FINAL SCORE
MAZARRON FC 3 v CD ESPARRAGAL 3
Following the previous encounter between MAZARRON FC & CD ESPARRAGAL we knew that this would be an game of many incidents. In the first meeting CD Esparragal had perfected all the tricks of the trade to ensure that the officials were conned at every opportunity but by the time of today's game they had taken it to new heights.
In full sun and with temperatures in the mid 20's and with the pitch in it's best condition for a long time everything was set for an enthralling game. There will be more news about the pitch in the 'ground improvements' thread on the forum as soon as I have finished this match report. This could be the last ever game played at home by Mazarron FC on a natural grass surface, history in the making.
The game started at a very slow pace with both sides cancelling each other out in midfield and it wasn't until the 23rd minute before the first shot was taken and that was a tame affair from distance and going well wide. CD Esparragal had obviously done their home work as there was always two players marking Tolo and at time there were three which limited his opportunities but on the positive side this left Jose Ruben (JR) and Cecillio with a bit more freedom which paid dividends later.
Esparragal's first attack came to nothing with Marcos in the Mazarron goal collecting with ease. Both sides were being restricted to long range efforts with the defences on top, as a few minutes later again it was Tolo trying his luck but the effort, on target, was very soft.
The next action followed an attack by Esparragal which was blocked and a quick ball out found Tolo in space and in a great position but the ball became tangled under his feet and the chance was gone.
But the miss of the first half came on 37 minutes when a ball from defence found JR who flicked it onto Tolo and somehow from a couple of yards out completely missed an open goal. Was it going to be one of those afternoons?
Then the game really burst into life. With three minutes to go Mazarron gained a corner from the right which was swung over and a cracking header by JR was saved at point blank range but the ball fell to Enrique who fired over from underneath the post, how did he miss that one??
As I made my way to the canteen to announce the raffle winner, Bill Davis, I poised to watch the last action of the half and what action. Tolo became provider breaking the stranglehold of his minders he slipped a perfect ball through to the galloping JR who perfectly lobbed the keeper for the first goal of the game.
MAZARRON FC 1 CD ESPARRAGAL 0
And blow me if not a minute later a mirror image move resulted in the same outcome, Tolo through to JR on the move, lob the keeper, GOAL.
MAZARRON FC 2 CD ESPARRAGAL 0 and HALF TIME
I don't know what it is about a 2-0 score line but I just don't like it as once the opposition get one back up goes their tails and soon it's two all then they go onto win. Just remember that.
The second half was delayed as Esparragal were obviously being spoke to by their manager and so we kicked off some 10 minutes late. But at first the pattern of the first half continued and just three minutes in Cecillio's perfect through ball found JR but his hurried shot was into the side netting. And Esparragal had another scare moments later when a header from Dani from a Tico corner was cleared off he line.
Then it all went wrong for Mazarron FC
Esparragal broke down a promising Mazarron attack when a wayward pass from Dani was intercepted and then followed perhaps the best move of the game with Esparragal passing the ball with ease between 4 players before it was delivered to a striker in acres of space who slammed the ball passed the stranded Marcos. A self inflicted goal caused by sloppy passing.
MAZARRON FC 2 CD ESPARRAGAL 1
As this was happening Mazarron were down to ten men with Gilberto laying injured up field and he was quickly replaced by one of the three "Cadete's" on the bench, who goes by the name of Fran and I have seen this lad at work and he is a rising star.
Mazarron shortly afterwards suffered another self inflicted wound by failing to deal with a speculative deep ball and with the Mazarron defender getting on the wrong side of the Esparragal attacker and as he was about to shoot he clumsily brought him down in the box right in front of the ref. A cast iron penalty which was awarded. Up steps the Esparragal penalty taker, a very slight young lad who gave Marcos no chance.
MAZARRON FC 2 ESARRAGAL 2
Direct from the kick off Mazarron moved the ball forward and Cecillio sent in a pile driver which was held somehow by the keeper.
The game then flowed from end to end with neither side taking control until the most controversial aspect of the game happened. A long, long ball was pumped into the Mazarron goal mouth and the usually very competent and safe Marcos came out to gather it. The ball somehow slipped from his grasp and bounced towards the goal. Marcos dived and appeared to clear the ball which was kick out for a throw in and the ref waved play on. BUT the linesman had his flag up and although he was noway in line with the goal line he indicated that it was a goal. How he could see I don't know but the goal was awarded, unbelievable and the pandemonium ensued.
Players, managers, Pedro Mendez, the crowd, everyone got involved and it really 'kicked off'' but the lines mans decision stood and so the score moved onto:
MAZARRON FC 2 ESPARRAGAL 3
Dani was replaced by Juanillio.
Esparragal then moved into top gear on the diving, squealing, time wasting front and the ref fell for it every time with a number of Mazarron players being booked for no reason what so ever. For example when one of their player laid dying on the floor they kicked the ball out so that he could receive extended medical treatment only for him to jump up and run away, at this point Alcaraz threw the ball back into play so Tico could pass it back to Esparragal but the Esparragal player complained that Alcaraz had taken a foul throw and so he was ordered to retake it. Again they complained and this time Alcaraz was BOOKED for taking a foul throw, I have never seen anything like it in my life, shocking but their time wasting tricks would later back fire on them.
About this time a strange substitution took place, one of the leagues top marksman, Tolo, was replaced by one of the Cadete leagues top marksman, Domingo, Tolo appeared none to please but this substitution almost paid massive dividends late in the game, but more of that later.
On 43 minutes JR received the ball wide on the left and easily beat one defender but appeared to over run the ball which went out of play. It seemed that it should have been a goal kick, but our ever efficient ref over ruled his linesman and gave a corner. This was delivered to the far post where JR was waiting to nod home the equaliser.
MAZARRON FC 3 CD ESPARRAGAL 3
The ref almost immediately held up six fingers to indicate the extra minutes to be played and in the third minute of those six minutes the ball was slotted through to JR, all on his own, no defenders near him, only the keeper to beat, he bore down on the goal and pulled the trigger and the keeper saved it. Oh why, oh why didn't he look to his right? As he would have seen Domingo on the 6 yard line screaming for the ball with an empty net begging him to score. What an opportunity wasted, why didn't he pass it? The red mist descending? Did he not trust a Cadete striker? He had already scored 3 so why not 4? All that we knew was the chance had gone for three points. And maybe, just maybe a fair result.
FINAL SCORE MAZARRON FC 3 CD ESPARRAGAL 3
The officials were ushered off the pity by Jose and other as the home supporters made their thought known to the hapless officials.
Team
Marcos, Juan Andreo (Sam) Enrique, Dani, Alcaraz, Tico, Cecillio, Randry, Gilberto, Jose Ruben, Tolo.
Subs used: Fran (Cadete) Domingo (Cadete) Juanillio,
Subs not used: Ruben (GK) Chema (juvenile) Gines (Cadete)
Man of the match: With three goals, Jose Ruben.
