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MATCH REPORT JORNADA 23
Sunday 24th February 2008
ALGUEÑA CF 1 CD JAVEA 2
Author: Mike Smith
Photograph by Fay Hughes

A THIRD win in succession has lifted CD Javea to within a point of the promotion play-off zone and with a game in hand over their rivals above them. Goals from Juanito and Javi secured maximum points after the rojiblancos lifted themselves to claim victory after going behind midway through the first half. As the rain fell throughout the afternoon, the game never promised to be a classic but it might just become one of the most important games of the season for CD Javea as the season moves into its final third.

Algueña was swamped in a low, wet mist when the team coach pulled alongside the small municipal stadium sitting next to the cemetary a few minutes drive from the centre of town. The new artificial football pitch, one of a succession springing up across the region, looked barely touched and a plaque on the side of the main building told us that the new surface was inaugurated just a few weeks earlier. A constant drizzle began to fall and the travelling fans sought out shelter at the bar, only to find that the bamboo roof afforded no protection at all. As the players warmed up on the pitch, fans gathered together in various alcoves around the ground, hoods on coats raised, shoulders hunched as hands were plunged into the relative warmness of pockets.

As kick-off approached, there was no option but to brave the rain and move away from the main building to line a small wall on the far side of the pitch; there was no stand, no cover aside from another small bar in one corner of the ground with another leaking roof. The weather put off many locals, despite the attempts of the hosts to generate interest through the firing of rockets, and barely 60 or so endured the cold and wet as the match kicked off, more than half having travelling from Jávea.

Algueña have been struggling all season after winning promotion from the Primera Regional last season. Much discussion was had that Group IV of the Preferente has the reputation of being a very tough group for new arrivals; both Finestrat and Algueña look destined to return to their regional groups much as Ondarense did so last season. Yet the home side didn't play like a side which had won just one game in the last seventeen matches but one with determination and drive to avoid relegation. The rojiblancos have a marvellous team spirit this season and they had to call upon that enthusiasm to contain their hosts who drove forward at every opportunity through the remarkable speed of their front line. Rubén Serrio, another promising youngster in his second season at the club, had one of his best games of the season as he worked hard in defence, winning a deserved man-of-the-match award.

Algueña went ahead midway through the opening period when the tricky Gari nodded home from close range, meeting a well-taken free-kick from the right-hand flank (even though the award was somewhat erroneous). As the rain continued to pour, the home side looked to consolidate their lead, brimming full of confidence as the rojiblancos found it tough to find a way through a packed defence. Yet ten minutes later they found such a way when Juanito powerfully headed home his third goal in three games to equalise and return some spring into the step of CD Javea. Both sides battled strongly, especially in midfield where the tenacious Carlos Ribes was unfortunate to pick up his tenth booking of the season and he will miss next week's important game against CD El Campello; he was lucky not be dismissed late in the half when the referee chose not to punish an obvious hand-ball which Ribes used to prevent the ball going out of play close to the centre line. Neither side would have a clear cut chance as the game moved towards half-time in stalemate.

The second half brought plenty of incident and plenty of cards. Algueña should have taken the lead when a penalty was awarded for a push amidst a crowded area but Gari failed to double his tally by curling the ball just inches the wrong side of the right post with Ortolá beaten in the goal. The unfortunate striker stood rooted to the penalty spot clutching his head in disbelief whilst the play carried on around him. It was a lucky escape for the rojiblancos and, should they reach the play-offs, they would have look back at that miss as an fortunate turning point in the game.

The game ebbed and flowed from end-to-end until Gari had yet another chance to put the home side ahead when he charged through an usually static defence but, with only Ortolá to beat, he smashed his effort wide of the post once again. As the rain continued to fall, Javea lifted themselves another gear after the introduction of Jose Luis for Stormin' Norman saw Javi moved up alongside Juanito and within minutes the change produced the right result. Some fantastic work through the centre of the park saw Javi power through the defence, only to be hacked down by Tremiño on the very edge of the box, a clumsy tackle that saw the defender receive his marching orders. From the resultant free-kick, Javi smashed the ball past the ineffective wall and into the top right-hand corner to put the rojiblancos ahead.

Despite the resilience of the home side, it might have been even more after Javea were awarded a penalty in the dying minutes of the game after Puncho was brought down on the far edge of the area. The tricky winger picked himself up to take the kick but Choky dived well to his right to block the effort and salvage a small chance for his side to take something from the side. However, the rojiblancos stood strong in defence and as the gloom descended on the rain-sodden ground, the referee brought the game to a close, much to the delight of the travelling faithful who applauded their team before taking much sought-after shelter.