I wasn’t sure what to expect from a mainly young and newly recruited CD Marino team but what I got was bags of spirit, hard work and plenty of promise. Relegation was the inevitable end of a disjointed campaign last season so it’s back to basics in the Tercera Division.
Aaron is one of the survivors from the drop and he prompted a lot of the early moves from right back. Marino looked lively from the off against CD El Cotillo, one of the fancied teams of the division. Josito saw his chance after five minutes and burst into the visitors box but Pedro upended him and the ref gave a penalty. Captain Airam struck it true to beat the keeper but the ref made him take it again – no problem, it still hit the back of the net.
Pulido made a strong dash in from the right and crossed the ball to the far post, Roberto Carlos racing in got a boot to it but it flipped up over the bar rather than doubling the lead. Eslava found himself free in front of goal but headed weakly into the hands of keeper Omar. Cotillo started to come into the game more and ended the half the stronger but the home defence was well organized and cqlm and were able to cope. Roberto Carlos nearly opened the second half with a cheeky goal, his lob caught the goalie out but cleared the bar. Cotillo recovered their composure and put pressure on Marino, Pablo showed his strength, battling with Isaac to deny the away forward a chance at goal.
Balduino, last seasons main striker came on and was in amongst the action shooting just wide of the Cotillo post. Aaron did well to get through the visitors defence but couldn’t quite tuck the ball back into the goalmouth for a clear shot. Marino looked comfortable but the ref was getting a bit whistle happy and disrupted their flow, a second yellow for Airam was a big blow but his sending off just seemed to increase the determination of the gutsy Marino side. Cotillo staged a late charge, Alberto showed the summer hasn’t blunted his goalkeeping reflexes, and weighed in with a series of close saves. The win was well deserved, I’m looking forward to seeing this team grow as the season goes on.
NOT SO CHEERY FOR CD TENERIFE
We weren’t that bad, before CD Tenerife fans make me have a check up from the neck up after the 2-0 defeat at Mirandes, let me add …for much of the game. The defence looked solid with Moyano magnificent again and Raul Camara doing a great job at left back instead of Raul Llorente. There were plenty of chances created without any end product and that’s what is proving so costly, eventually it wore the team down. I have never seen despair rip through a team as fast and as deeply as it did after Aridane came on after 60 minutes – once it became painfully obvious that he was nowhere near fit all the heads dropped, there would be no goals on this day.
Mujika scored the home opener after 73 minutes almost in slow motion, a chip over the static defence found him wide and able to slot the ball in the goal. The 91st minute goal from Muniz was even easier as the Mirandes player danced through a clutch of switched off defenders. In between those markers Sergio Aragoneses worked wonders to hold back the tide with continued quality saves.
The elephant in the dressing room is the lack of a main striker, Aridane at his best will make a big difference but how much harm will be done by then. Ayoze was best out of it today, we don’t want him ground down, and with someone to feed off he still has a glittering future. Guillem Marti was shocking, The Invisible Man he did nothing and once again showed he is only good for a short burst. The fans support will be vital next Sunday at home to Barcelona B – Keep Calm – and pray for a goal.