What a great performance from CD Marino, this 2-0 home win over Salamanca only told part of the story as they played with passion, determination and bags of skill. Some of the 40 or so visiting fans were dressed as bananas (having a pop at us I think) but by the end of the game they were left looking very green and past their sell by date.
After last weeks away win Marino came out fired up, Sandro was tearing into Salamanca, swapping wings and cutting inside to take on anyone in his path, and Iker was further forward than usual to give support to Balduino. Salamanca arrived with outside hopes of crashing the promotion play off party but they were given a torrid time, Chema crunched Fuster to a halt and captain Airam showed a similar no way through attitude to Piojo. Former Tenerife flop Igor led the Salamanca attack but he is still just a big waste of space.
Airam tested Piojo down the left and won a free kick, Salamanca were giving them away like confetti. Balduino looked sprightly up front and the service was good from all quarters, Chema skinned Salamanca down the right but they scrambled the danger away. Alberto had few worries in the home goal, big centre back Angel had the best chance close in and found Alberto alert as he blocked the effort. Balduino grabbed a deserved Marino lead on the half hour with a delicate lob off the instep of his boot to the right of the keeper – dead classy.
From the kick off Salamanca broke forward and fired a ball across the home goal, it needed a helping hand from Alberto to ensure it passed by the target. Captain Airam got a nasty bang on the head after an accidental clash with De Lucas, he wasn’t out of action long, returning stitched up and bandaged and looking like an out patient from the Green Clinic next door. Marino had the scent of victory and five minutes from half time Sandro won the ball through sheer grit and passed to Chema, he made a nice lay off into the path of Iker who unleashed a long shot into the top corner of the goal, 2-0 and cruising. Airam came close to adding another, chesting down the ball and shooting, the keeper did well to hold on to it.
Marino relaxed a little in the second half, Alberto had to make a strong diving save and down the other end Chema was agonizingly close as his shot went wide. Raul Barcos came on as Chema departed to warm applause, Balduino was looking for another goal and had a couple of half chances before he gave way to Ramses. Sandro had a near miss after Pol had lost the ball in front of goal and Alberto had to make a couple of routine saves but Salamanca knew they were beaten, even the bananas looked limp. The final whistle brought an outbreak of shared hugs and hand shakes, it was a job well done and with Real Aviles at home next week the race is on to close the seven point gap and avoid ending in bottom position.
Could the day get better, of course it could, CD Tenerife were overdue a convincing performance but their 0-3 win at Real Aviles surpassed all expectations. The starting line up had another strange look with Alberto in midfield ( no Suso or Cristo) and Ayoze Perez playing to the left of Aridane. Both surprise choices worked well, Alberto gifted Loro a perfect pass after 22 minutes and he beat his defender to score. Ayoze showed he is much more than a goal scorer by sending a magnificent ball in for Aridane to double the lead with a header after 50 minutes. In the final ten minutes sub Chechu came up with a swinging corner to Alberto who struck the ball like an experienced forward to wrap up a 0-3 victory. The only bad point was a booking that keeps Llorente out for next weeks game at Getafe B, but Alvaro Cervera will have that one covered.