MATCH REPORT | UD Castellonense 3-1 CD Jávea
The rojiblancos travelled inland with a seriously-depleted squad, forcing head coach Ivorra to name two player carrying minor injuries to sit on the bench.
Monday 6th March 2023
Mike Smith with Xàbia AL DÍA
It was known that the visit to Castelló de la Ribera to face the third-placed team was going to be a complicated match, especially when Julio Ivorra and his team travelled inland without Carlos and Álvaro, whilst the bench featured two players carrying minor injuries (Pako and Mario).
The first half was dominated by the hosts with a couple of very good chances calling for the best of goalkeeper Tonet once again, the experienced custodian saving a penalty on the brink of half-time. The spot kick was awarded after a struggle between David Buigues and an attacker and the referee decided that the latter was fouled inside the area. To rub salt into the wound, David was injured and the coach was forced to make an early change, Joan entering the fray. But the break was reached with the match tied.
The second half did not start well for Jávea, who with five minutes into the game had to make a second change after Javi was injured and a limping Pako was forced to take his place on the pitch.
The first goal came soon after from a shot from Spiranelli from a corner and five minutes later Jonathan scored a second goal. Ivorra made two changes, bringing on Mario and Umar, the latter making his debut and there were a few minutes of good away play that ended with a great goal from Cabo from outside the area.
With five minutes to go Cabo has a great chance to tie the game, from a ball that he picked up on the edge of the area and in front of the goalkeeper, his left-footed shot well-saved by the goalkeeper. Jávea kept trying to find the equaliser but in the 89th minute the former Jávea player Tali made it 3-1 to the hosts.
UD CASTELLONENSE
Camilo, Marcos Castells, Jonathan (Tali, 80m), Spiranelli (Prats, 80m), Sergi García, Jefrie, Joan Sanchís, Marc Villar, Rafa Hervás (Penalva, 80m), Alex Pérez (Presencia, 67m), Bryan.
Subs not used: Ferrer (GK), Villanueva.
Booked: Alex Pérez, Tali.
Head Coach: Iñaki Rodriguez Pla
CD JÁVEA
Tonet, David (Joan, 43m), Caturla, Marcos, Aldo, Elián, Javi (Pako, 50m), Ramis (Mario, 76m), Luís, Cabo, Rubén (Umar, 76m).
Subs not used: Aaron (GK).
Booked: Ramis, Aldo, David, Elián, Pako..
Head Coach: Julio Ivorra.
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.
