CD Montesinos 2 – 2 Callosa Deportivo “B”.
A changed CD Montesinos side took on Callosa Deportivo “B” at the “Cauldron”, Municipal Stadium on Sunday hoping for an early gift of three much needed points before the holiday break.
Restored to the side were centre back Dimitry and midfield playmaker Maccan along with new boy Roberto filling the number nineteen shirt on the right wing. Wide men Omar and Dario were relegated to the bench. Target man Liam was still missing from the squad, presumably through injury.
Callosa started the game very much on the front foot, probing effectively both down the flanks and through the middle as Monte struggled to contain their hosts. The defence seemed all at sixes and sevens with very little being offered in attack. So, it was against the run of play on eleven minutes that Monte got the ball in the opposition net, only for it to be ruled offside. A move set up by some neat work by Roberto that ultimately came to nothing.
So it was on twenty minutes that Callosa finally gained the advantage. A needless foul given away by Fernando in a dangerous area on the left, led to a free kick that was nodded in, largely unchallenged, by the Callosa winger. Monte 0 – 1 Callosa.
Monte continued to ride their luck with a number of shots raining in on the home goal and some quite, at times, desperate defensive blocking. It seemed only a matter of time before Callosa added to their tally. So, it was somewhat of a surprise on thirty two minutes for the home team to find themselves level in a most bizarre fashion.
A high and hopeful cross from the left into an almost empty opposition box was missed by the flailing Callosa keeper only for the ball to strike the hapless opposition number four on the thigh and ping into the net. The two players looked at each other aghast. An early Christmas present for Monte who, until then, had offered only scraps of attacking play.
But it was going to get better just before half time. Callosa, stunned to find themselves level, allowed some nice interplay involving full back Daniel, livewire striker Vaz neatly fed the ball to German, who thumped the ball home. Despite the expected backlash from Callosa, Monte went in at the break 2-1 up.
Second half saw Daniel replaced by Dario in a like for like swap.
Ho Ho Ho!! Santa visited again within three minutes of the restart, when Vaz, as usual tormenting his multiple markers, broke free and, as he was about to finish, was brought down by the Callosa keeper. Being the last man and denying a clear goal, the referee had no choice but to give the goallie his marching orders, and a penalty to Monte. Surely Vaz would score and put the home team in the driving seat.
However, to the horror of the home crowd, Vaz opted to chip rather than place with power, so his shot ballooned harmlessly over the bar. A huge let-off for Callosa, but would the miss come back to haunt Monte?
Despite being down to ten men, it was Callosa who were making all of the running following the penalty miss, so it was probably with protecting their lead in mind that Coach Ruben swapped bustling midfielder Diego with defender Omar. Monte continued to backtrack and give up the middle third far too easily for the home supporters liking. Monte were living dangerously.
So it was, that on the eightieth minute that Monte’s defences finally succumbed when following a goalmouth melee and a failure to convincingly clear, Callosa levelled the scores.
The goal came as an obvious relief to Callosa, who had seen the game start to slip away from them. A final roll of the dice saw goalscorer German replaced by Josema, but the change had little effect. Monte continued to battle, but were easily contained by a Callosa side who had their confidence back. Final score CD Montesinos 2 – 2 Callosa Deportivo “B”.
Overall, a bitter disappointment for Monte, who could have bagged all three points at a crucial point in the season. But the break should allow themselves to regroup, with possibly more new recruits like the rangy Roberto giving them options on the flanks, and go again for next year. Vamos Monte!, Vamos Los Rojos!
Man of the Match award was the new boy Roberto, and this was presented by Full Monte El Presidente Eddie on behalf of H.E.A.T.
The next game will be during the weekend of 13th January 2019, a home game against CD Altet.
Team:- Carlos, Dimitry, Fernando, Morante, Alexis, Maccan, German, Diego, Vaz, Roberto, Daniel.
Sub’s:- Michael, Omar, Josema, Yeray, Dario.
Match report by Steve Robinson
Photo’s by Terry Harris
