Los albinegros se hacen el Hari Kari. By Steve.

LOS ALBINEGROS COMMIT HARI KARI
FC CARTAGENA 1 UD MELILLA 2
BY STEVE HIBBERD

Going into 5 minutes of stoppage time, Cartagena were in the lead and cruising, when 2 late late goals not only saw them throw away a certain victory, but also turn their play off dreams into ghastly nightmares.
So now with only 5 games left to play, the task for play off qualification leaves no room for manoeuvre, in other words only victories will be good enough. Once again the home side had much more of the play, but once again they just could not score. Although 2 key players, Mariano and Cabrejo, are missing through injury, the squad available still has enough ability to beat opponents, in what has been a very ordinary division 2b season.
The first 45 minutes belonged entirely to Cartagena. Sivori came close to scoring on 15 minutes, when he headed just wide from a Ormazabal cross. A carbon copy move 3 minutes later set the stage for a very frustrating half. Carmona struck a lovely long range free kick, which was punched away for a corner, just before half time.

Melilla approached the 2nd half the more confident of the 2 sides, as Cartagena appeared to be somewhat jittery. But ironically, it was the home side who put the ball in the back of the net on 63 minutes, when Sivori lashed home an inch perfect cross, only for a goal to be cruelly ruled out by the linesmans offside flag. This seemed to galvanize cartagena into more urgency. Long range shots from Carmona and sub Rocha peppered the Melilla goal, and it was no surprise when in the 82nd minute, Cartagena did, at long last, score a legitimate goal. It fell to Molist, on as substitute for only 7 minutes, who superbly headed home a teasing cross from the right. But instead of keeping the ball, Cartagena chose to waste time by aimlessly kicking the ball anywhere, and giving away needless fouls. In the 4th and 5th minutes of time added on, 2 headed goals sealed Cartagenas fate, as Melilla rejoiced as if they had just won the cup! This hard to take defeat, means that Cartagena have now dropped to 8th position, although they are still 6 points behind 4th place Aguilas.
Attendance - 4,000
FC Cartagena line up
CABALLERO, ORMAZABAL, LUSARRETA, CHARCOS (CURRO), ORLANDO, JUVENAL (ROCHA), ALCANTARA, SIVORI, TOLEDO, LAFUENTE (MOLIST), CARMONA
Forthcoming Fixture
While it is still mathamatically possible, Cartagena must play their hearts out, and hope that the other play off hopefuls slip up. On Sunday 20 April ko 12pm noon, they are at home, inside Cartagonova Stadium, again. CD Baza, from just inside the Andalucian border, provide the opposition for this crucial division 2b fixture. Baza need the points for different reasons, as they are close to the relegation zone, so an exciting match is in prospect. WOMEN AND CHILDREN GAIN ADMISSION FREE OF CHARGE.