There must have been a few bruises to nurse after CD Marino lost 1-2 to a hard, physical El Cotillo team from Fuerteventura. The home side matched their high flying rivals for skill and work rate but the younger players took quite a battering as their visitors reclaimed second spot in the division.
There was a scattering of former Marino players in the Cotillo line up, most notably Richard, and Sesma but the best early moves came from the blues. Alexis and Josito linked well to feed Kevin Castro but he was only able to put his shot wide. Cotillo have been full of goals this season and a break down the left followed by a defence splitting pass from Josito allowed Caliche to grab a 6th minute lead. Marchena charged forward from the left back slot and put in a hanging cross for Marino, Julio in the Cotillo goal had to punch the ball aside for a corner.
Mendy rose well to test the keeper with a header before Alexis and Josito switched combined again with Josito shooting past the post. Cotillo started to get more of the ball and tested Marko Cicovic with a couple of well aimed shots that he covered well. Amaad and Marchena both went close for Marino before right back Bradley Mills overlapped and took the ball into the box where he was chopped down for a penalty. Marchena took the spot kick and put the ball just wide of the goalies outstretched glove to make it 1-1.
Cotillo moved Sesma from the left to the right flank where he found plenty of space and set Hector up with a clear chance that he wasted. The visitors ended the half on top, forcing successive corners but couldn’t edge back into the lead before the break. Julio nearly let Marino in within a few minutes of the restart, his long clearance was snapped up by Airam who made a charge on goal but a lone defender did just enough to prevent him from making a clean shot.
There was a scare when Cicovic couldn’t hold onto a Cotillo shot but a sharp defender mopped up the danger. Caliche had one of the clearest chances for the green and black side but somehow managed to miss the target. Ivan was the next one to spurn a chance but the decisive goal arrived after 65 minutes, Josito was again the supplier but this time for Isaac. Marino’s own Josito went down with a blow to the head and was soon replaced by Vitaka as Cotillo tightened their grip but they could have been pegged back again if a Mendy free kick had been a little closer. Marko frustrated Cotillo with some safe handling including a free kick stop and a low save at the post.
Both sides ended with good chances, Cotillo flashed a shot past the post, and Saavedra had the last touch of the game with a crisp shot that Julio tipped over the bar. The result leaves Marino third from bottom but they will be relieved to have got home ties with the top placed teams out of the way.