Patched up CD Jávea holds powerful Ontinyent side to a draw
Javea had to settle for a share of the spoils after an equaliser from Ontinyent late in added time.
Monday 11th April 2022 – Mike Smith
Source: original article – Xàbia AL DÍA
CD Jávea 1-1 Ontinyent 1931 CF
CD Jávea faced second-placed Ontinyent 1931 CF on the back of a bruising 0-3 defeat in Tavernes de la Valldigna and with the loss of several key players, including experienced custodian Edu Sánchez, who was replaced between the sticks by Pedro Prats who is also likely to feature in the final four games of the season due to the injuries to Edu and first reserve keeper Josep Ivars. Also missing were Paco and José Cabo through suspension as well as the injured trio of Juli, Roberto and Ferrán. This meant that the coaches had just twelve first team players to select for this difficult game and some fans might be forgiven for anticipating a rout by the team from the Vall d’Albaida.
Yet, from the moment the referee started the game, CD Jávea’s patched up starting eleven was clearly eager to not only contain the visitor’s but also to force them to work hard for the ball. Both defences worked hard from the start and there were very few scoring opportunities in the opening 45 minutes, the first being a free kick from Ontinyent’s Aquino with Pedro was able to block with both hands whilst the second came from the home side, a corner from Aldo with the eventually claimed by the visiting keeper.
The third arrived on 30 minutes through some excellent work from the home side. A long kick from Javi was met well by Fran whose shot was blocked by a defender for a corner. Javi took the kick and the ball floated towards the penalty spot where Victor Caturla, finding himself first choice in the centre of defence after the departure of Cristian Castells, rose to head into the net and put Jávea into a deserved lead for all their hard work in gaining the upper hand in the game.
Ontinyent reacted immediately and advanced their lives to seek an equaliser, forcing the home side to batten down the hatches and work hard to defend against the onslaught. Yet, for all the dominance, the visitors could only conjure up a single real real chance on goal, a shot from Lluis that went side, and the break arrived with Jávea in the lead.
The second half saw Ontinyent continue to dominate but failing to create too much danger to the Jávea defensive line. And it was actually the home side who might have scored next after a defensive error by the visitors which allowed substitute Álvaro to intercept the ball and charge forward towards the Ontinyent goal. However, his effort wasn’t supported quickly enough by his team-mates and his forced cross by blocked and cleared by a relieved defence.
The final 20 minutes or so saw the emergence of referee Emilio López as the centre of attention, clearly having the opinion that the home side was guilty of a series of malicious intentions and showing a succession of yellow cards, including a second to Corbalán, the tricky winger forced out of the game on 76 minutes. But ten-man Jávea stood firm, particularly the solid defensive line led perfectly by Caturla and Paolo.
But they couldn’t hold out against an incredible ten minutes of added time in which the visitor’s finally found a gap in the defence, a loose ball inside the area which substitute Ceballos was able to fire into the back on the net with his right foot to make it 1-1 at full-time.
But the honours should go to the home side, a patched-up team forced together due to seven casualties who gave everything for the club but with the reward of just a single point against a powerful regional side. Ontinyent themselves didn’t deserve much credit aside from refusing to accept defeat, lacking sportmanship at every level, even refusing to return the ball to the home side after it had been kicked out of play so that one of the visitor’s players could receive attention. A black mark for such a great team.
After the Easter break, CD Jávea travel over the hump to take on local rivals CD Dénia, whose own fortunes have been faltering, having slipped down the table due to a run of five defeats in the last six games, and they now sit just three points above Jávea. Promotion might be a dream now but the position of best team in the Marina Alta is still up for grabs!
CD Jávea. Prats, Aldo, Marcos, Elian, Ortolá (Álvaro, 54m), Caturla, Fran (David, 76m), Paolo, Javi (Umar, 90m), Hector, Corbalan. Subs not used: Guardiola (GK), Raul.
Ontinyent 1931 CF. Popv, Pribeagu, Fuentes (Galan, 58m), Reig, Oboro, Aquino, Felipe (Ceballos, 70m), Frances, Bella (Tormo, 70m), Cid (Cambra, 58m), Sanchis.
Referee: Emilio Lluis Lopez Herrero.
Assistant Referees: Aitor José Pérez Bernao & Juan Javier Belmonte.
Yellow Cards:
15m – Corbalan (CD Jávea)
29m – Bella (Ontinyet 1931 CF)
34m – Fuentes (Ontinyent 1931 CF)
48m – Fran (CD Jávea)
59m – Hector (CD Jávea)
61m – Aldo (CD Jávea)
61m – Marcos (CD Jávea)
72m – Prats (CD Jávea)
87m – Tormo (Ontinyent 1931 CF)
90m – Aquino (Ontinyent 1931 CF)
Red Card:
76m – Corbalan (CD Javea) second yellow
Results – Jornada 26
Saturday 9th April 2022
FC Atletico Benidorm 0-1 Racing d’Algemesi
CE La Font d’En Carròs 1-0 CD Dénia
Sunday 10th April 2022
Racing CF Benidorm 1-3 CD La Nucia “B”
CE Pedreguer 3-0 CD Contestano
CD Jávea 1-1 Ontinyent 1931 CF
CF Gandia 3-0 CF UE Tavernes
Muro CF 3-0 L’Olleria CF
CD UD Calpe 1-2 SD Sueca
Fixtures, Results and Statistics
