MAZARRÓN FC v AD ALQUERÍAS

Well where do you start with this one? As I have said before, on paper Mazarron FC must have one of the best squads in our league and should be challenging for promotion but there appears to be something lacking and just plain wrong with this team. Whether it's the coaching or training or team bonding I just don't know, but what I do know is that it wants sorting out and quick.

Today's game, against a side that we comprehensively beat 0-3 at their place, was played in full sun with temperatures in the mid 20's, there was a stiff breeze blowing straight down the pitch from the scoreboard end.

The pitch isn't at it's best as it is due to be ripped up and an Astro turf surface installed so money isn't being wasted on pitch maintenance for the remaining games of this season, work is only being carried out to just keeping it at an acceptable level, but remember that this was the same surface that the juveniles played beautiful football on the previous night in their 13-0 win.

So we can't blame the weather and we can't blame the pitch for what happened today.

It all started so well with Mazarron dominating early play and a screamer from Tico almost broke one of the posts but the ball came back out into play instead of nestling in the net. But you had to say this about Alquerias, they were always a 'busy' side looking for the ball and every opportunity to push forward while Mazarron were over reliant on Jose Ruben on the left wing and Tolo down the centre getting to the usual long punts up field from their team mates.

It was in the 18th minute that the deadlock was broken. The visitors right winger, who would go onto terrorise the Mazarron defence all afternoon and was directly responsible for all of their goals, received the ball and cut into the box and unleashed a fierce shot which Marcos, thankfully back in goal after his illness, could only parry out, but sods law it fell straight into the path of an attacking player who slotted home sending the visiting fan and their band of drums and trumpets into ecstasy.

0-1

We then entered a period of play where neither side gained the upper hand. Mazarron went searching for the equaliser whilst Alquerias tried to catch them on the break, especially down the right hand side. Mazarron came very close to levelling the scores in the 33rd minute. Following a foul on Moha, Tico floated a lovely free kick into the box which saw Jose Ruben rise and head the ball onto the bar and the woodwork came to the rescue of the visitors again for the second time. We then had our first bit of drama.

In the 37th minute a long ball out of defence, what else? was seized on by Tolo on the edge of the visitors penalty area, the onrushing goal keeper, and he was their last defender, went to punch the ball but caught Tolo full in the face laying him out. The ref appeared to be taking no action over this assault until his attention was drawn to his linesman with his flag across his chest and after a brief consultation a penalty was awarded and to rub more salt into the wounds the offending goal keeper was sent off, much to the delight of the home fans but to the annoyance of the goal minder who gestured his thought to the baying crowd.

Up stepped captain Juan (Sam) Andreau who nonchalantly passed the ball into the opposite corner of the net from where the newly installed keeper had dived.

1-1 and HALF TIME.

After just 4 minutes of the restart Moha controlled a ball in mid field and played a peach of a ball to Tolo which split the Alquerias defence and he caressed the ball passed the static keeper to give Mazarron a deserved lead.

2-1

But what happened them? who told Mazarron to switch off? who told them to sit back and protect their lead? We were 2-1 up and also with an extra man but Alquerias took the game by the scuff of the neck and shook it, they really wanted the 3 points whilst Mazarron suddenly looked disorganised and reluctant to push on to get that 3rd and decisive goal.

An incident in mid field where Tico, who was having an excellent game, went for a 50/50 ball took place and the visiting number 9, a huge bloke, fell like a tree in the recent UK storms. rolling about, punching the floor crying out in pain. We have seen it all before with the ref's being conned because as soon as Tico was booked up jumps the number 9 and he's off like a spring lamb, but Tico gets a yellow, a plan coming into action me thinks.

Some 10 minutes later the speedy right wing and Tico go for another 50/50 ball and again it's the same story, the winger goes down like he's been shot with Tico looking on in disbelief. Out comes the second yellow = red and Tico's off for an early bath. The referee even it up? So both sides are down to 10 men and with Mazarrons most influential player on the day taking an early bath, a plan well executed, and it made all the difference to the game.

Shortly after Tico leaving the field of play Cecillio was hacked down in the centre circle and had to be carried off the pitch, another great loss to the home side and leaving the team rudderless.

Mazarron then sat further and further back with Alquerias pinging the ball into the Mazarron box at will and it was from one of these balls that spun around the penalty area like a pinball that eventually fell to a visitor on the 6 yard line and he smashed home the equaliser giving Marcos no chance.

2-2

The very vocal Mazarron goal keeper lambasted his defence for not clearing ball after ball penetrating the Mazarron goal mouth but inevitably this defence was cracked for a third and final time.

On 40 minutes it was Alquerias turn to punt a long ball up field to the right winger who looked suspiciously well offside but the linesman kept his flag down, he beat Dani who was defending, powered into the box and slipping the ball to an awaiting striker who buried the ball beyond the diving Marcos who was faultless for any of this weeks goals.

2-3

Alquerias saw the rest of the 5 minutes to take home all of the points which on the balance of play in that second half they deserved

FINAL SCORE Mazarron FC 2 AD Alquerias 3

Team

Marcos, Dani, Jaun (Sam) Andreau, Cecillio, Jose Ruben, Tico, Moha, Enrique, Janillio, Randri, Tolo.

Subs used.

Salvi, Chema (juv) Fran (juv)

Subs not used

Ruben (GK)

Man of the match: TOLO