MATCH REPORT | CD Jávea 1-0 UD Carcaixent
A goal early in the first half from Adrian Ramis secured victory for the rojiblancos in the quest for a top eight position.
Monday 27th February 2023
Mike Smith
CD Jávea claimed another win in their quest to claim a top eight spot, a hard-fought victory against UD Carcaixent, who began the weekend sitting in that top group which, if not gaining promotion, will form the new Lliga Comunitat next season. Promotion might be an impossible dream right now but the ‘rojiblancos’ will be wanting to be founder members of the new top tier of semi-professional football in the Comunidad Valenciana and head coach Julio Ivorra is determined to make that objective.
First Half
The game began with two chances at either end in the opening two minutes. First, Carcaixent’s Aitor shrugged off the defence to fire a shot at goal from the edge of the area which sailed just wide of the left post. Almost immediately, Jávea charged down the other end and Ramis met a great cross from the left but his powerful header was saved by the legs of the goalkeeper who was already stranded on the ground.
Jávea were starting the game at a high tempo, keen to play the ball around and tire out the opposition. In fact, the game was becoming so fast that head coach Julio had to call for calm, to gather patience. On 8 minutes a superb ball from the back from Catu over the packed midfield was just a little too long for Luís García. A minute later, a poor clearance from Tonet ended with the ball falling to Carcaixent’s Edu whose speculative shot from distance fell thankfully wide. It was a rare mistake from the keeper; he would have the game of his life in the second-half.
On 12 minutes, Jávea opened the scoring. Some great play across the pitch, switching sides quickly, found David in plenty of space and he pushed forward before crossing to Álvaro on the edge of the area. A bit of trickery from the impressive youngster saw him slide the ball between a dozen legs to Ramís who broke free and fired past the keeper, the ball hitting the inside of the left post and rebounding into the net. Opposition appeals for offside were waved away; Ramís had clearly timed his run with perfection.
For the next twenty minutes, the game became a midfield battle with few opportunities in front of goal and it wasn’t until the 30th minute that the next real chance arrived, the tricky Luis García firing a low cross into the box from the left but the ball was easily collected by the keeper.
A few minutes later, some great work down the left side resulted in the ball crossed into the box and partially cleared by the defence only to be collected by Luis García who passed across the edge of the area to Ramís who then passed to Álvaro who fired wide of the right hand post under pressure.
On 39 minutes, the tricky Carcaixent midfielder Edu found himself in front of goal with only the keeper to beat but his attempted lob from the edge of the area was plucked out of the air very casually by Tonet, perhaps more casually that it might have been since he was furiously back-pedalling at the time and claimed the ball right on the goal-line. A few minutes later, the same player fired a solid free-kick into the crowded box, the ball eventually rolling out for a goal-kick. Carcaixent protested furiously for apparent hand-ball but the referee waved away their persistent demands.
Second Half
In the early evening sunshine, CD Jávea had to battle like Trojans in the second-half to claim their victory and goalkeeper Tonet would give a performance of his life to keep his goal intact.
On 48 minutes, a free-kick was floated high into his area and was met by Carcaixent’s Vicent whose powerful header was well-saved by the experienced custodian. A few minutes later, some good work from the visitor’s down the left saw Alex break out on his own and comfortably send in a deep cross which was met by a head in a crowded header, Tonet having to pounce onto the ball at the base of the right post.
On 55 minutes, Carcaixent force the first corner of the game, which was taken by Edu and partially cleared by the defence before a high ball nodded back into the area was claimed by Tonet under pressure from two opposition players. Jávea struggled to get out of their own half as Carcaixent lifted a gear and the home keeper had to be on top form to claim a succession of crosses under intense pressure.
On 60 minutes, a rare home attack ended with Rubén firing well over the bar from 18 yards, the ball beyond the wall of the ground accompanied by groans from the stands. The home fans, all playing their own part in this game, knew that a second goal might kill off the determined efforts of the visitors.
A minute later, Jávea force a corner, the kick cleared well by the defence and Carcaixent launched immediately into a counter-attack through Aitor who charges down the left, swerves into the box with only the keeper to beat but fires across the face of the goal and the ball slammed into the perimeter fence behind for a goal-kick.
The introduction of Tomas, Elian and Joan changed the shape of the game and Jávea fought themselves back into the fight, although having the contend with a succession of challenges going against them. Tempers needed to be kept in check and coach Julio did his best from the bench.
On 74 minutes, Jávea’s Elian combined with Rubén, the latter shooting from 10 yards but his shot was deflected wide for a corner. The resulting kick from Luis García was met well by Elian but his shot went well over.
On 80 minutes, a free-kick from Carcaixent’s Edu was met by substitute Carlo who fired in a low cross which was claimed under pressure by the keeper. A minute later, Javea’s Luis García skipped down the left after the home defence had snuffed out another attack and forced another corner. A cross into a crowded area appeared to come off a defender’s head and it was surely a corner. However, the officials judged otherwise and awarded a goal-kick, much to the dismay of players, fans and the home bench, where coach Julio was shown a yellow card for his strong complaints.
As the minutes ticked on, Carcaixent continued to push for an equaliser. On 90 minutes, they won a rather dubious free-kick 25 yards out and dead centre. The resulting kick was well blocked by Tonet, diving to his right at full stretch and pushing the ball out for a corner. The custodian then claimed the corner kick, plucking the ball out of the air under intense pressure from the visitors.
It was Jávea who would have the last couple of opportunities of the game as the tannoy comically announced the number of minutes of added time as they ticked by. Luis García, surely one of the players of the season so far, charged down the left, cut through the tiring defence, but then fires the ball just wide of the left post. And then, with 95 minutes on the clock, Jávea substitute Carlos broke free of the defensive line and was left with just the keeper to beat. The youngster tried to lob the advancing custodian but his effort dropped just wide of the left post. And with that, the referee brought an end to the game and home players and fans joined together with a roar of success.
CD Jávea climb to 11th spot and are now just four points off the top eight. Next weekend, they have a tricky trip to UD Castellonense, currently in third place after their 4-3 win over CD Dénia. But, with coach Julio Ivorra having instilled a sense of belief into the team since taking over the end of last year, they will travel to Castelló with some confidence. Match details to be confirmed.
CD JÁVEA
Tonet, Aldo, Catu, Mario, Javi (Carlos, 72m), Ramis, Luís García, Paco (Tomas, 57m), David (Joan, 57m), Álvaro (Elian, 57m), Rubén (Kick, 84m).
Subs not used: Aaron (GK), Umar.
Head Coach: Julio Ivorra
Booked: David, Rubén, Tomas.
UD CARCAIXENT
Pablo, Yzan, Vicent, Mengual (Luis, 87m), Arturo (Carlo, 68m), Coke, Edu (Voro, 87m), Borja (Víctor, 46m), Aitor, Jorge, Alex (Tudela, 78m).
Subs not used: Javi (GK).
Head Coach: Francisco Ortíz
Booked: Coke, Aitor, Víctor.
Why is a top eight spot important?
In October 2022, the 55 clubs of the Regional Preferente voted to create a new regional tier – the Lliga Comunitat – which will become the highest division in the Comunidad Valenciana and will consist of two groups of 16 teams. It will begin next season – 2023-2024 – and will be the feeder division into the Tercera Federación, the bottom tier of the national pyramid system. The group winners would win automatic promotion whilst the second and third placed teams in each group would play-off for the remaining two spots. The bottom three in each group will be relegated to the Primera FFCV.
The current Regional Preferente will become the Primera FFCV and consist of four groups as it does now. The group winners would win automatic promotion to the Lliga Comunitat whilst the two remaining spots will be claimed by the winners of the play-offs between the runners-up in each group. The bottom three in each group will be relegated to the Segona FFCV. The bottom tier will be renamed Tercera FFCV.
In order to form the two groups of the Lliga Comunitat, it was agreed that the top eight teams of the current four groups of the Regional Preferente would qualify, except those four teams who win promotion to the Tercera Federación through the end-of-season play-offs; they will be replaced by those teams relegated from the higher division.
