With a spring in their step and their tails up CD Marino made it three straight wins with a convincing 2-1 home victory over Real Aviles. Still smarting from a 0-3 home spanking by CD Tenerife last week Aviles must have been dreading a visit to resurgent Marino, and they had good cause to be wary. Even with Noah, Poncho, and Sean Wilkins on the sick list Marino were by far the better side and only a late penalty stirred the visitors into life.
It was nearly a false start for Marino when a loose back pass left them scrambling but goalie Alberto was on the case quickly. Then it was down to business with Balduino leading the charge at Aviles, their defence buckled and when the ball broke loose to Iker just outside the penalty area his shot was strong and true for a sixth minute lead. Rafa Hernandez made a well timed block at right back for Marino, he has settled well into that role and overlaps with speed to link with the attack.
Sandro is in a rich vein of form and he thundered down the right wing before delivering a teasing invite that none of his team mates could quite accept. Balduino is not always my cup of tea but he had an outstanding game working hard for his team mates, at time he had two defenders trying to shackle him. It was all Marino as the half went on, Airam put a shot wide and Aviles keeper Rebello was grateful that Balduino scuffed a clear shot allowing him to take the ball as it dawdled towards him.
The second half opened with more home pressure and a tasty move for the second goal. Chema chipped the ball over the defence, Balduino squared it across to Sandro and he tapped it in from close range. There was only one team in it, Aviles only answer to the runs of Chema and Sandro was to cut them down, the amount of hacking would have shocked Lord Leveson.
Aviles pushed forward and got a gift when Alberto pulled Geni down for a penalty that the midfielder converted. Suddenly the visitors found some urgency with 12 minutes left and put some pressure on Marino, Ayoze was his usual calm self in the centre of defence and alongside him Amado had probably his best game since being loaned from CD Tenerife. Confidence is a recently discovered ally for Marino, Balduino did some great interplay with Sandro to nearly repeat the second goal and then he beat two defenders down the right before shooting the wrong side of the post.
Aviles tackles were getting cruder than a box set of Frankie Boyle gigs and it was no surprise when Jeffrey got a second booking and was sent off. As time ran down Marino swapped Raul Barcos for Sandro and Ramses for Balduino and went all out for a third goal. Four minutes of injury time saw Aviles under siege before the whistle blew. On the way off the pitch Salva tried to vent his frustration on Raul Barcos but wasn’t even any good at that. Bottom by only five points now Marino know the big test comes with a return to away action next week, but at least there is hope.
CD Tenerife kept their five point lead at the top after a 0-0 draw at Getafe B, another clean sheet and four points from two successive away games will do very nicely.