Mala pinta. By Steve.

WHITE HANKIES SAY IT ALL 

FC CARTAGENA - 0 AD ALCORCON - 2 

BY STEVE HIBBERD 

When club president Paco Gomez released HUGELY SUCCESSFUL manager JIM at the end of last season, replacing him with a nobody whom had lasted barely half a season in his previous post, and had never managed at this level, questions were being asked as to his sanity. Now after 4 league defeats, an early cup exit, and almost all of the 6,843 fans inside Cartagonova Stadium baying for new manager Paco Lopez's blood (some in the time honored fashion of waving anything white), my prediction that he could live to regret this appointment, unfortunately appear to be pretty damn near accurate. 

Obviously, I'm not privy as to why key players such as Victor (now top goalscorer at Oviedo) and Toche (scoring regularly for Greek giants Panithinikos) were allowed to leave the club, but their departure has left such a huge void, it could reduce a grown man to tears - slightly melodramatic I know, but you get my drift!! It hurts me to draw comparison to my team back in England (Pompey), for not only are they both struggling with results (1 win in the last 16 league games for Hampshire's finest), on the discipline front they are both piling up cautions and sending offs by the score, and both sets of fans want (and soon will be demanding) a change of manager. Following a totally forgettable 1st half, Cartagena had their 4th player in 4 games sent off. That, by anybodies standard, is an inexcusable statistic. 

This time, it was full back Goni who was made to make the walk of shame. Booked for a foul on 55 mins, less than a minute later he recklessly committed an OTT challenge, which in itself deserved a straight red, but luckily for him a benevolent referee chose the soft option of a 2nd yellow. It's hard enough for any side to compete whilst being a man short, but for a team who are low on both confidence and quality, it's neigh on impossible (especially when it keeps on happening). Alcorcon scored their first on the hour mark. A sweetly taken free kick from the right wing touchline, fell perfectly for Quini at the far post, who coolly side footed it home, although it must be noted that no home defender was within 5 yards of him (I'm starting to sound like a stuck gramophone record, like a stuck gramophone record, like a ........). It seems that when you're down (and boy, are Cartagena in the doldrums!), nothing seems to go your way. 

On 75 mins, it looked the world like Alcorcon defender Agus had clearly pushed Bolado inside the penalty area, but not for the first time this season, the ref was having none of it. Then, to make matters worse, Alcorcon doubled their advantage from the very next move. The keeper quickly fed his midfielders a beautiful ball, eventually finding striker Montanes, who got in an accurate drive from the edge of the box. Although the ball just eased inside the near post, it has to be said that keeper Juanma was very late in getting down. Deep into stoppage time, Juama prevented a 3rd Alcorcon goal when faced with a 1 on 1 situation, by standing firm to block a goal bound shot. 

Next Sat 24 Sep, ko 6pm, Cartagena will make a visit to the tiny Pedro Escartin Stadium (5,000 capacity), to face newly promoted Guadalajara, for what they hope will be a 5th time lucky div 2a match. For regular updates on FC Cartagena, visit www.nosoloefese.es or www.futbolclubcartagena.com.