MAZARRON FC v E.F. LOS ALCAZARES-HIDROS

This is the same Espinardo versus Los Alcazares game we discussed a week or so ago.  I did pose the question on the Spanish forum but got no reply.  That place has really died over the past year.

SANCTIONS/SUSPENSIONS

We will be without two of our best players for this game.

MANU two yellows last weekend gives him a one game suspension
JUAN LORCA has again hit 5 cards so he is missing for the game

Los Alcazares have a full deck of cards.

10 man Mazarron beat 11 man Los Alcazares + a malo, malo ref

3-2

match report shortly :-)

On the last weekend prior to Christmas Mazarron FC took on Los Alcazares in a game that would push the winner into or near the playoff places before the winter break and on this occasion it was the boys in red who came out on top.

The conditions for the game were as perfect as you could get with the game being played in clear blue skies, warm temperatures and little or no wind. The only downside being the condition of the pitch. The club is reluctant to throw good money after bad maintaining the grass as the replacement G3 artificial surface is due imminently and therefore the surface isn't as good as it should be, but there again it's the same for both teams.

Prior to kickoff supporters generously donated foodstuff to the Caritas charity in a collection organised by Mazarron FC who will match the donations kilo for kilo.

With Christmas just around the corner and many supporters returning to the uk for the festive period it was good to see so many fans turn up to cheer the lads on.

For the game Mazarron welcomed a new player, Antonio, but the other new lad, Gabbi, was a no show? and Antonio, a defender, had a crucial role in today's game. The players are direct replacements for Cristian and Israel who have left to ply their trade elsewhere although Cristian turned up at the ground and watched from the stands.

I thought from the very start of the game that Mazarron had the beating of our visitors but things didn't go to plan in the early stages of the game.

For the first 15 minutes of this game Mazarron had absolute control with Tolo and Diego up front probing the Los Alcazares defence with no clear cut chances being created but they had full control of the action and there appeared to be no obvious threat from the visitors, indeed the only concern was the antics of the man in the middle wearing a bright yellow shirt and he behaved like a banana throughout the game with a strong bias towards the visiting side.

But it was from a defensive mixup that the first attack from Los Alcazares resulted in them takings the lead. A long ball was pumped up to a lone away striker which should have been easily dealt with by Mateo or Dani in defence but they both went for the same ball getting in each other's way with the ball squirming free to the always teams striker who gave Conejo no chance from 3 yards out.

Mazarron FC 0 Los Alcazares 1

The game continued in the same vein for the next 15 minutes with Mazarron continuing to have most of the possession but unable to create a clear cut chance. Instrumental in this control and dominance was a young right winger who had stepped up from out juvenile ranks going by the name of Steven. Time and time again he completely destroyed the Los Alcazares defence down the right hand side but none of the chances he created were converted. A case for instance was on 30 minutes when he beat two defenders before floating the ball to Tolo who was beaten by the uneven surface and seeing his shot well saved by the away keeper.

Shortly afterwards the "banana" created the first of the three turning points of this game.

Mazarron were awarded a free kick just outside of Los Alcazares's penalty area from a foul committed by the thug wearing their number 12 shirt. As Mateo was lining up the kick the usual pushing and shoving was taking place in the box. At one stage a defender had 'new boy' Antonio by the throat in a headlock, and as he disentangled himself the ref intervened and showed Antonio a straight red card. Mazarron were now down to 10 men and appeared to be playing against 11+1 as every decision seemed to go against Mazarron, nothing new there then.

But this setback didn't deter the home side who continued to press and almost equalised when a through ball to Tolo seemed destined for the back of the net only to see the ball whipped off his toe by the keeper when he was about to pull the trigger.

So it was with some surprise that Mazarron found themselves further behind shortly afterwards and it came in an almost identical way as the first goal. A long punt down the field by the Los Alcazares keeper, one bounce, two Mazarron defenders going for the same ball, ball runs free to an attacking player who gives Conejo no chance. Simple football plus bad defending equals a bad goal given away.

Mazarron FC 0 Los Alcazares 2

So how do you come back from that? But come back the 10 men of Mazarron did and with style. And it all started in the 44th minute of the first half when an injury to Antonio Jose who was chopped down by the brutes in the white shirts. This led the introduction of Alfonso who had been on the bench due to his late arrival at the game and the second of the three turning points.
Alfonso immediately marshalled his depleted defence and started to feed telling passes to the wings and forwards in the shape of Steven, Tolo and Diego.

The first chance he created came within minutes of his arrival with a delightful pass to the right which was pinged into the box by Steven which the keeper tipped over the bar. Moments later it was a pass to Tolo who's shot was deflected over when it was goal bound. But Mazarron wasn't to be denied for long and it was a combination of Alfonso to Andreo then to Diego who literally 'walked' the ball into the goal.

Mazarron FC 1 Los Alcazares 2

And still in injury time Mazarron almost drew level but Tolo was denied by a fine save when he seemed certain to score.

HALF TIME MAZARRON FC 1 LOS ALCAZARES 2 (the officials left the pitch to loud and sustained abuse from the crowd)

Shortly after the start of the second half Tolo broke free and as he bore down on goal the only way that the last defender could stop him was to deflect the ball away with his hand, although Mazarron were awarded a free kick no cards were shown much to the outrage of the home supporters.

Steven was now operating on both wings and roving over the front line creating mayhem wherever he went and creating chance after chance for his fellow strikers. But it was Los Alcazares who had the next clear cut chance when a ball from the right found a striker free in front of an open goal who managed to scoop the ball over the bar.

Diego was guilty of perhaps the best chance Mazarron had in the game when beating two defenders on the left before bearing down on the goal but instead of shooting he passed the ball across the goalmouth where it was cleared, a chance wasted.

A few minutes later Diego was replaced by the promising juvenile, Domingo, which led to the third and final turning point of the match, as it was his youthful enthusiasm and determination which drove Mazarron on to rescue the game.

The 10 men of Mazarron applied constant pressure on the Los Alcazares goal as the visitors tried to defend their slender lead and tried every trick in the book to waste time.

Shots started to rain into the visitors goal with Steven, Tolo and Domingo taking potshots from range but the away goal seemed to lead a charmed life. On one occasion Domingo beat two defenders, rounded the keeper only to be denied by a last minute save.

But Mazarron had to be aware of 'breakaway' attacks by Los Alcazares and it was down to the alertness of Conejo that they were denied on a couple of occasions in increasing their lead.

Mazarron deservedly drew level in the 86th minute from a clearance by Conejo which reached Domingo, the lad slipped by two defenders and laid the ball on a plate to Tolo who tapped the ball home to the rapturous applause of the home supporters.

Mazarron FC 2 Los Alcazares 2

So do the 10 men sit back and protect the rescued point or go for the winner? What do you think? And it only took them 2 minutes to take the lead.

This time the long clearance from Conejo eventually reached Domingo who played with the goal keeper before rounding him and slipping the ball into the empty net with the keeper flat on the floor.

Mazarron FC 3 Los Alcazares 2

Steven was replaced by Juanillio and Los Alcazares stopped the time wasting antics but the Mazarron defence held firm and it took a last gasp stop by Conejo with his feet to deny them

FINAL SCORE

MAZARRON FC 3 LOS ALCAZARES 2

The brave 10 men of Mazarron had come back from 0-2 against the 11 thugs of Los Alcazares plus an inept official who did everything that he could to deny them.

Team

Conejo, Dani, Antonio Jose, Andreo, Lider, Diego, Tolo, Antonio, Steven, Mateo, Monti

Subs used

Alfonso, Juanillio, Domingo.

Man of the match

Steven