. Minutes later he found himself clear once again on the right-hand side but managed to fire his effort just wide of the left upright, the keeper doing enough to force him away from the goal. And as the half drew to a close, Alex Cuadrado might have put the rojiblancos into the lead were it not for some fortunate blocking from the keeper as the rojiblancos closed in for the kill.

The second-half began with Javea taking complete control and just a few minutes in, they took the inevitable lead, albeit through fortunate circumstances. Keeper Juanjo collected a loose ball and whilst attempting to kick it way down the field, he managed to strike the back of his own defender. Alex Cuadrado was close enough to pounce on the mistake, charge through on goal and fire with great composure past the embarrassed custodian. Three minutes later Javi made it 3-1 to the rojiblancos when he smashed the ball home from close range with the home defence at complete disarray; the travelling army went nuts.

Orihuela B looked far from the team that had been in amongst the pace-setters this season and Javea looked to complete the rout when Puncho finally got himself on the scoresheet with a superb solo effort in which he ran some 45 yards to fire past the keeper and put the rojiblancos in a commanding position. However the drama was only just beginning. Orihuela B started to apply pressure and goalkeeper Ortola needed to be on splendid form to keep out a succession of attempts as the game progressed towards what we all thought and hoped might be another three points.

Skipper Toni made it 2-4 when he capitalised on some more vacant defending to fire past the keeper from the edge of the area to prompt a nervy finish to the game. As the match moved into added time, Orihuela B suddenly had belief and pulled another back through Jose Angel as the Javea defence failed to contain a loose ball in the area. An easy win now took on a precarious position and nerves started to appear. Minutes later, with the away fans calling for the final whistle, the Oriolanos found themselves back on level terms when substitute Alejandro swiped at another loose ball in the area and it dropped into the back of the net to spark wild celebrations on and off the pitch.

The Javea players were downhearted and frustration got the better of Pablo when he sliced through an opposition player to win himself a straight dismissal and bring a dramatic end to the game. Orihuela left the pitch as if celebrating victory, applauded in spirit by the travelling army who appreciated the 'never-say-die' attitude that they demonstrated; Javea left as if crushed by defeat, consoled by their fans. For a neutral in the small crowd of about 200 it was a splendid game of football, but for those who travelled back up the motorway to Javea, it could have been so much better.