El Cartagena comienza arrasando. By Steve.

OPENING DAY MASSACRE

XEREZ CD - 1 FC CARTAGENA - 4

BY STEVE HIBBERD

Not only did Cartagena open their div 2a account with an emphatic victory over newly relegated Xerez (Jerez), but for large periods of the 2nd half they completely ran the show. Manager JIM elected to start with only 2 of his new signings, midfielders Botelho and Moral, although 2 more were to enter the fray as 2nd half substitutes - striker Goiria and Frenchman Julien Fernandes (joining only last week from div 2b side Montaneros). Starting the brighter of the 2 sides, Los Albinegros took the lead after only 7 mins, when Toche coolly side footed home a pin point cross by fellow striker Victor. Keeper Alejandro Rebello produced a vital save on 13 mins, pushing a powerful Xerez free kick to safety. The reprieve lasted for all of 4 mins, before a suicidal back pass by Botelho was pounced on by Bermejo, who made light work of rounding Rebello before slotting the ball home. Shortly afterwards, Xerez almost scored again, but a great long range effort just missed the target. But it was the visitors who almost nicked a 2nd goal just before the interval, when a great effort by Toche forced an equally good save.

An exquisite piece of one two play, resulted in an assist by Longas to Lafuente, being lashing home for a 2nd Cartagena goal on 51 mins. Having been responsible for gifting Xerez with the equaliser, Brazillian Botelho made amends on 56 mins, when his fine individual run was finished off in style with a nonchalant side foot flick into the back of the net. You could be excused for thinking that being 3-1 up away from home, Cartagena would shut up shop and settle for the 3 points on offer, but you would be so wrong. Just after the hour mark, Toche came close to adding another, but his shot went just wide. Botelho was becoming a real handful for the Xerez defence, but when he was brought down just outside the box, Victor's free kick came to nothing. First Lafuente, then Victor, saw good efforts well saved, but the last word fell to last seasons top goal scorer. A delightful through ball by Longas found Toche, who ran fully 25 yards before planting the ball wide of a helpless keeper, for his 2nd and Cartagena's 4th goal of the match.

FC Cartagena line-up

Rebollo, Exposito, Txiki, Cygan, Botelho, Mariano, Longas (Julien), Moral (Clavero), Toche, Victor (Goiria), Lafuente

Forthcoming Fixtures

Cartagena now have the luxury of 3 home matches, at Cartagonova Stadium, in a row. First up is a Spanish FA cup match against Rayo Vallecano on Weds 1 Sep, ko 9.30pm. Then on Sat 4 Sep, ko 6pm, it's back to league action when Elche are the visitors. Finally, the following weekend (details yet to be confirmed) Barcelona 'B' ride into town.