El descenso cada vez más cerca. By Steve.

RELEGATION LOOMS NEARER FOR SORRY CARTAGENA 

FC CARTAGENA - 0 CD GUADALAJARA - 2 

BY STEVE HIBBERD 

Before start of play, Guadalajara were just 6 points ahead of Cartagena, but following this shocking defeat, the gap for div 2a survival has lengthened. In a week that my beloved Pompey declared that they may not fulfill this seasons fixtures, due to probable liquidation, Cartagena president Paco Gomez made an announcement that he intends selling the club at the end of the season. At the moment his players cannot buy a goal for love nor money, although chances are being created, whilst at the other end of the pitch, school boy errors are being severely punished. Once again there were changes to the starting line up, as manager Carlos Rios desperately tries to find a winning formation. Barral forced a fine save from Juanma after 9 mins, as the visitors looked to open their account. Midway through the half, Cartagena had a purple patch when first Raimondi watched his close range shot fly past the post, then from a corner, a fierce Paz header was cleared off the line. 

From a right wing cross, Raimondi headed wide of the far post, as the hosts pressed hard for an opening goal. On the half hour mark, Ernesto shot just over the bar, giving the visitors a rare crack at goal. Against the run of play, a well worked move, culminated in Anibal striking a shot from the edge of the box, hitting the far post, before bouncing over the line to give Guadalajara an undeserved lead on 55 mins. Cartagena hit back well when Paz headed a Dimas free kick just over, then a long range shot by Txiki was well saved. Twas Txiki again who tested keeper Saizar, then from the rebound, blasted over the bar, before Collantes saw his good effort just miss the target. At the other end, only a fine save by Juanma prevented Anibal doubling his goal tally. Substitute Marc had a great chance to level the scores on 84 mins, but his chipped shot was cleared for a corner. A rasping 20 yard drive by man of the match Paz went so close on 87 mins, before a series of comical errors condemned his team to defeat. Juanma was guilty of a terrible miss kick, which fell to substitute Nico, who surprisingly missed an open target. 

But from the very next move, Juanma ventured way out of his area in a vain attempt to win the ball, giving Nico the opportunity to hit a 30 yard shot into an open net. In the 3rd min of stoppage time, Cartagena should have had a consolation goal, but a Marc shot which appeared to cross the line, was not credited as a goal. Next up for Cartagena is a trip to 4th to bottom Alcoyano, who currently have just 3 more points than their rivals. This 6 pointer is on Sun 11 Mar, ko 7.45 pm, at El Collao Stadium, and will be shown live on both Gol and Canal Plus tv.