FC Cartagena 2 - UD Marbella 0. By Steve.

CARTAGENA CLOSE THE GAP
FC CARTAGENA - 2 UD MARBELLA - 0
BY STEVE HIBBERD

Only 1 point now separates Cartagena from current division 2b leaders Cordoba, following last Saturdays impressive victory over Marbella.
Cordoba surprisingly slipped up at relegation haunted Villanueva, presenting Los Albinegros with an unexpected bonus. The end of season run in is hotting up. With only 8 games remaining, promotion rivals have still to visit Fortress Cartagonova, where a meagre 8 goals have been conceded all season.

Marbella arrived with a fine away record, but their form of late has been far from that of a side with play off aspirations. For the first time since his 11 match tenure, manager Jose Montes was able to field an unchanged side.
CARTAGENA TEAM
CABALLERO, LEO, OSCAR, LUSARRETA, CABREJO, MARIANO, ORLANDO, LAFUENTE, SIVORI (MARCO 62), MOLIST (SABINO 74), CHITO (CARMONA 10)
Back in November, fireworks flew as pace setters Marbella squeezed past Cartagena (3-2) at their Municipal Stadium in the Costa Del Sol. Early showing incicated that Marbella were still a skilful side, capable of playing attractive and effective football. After only 10 mins play, an injury forced play maker Chito to make a premature exit, being replaced by the super enthusiastic Carmona (he of the yellow boots!). Yellow boots was proving a real handful to the Marbella defence. When he appeared to be crudely wrestled to the ground inside the penalty area, a spot kick seemed a formality, but unfortunately the man in the middle thought differently. Referee Montoro officiated the match with the common sense of a junkie baboon high on heroin!! He must have been on drugs to have administered an astonishing 11 (eleven) cautions, 7 of which were given to the home sides little angels. In a game played with great spirit, senor Montoro should do himself a favour and watch a video of his totally incompetant performance. Just as the game looked like being all square at the interval, up popped Lusarreta to majestically head home Carmonas corner.
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL
Half Time Cartagena - 1 Marbella - 0

The scoring of an opening goal just before half time, can often have a psychological effect on both sets of teams. Having suffered the injustice of receiving 3 cautions in the halfs opening 4 minutes, Cartagenas players showed what a class act they really are. Lusarreta played an inch perfect long ball from defence, to the feet of onside Sivori. Seeing the on-rushing goalkeeper off his line, the master craftsman nonchanently chipped the helpless custodian, who could only watch admiringly as the end result was never in doubt.
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL

At the other end, it took a breathtaking save from the mighty Caballero to prevent the dangerous Santi from equalizing. It was now 100 miles an hour stuff. Only 13 minutes had elapsed when Mariano Sanchez was so unlucky to see his bullet like header strike the post. Within a further 3 minutes, first Molist then Sivori had shots just off target. Moments later, Sivori was to play no further part, but his substitution was greeted with a standing ovation by an appreciative crowd. As the game reached its conclusion, few chances were made, one being Sabinos shot into the side netting.
Attendance - 4,000
Leo, Oscar, Cabrejo, Orlando, Mariano, Sivori and Lusarreta (who now misses the next match) were the unlucky 7 Cartagena players who found their way into a cramped referees notebook.
DIVISION 2B - TOP 6 SIDES
1. CORDOBA - 60 POINTS
2. CARTAGENA - 59 POINTS
3. SEVILLA ´B´ - 56 POINTS
4. PORTUENSE - 55 POINTS
5. JAEN - 52 POINTS
6. LINARES - 51 POINTS

FORTHCOMING FIXTURE
North Africa, is the next destination for Los Albinegros. Melilla (a Spanish enclave on the coast of Morocco) are surprisingly toying with relegation in lowly 14th place. Last week they lost at Jaen, but at home their record is good, boasting only one defeat this season. If you happen to find yourself at a loose end, the game is at the Alverez Claro Stadium in Melilla on Sunday 8 April, ko 6pm.
Further information on FC Cartagena can be obtained by phoning Steve on 656579423.