YECLANO DEPORTIVO v MAZARRÓN F.C.

YECLANO DEPORTIVO 2 MAZARRON FC 0

Mazarron FC made the long journey to Yecla to take on last season's Tercera Division champions and were thoroughly outplayed in the first 45 minutes.

The game started quietly and the first action was a Mazarron free kick which was fired well over the bar by Salva Ballesta. Yeclano then attacked with a cross from the right which Nacho headed behind. The resultant corner caused havoc for Mazarron with defenders somehow managing to throw their bodies in the way of the ball to block two shots which were heading for the net.

At the other end Dani Barrelis was brought down 30 yards out and this time it was Jose Da who blazed another dreadful free kick well off target. Yeclano took the lead on 18 minutes after another quick break down the right which saw Alejandro turning the cross firmly past Antonio Pena.

It should have been 2-0 a minute later when a long ball down the middle caught Alberto napping but, with only Pena to beat, Iker dragged his shot wide of the far post. The Mazarron keeper then had to be alert to smother two more chances in as many minutes as the home team threatened to run away with the game.

The pressure kept mounting with Yeclano somehow contriving to shoot over the bar from 6 yards before they finally got the second goal they deserved on 31 minutes. Another long ball out of defence again caught Alberto out of position and this time Antonio raced clear to fire the ball into the far corner of the net.

Pena made another excellent save as half time approached before Basi gave Mazarron a little hope with a run down the right which ended when the home keeper dived at his feet to claim the ball.

The half time team talk seemed to stir Mazarron into action as they made a much better fist of it in the second period. However, Pena had to make the save of the game on 48 minutes with a flying leap to turn a fierce shot from 25 yards over the bar. Mazarron's first shot from open play came two minutes later when a corner was cleared to Diego but his effort was well wide of the target.

On 53 minutes Diego was blatantly fouled in the penalty area as he rounded the last defender but no foul was given. Then clever play by Dani Barrelis held the ball up but Jose Da's intended pass to the unmarked Basi was just wide of the target. This was Mazarron's best spell of the game and Nacho's header from a Salva Ballesta free kick was saved.

Diego was fouled on the edge of the penalty area and Dani's free kick was saved by Miguel in the Yecla goal. After a spell of 25 minutes which saw Mazarron having most of the possession Yeclano again began to stamp their authority on the game without ever playing with the same fluency as they had in the first half.

Salva Ballesta curled another Mazarron free kick just wide of the target but, at the other end, an excellent move down the right wing by Yeclano saw the opportunity wasted with a poor shot over the bar. The game ended typically with yet another diving save from Mazarron's overworked goalkeeper in the second minute of added time.

It was a tough test for Mazarron who need to improve in all areas to consolidate at this higher level but the improved second half performance gives some reason for optimism.

Team: Antonio Pena; Nacho; Zurdo (Carrasco); Adrian Campoy; Alberto; Andreo (Chicho); Basi; Diego; Barrelis; Jose Da (Chino); Salva Ballesta.

Man of the Match: Antonio Pena.