Torry 2 Alicante Uni 2 – Steve Hibberd writes.
Torry manager Pedreño went into a 3rd consecutive home match, safe in the knowledge that he had a full strength squad to pick from. Maximum points from their opening 2 matches has given the team a much needed confidence boost, banishing those relegation blues they had to live with through a summer of discontent.
Visitors Alicante University have had an identical start to the season as their hosts, so something had to give if 100% records were to be preserved in what was being billed by local soccer aficionados as the Preferente match of the day.
It was the home side who were much the livelier in the early exchanges as they took the game to Alicante.
Indeed inside the opening minutes, had Manu squared the ball into the path of the unmarked Ramiro rather than attempt an angled shot Torry could have taken an early lead.
A shot from Dani tested Buyo on 10 minutes. The Torry keeper was again called into action to save from a fierce Cama effort moments later but that was probably the last occasion that we saw any real threat from the visitors during the opening half.
The home side were certainly in the ascendancy with Juanpe running riot down the right, as full back Dani had no answer. The one aspect that did let the Salineros down, however, was that final ball which went astray rather too often. But even with that drawback the home side were calling all the shots.
A goalmouth scramble on the half hour saw Carbo save well at his right hand post when Ramiro looked to have squeezed his shot in, but as the striker was bemoaning his luck the lively Juanpe smashed home from close range to put the home side in front
Centre back Zaragoza was able to double the advantage moments later when he rose above the Alicante defence to head home from a Manu corner.
At that stage the game was in the bag, or so we thought, but a revitalised Uni side gave Torry much more to think about in the 2nd period.
Buyo was called into action to save low from Brice on 50 minutes while at the other end no one from the Torry front line could connect with a Manu cross when only the slightest deflection was required.
Chachi walked past 3 sleeping defenders to pull one back for Alicante on 70 mins after which substitute Llorca levelled the scoreline with a low diving header as the game entered the final 15 minutes.
But this was a game that the home side threw away.
After controlling for long periods the defence fell asleep on just two occasions, and as so often happens at this level of football, they were duly punished. Two points that Torry could regret losing at the business end of the season.
Definately a game of two halves, both of which were dominated by the home side.
Next weekend, for what we think will be a Saturday game, Torry travel to the Polideportivo Municipal La Murada where they face Orihuela CF B. Check club website for details.
