By Chris Peach…….Almoradí 1-1 SC Torrevieja CF
It was 4th vs 3rd in this local Derby as Torrevieja visited Almoradí on Wednesday evening. This already, highly charged, fixture was even more tense due to both teams feeling aggrieved that the original fixture had to be replayed, Almoradí as they had been stripped of their 3pts and Torrevieja as they believed the 3pts should have been awarded to them as Almoradí fielded an eligible player.
Gil picked a strong 11 welcoming back Omar, Ramiro and Abadía in midfielder, also seeing young talent Aleksander (Alek) make his full debut playing in-behind striker Lewis.
And for once we saw a lively start from the visitors with Omar creating for Muñoz close to goal, but he was crowded out by the defence. Indeed Torry were in front s early as the 11th minute when Abadía swung the ball in from 25-yards, catching the keeper off his line and bouncing in off the underside of the bar.
This was as good as it got for Torry who, inexplicably then went off the boil, giving away a series of cheap free kicks as their play became scrappy and disjointed. Indeed Maxi, in the Torry goal, was called into action on more than one occasion making a number of smart saves as the visitors seemed to lose their way.
And they lost it even further on the 35 minute mark when Alek was sent off making his full debut. Two yellow cards for very similar fouls, pulling back opponents, saw Torry reduced to ten men and forced even more onto the back foot.
Omar came close to adding a second for Torry as he hits a good shot from distance that seemed to have the keeper beaten, but was just wide of the post. Lewis then attempted a cheeky chip from distance which narrowly dropped over the bar.
The home side were back on level terms moments later, virtually the very last kick of the half, as a free kick broke to an Almoradi player inside a crowded box. His volley from almost point blank range gave Maxi no chance as the two sides went into the interval on level terms, but with Almoradi heads held high.
Fortunately for Torrevieja the home side failed to make their numerical supremacy count and with the visitors again on the front foot Dani Muñoz went close with a good strike. Moments later the same player was downed in the box but the referee waved ‘play on’ which was probably the right decision.
As the Almoradí pressure continued three opportunities came in quick succession, however non of them caused any real problem for Maxi as Torry began to tire. Al though they have the Maxi is not being called in to action.
As the visitors made a decent job of retaining possession toward the end there was, however, one final disappointment with Ramiro off sent off for a 2nd yellow but after playing for more than an hour with 10-men Torry will be happy to walk away with a point.
It was, however, a case of 2pts dropped, points that would most certainly have been achieved on another day.
Once down to 10-men Torrevieja played well but had to be rather more direct and this limited the attacking chances. We are nevertheless a point better off than we were before this re-played fixture so onwards and upwards.
Full-time Almoradí 1-1 SC Torrevieja CF
Contact Chris Peach – Torry Army Secretary & Social Media Contact on: torryarmyfootball@gmail.com
