Job done after 20 minutes for CD Marino, 2-0 up against a weakened Guijuelo side the game fizzled out into a second half stroll but Marino looked comfortable and will spend all summer regretting a disastrous first half of the season.
I was looking forward to seeing CD Tenerife loanees German and Abel (below) but only the midfield half of that pair played and he had a quiet game. Balduino has had a good season for Marino and when goalie Carmona tried to clear his raid with his head in the second minute the ball fell to Sandro who sliced it straight into the net. Then Balduino showed some good close control before powering a low cross close to the goal that needed a strong defensive block.
Raul Barcos pushed up on the right and forced a low save from Carmona, and Rafa Hernandez should have done better with his shot from the right that whizzed past the post. Guijuelo had eight regular squad members missing and it showed, Marino were all over them and the second goal was sure to come. Raul Barcos ventured forward again and put in a perfect cross to Balduino, he controlled the ball well and in one smooth move lashed it past the keeper.
I was expecting Abel to exert some control on the visitors midfield but he played deep and was slow to link up with his team mates. Chema was giving full back Valverde torrid time, he was glad to see the keeper cover when he was easily beaten again by Chema. Abel had a sticky moment when he lost the ball with Marino bearing down, thankfully for him a nifty back pass closed that threat down. Winger Manu looked to have some pace but Raul Barcos shadowed him well and limited him to one decent chance when he got to a free header but his direction let him down.
Guijuelo made an effort at the start of the second half, Matias in the home goal finally had some work to do and made a good save. Marino replaced Balduino with Ramses but his initial burst soon susbsided as both teams seemed to remember that it was a game with no bearing on league placings. Jaime opened up the left side for Marino but couldn’t find a blue shirt with a clear chance at goal. Brit Sean Wilkins came on for the last 25 minutes but the game was winding down. Guijuelo were so laid back they swapped their keeper for young sub Rubi. Guijuelo could have made a late sting, Manu broke free on the left but Matias took the ball at the second attempt.
At the final whistle the Marino players clapped their fans before departing the pitch, life back in the Tercera division will begin soon enough but it seems certain the squad will undergo a lot of changes before then.
Over in Salamanca the final league game for CD Tenerife was merely an obligation to get out of the way before the play offs. After last weeks stormy baptism back up goalie Roberto could have done without a sloppy defensive error by Bruno after four minutes that gave him no chance of saving a Borja free shot into the net. After that Roberto looked solid especially denying Igor a header early in the second half. Soon after the group champions clawed their way back to level terms after Cristo squared the ball to Aridane for his 24th goal of the season.
A few minutes later a well measured pass from Moyano found Aridane who was only too happy to notch another on his seasons goal spree. Bruno had another rush of blood, out of position he threw himself to the floor to block a shot and it hit his hand, the penalty was a harsh call but the defender shouldn’t have been in that vulnerable position. Lazaro sent Roberto the wrong way and it ended as a draw. The play offs await.