MAZARRON v BENIAJAN

Before getting into the report itself I think that I have to take a minute or two to analyse how the two teams and set up and the thinking behind some of the squad selection.

Prior to this game Jose had said that he wanted to have a more 'Mazarron' based team for next season with other players being drawn from other areas of Murcia only if they were of a far higher quality than could be recruited locally. This makes sense both financially, transport cost, and having a team loyal to the badge on the shirt.

The intention was to start this procedure in pre season with local players starting the pre season a week prior to players from outside of the area.

Due to the safe mid table position of the side and with nothing now really to win or lose Javi and Jose have started this procedure early and hence the inclusion of a number of cadete and juvenile players in this game, and I would imagine further trials will take in our final game of the season away against Soho-med.

Of the younger lads tried yesterday some stepped up to the mark whilst other will need to return to their junior teams for further development.

For yesterdays line up Mazarron FC was missing Pablo in goal due to suspension, Marcos (goal keeper) studying in Murcia, Jose Ruben due to work commitments. so the side put out was:

Ruben (GK) Fran Costa (Cadete) Alfonso Ismal (cadete) Randri Dani Moha Tico Juanillio Cecillio & Tolo

Subs: Alvaro (Juv) Fran (Juv) Gines (cadete) Salvi

Personally I though that the team, as a whole performed well but a number of players had a 'mare' of a game and were withdrawn and replaced where possible.

Jose explained to me that the main areas of concern was the defence, as despite being one of the top scoring teams in the league we were shipping a lot of easily preventable goals through a leaky defence and that this would be rectified by the start of next season.

Beniajan came to this fixture with a full strength team and deployed two 'flying' wingers and two pacey front men, but their defence and keeper was suspect throughout. Beniajan plan was to sit their two striker on the shoulder of the last Mazarron's defender and look toward their winger to produce a ball from wide positions or look for defence splitting balls played through the Mazarron back line for the strikers to run onto, it was a system that worked very well indeed. It didn't help with Mazarron's defence playing to far up field leaving a large gap between the final defender and Rubens in goal that the Beniajan strikers could exploit. The defensive partnership of Dani and Randry didn't work with both having bad games.

To the game it self. The game was play at an incredible pace throughout especially taking into consideration the hot conditions and towards the end of the match it was obvious that the 'men' of Beniajan were much the fitter than the much younger Mazarron team.

The action started with Tolo, who was been presented at the start of the game with an award which he was unable to collect in person, at the sports gala on Friday night, having a good chance on goal created by himself but was unable to finish off.

Then on just 6 minutes the away teams right winger, who was already giving defender Ismal a torrid time, crossed a cracking ball which was cleared for a corner. This corner was sent to the edge of the box and was smacked into the net with the Mazarron defenders stood like statues. Ruben was stuck to his spot and appeared to make no effort to save it, a bad start.

As I looked across at this early set back I saw sitting behind the goal our old captains, Diego and Juan (Sam) Andreo and could only image what they were thinking of the defencive frailties of the home side..

0-1

But again it was our forward who came to the rescue. Within a minute an excellent ball from Cecillio found the ever improving Juanillio on the right wing and despite the attentions of two defenders sent across a pinpoint cross to find Tolo who cracked the ball home for the equaliser.

1-1

Following a foul at the edge of the box the other side of our 'keeper' Rubens was shown. As the ball was thumped towards the Mazarron goal he somehow pulled off a remarkable save to keep the scores level, for now, but from the resultant corner the ball was hit towards the edge of the box and it was drilled home to restore Beniajans lead.

1-2

On the 20 minute mark Alfonso slipped the ball to Tolo who bore down on goal but was pushed wide by the keeper. Tolo still managed to get his shot away only to see it stopped on the line by a back peddling defender, It deserved better. The next action was the ever reliable Cecillio trying his luck from the edge of the box but it went high and wide.

After 25 minutes Javi had seen enough to realise that today wasn't going to be Dani or new boy Ismal's day. They were out of their depth being beaten time and time again so were replaced by Gines (Juv) and Alvaro (Juv). Alvaro in particular slotted in straight away and had a good game for the the remainder of the match.

As the first half progressed Tolo was placed wider and wider by Javi and it was from the right wing Mazarron gained their equaliser. A ball out of defence found Tolo with a lot of work to be done to produce anything but after beating the final defender sent in a cross to find Cecillio on his own and he made no mistake from just inside the box to level the score.

2-2

And HALF TIME

The start of the second half saw Tolo put through by the excellent Juanillio but the striker over ran the ball instead of hitting it first time and the chance was gone. From that defensive clearance Beniajan deployed their game plan with the ball played on the ground through the static Mazarron defence whist a waiting striker pounce on the chance. Rubens came forward, hesitated, retreated, stopped then turned round to pick the ball out of the back of the net. Indecision cost Mazarron another goal.

2-3

Shortly afterwards Rubens appeared to be injured collecting a high ball and received treatment for a long period until he was able to continue but the keeper was unable to kick the ball for the remainder of the game and with no replacement on the bench carried on but with a 'long John Silver' limp.

Shortly after this delay plan 'A' was again deployed by Beniajan with a striker and Rubens in a one on one situation with no defenders any where near, but this time the 'good' Ruben saved the shot with a last minute reach of his left arm but again it wasn't to last long.

The ball came out to the speedy Beniajan left winger who put the ball onto the foot of the arriving striker who hit it first time, the ball at a comfortable height and no really at speed slipped through the hands of the 'bad' Rubens and into the net. The word TEFLON comes to mind.

2-4

The youngsters of Mazarron were visibly wilting by this stage but still managed to gain a corner. This corner was easily dealt with and the ball quickly moved up the right Beniajan wing. We now had a two on two situation, the first shot came in and was saved but the rebound fell cruelly to the other Beniajan striker who placed the ball into the back of the net.

2-5

Tico, who had a good game but was obviously carrying an injury was replaced by Fran (Juv) and moments later Beniajan should have been further ahead following, yes you've guessed it, a through ball that left the Mazarron defence flat footed and it was the strike v Ruben but this time 'good' Ruben pulled off a great save to keep the score down.

Then followed one of the best moments of the game. Tolo, who was now operating as an out an out left winger! took on and beat four defenders before shooting/crossing the ball from the tightest of angles only to see the away 'keeper' fingertip the ball from under the bar but for once the ball went to perhaps the smallest player on the pitch, Juanillo, who calmly headed home. A great move indeed.

3-5

Tolo almost made the scores tighter from a free kick from the edge of the box, but with the keeper going the wrong way the ball hit his knees and span out for a corner. So unlucky.

Well into injury time Beniajan should have wrapped the game up when their main striker was through on goal with only Rubens to beat, Rubens went down anticipating a shot but with an empty goal he hit the ball well wide form a couple of yards out to save Ruben's blushes.

FULL TIME Mazarron FC 3 Beniajan 5

Man of the match CECILLIO