CD THADER – 2 SANTA POLA CF – 2
Needing to beat Santa Pola in this penultimate Preferente match of the season to qualify for next season’s revamped league, Thader were forced to settle for a draw in this local derby fixture. A scheme inviting locals to sample football in Rojales free of charge, saw a bumper crowd inside Moi Gomez stadium on a sunny Sunday afternoon.
At start of play, Thader sat some 5 points behind Santa Pola in 9th place, knowing that it was win or bust if the coveted 8th place was to be achieved. Both teams formed a guard of honour, as Thader’s league winning youth team were presented to the crowd.
When Rosquin looked set to pull the trigger on 8 mins, it seemed odds on that the hosts would take an early lead. Through on goal, with just the keeper to beat, he had to score, and surely would have, had he not been unfairly hauled down. Unbelievably, the referee waved play on, as thoughts of ‘here we go again’, went through my mind.
To rub salt into the wound, Santa Pola then proceeded to take the lead some 5 mins later. Sloppy defensive play, resulted in a cross from the left, finding an unmarked Andrei at the far post. He then proceeded to nonchalantly side foot home into an empty net from close range, as an uphill struggle got even harder.
Then, from the very next attack with 15 mins on the clock, a cross from the right found the same man, in the same place, with the same result. If there was any consolation, it was that there was still loads of time to rectify the damage done, and it didn’t take long before the men in blue and white stripes pulled a goal back.
Berni picked up a loose ball inside the penalty area on 20 mins, spectacularly executing a neat chip over a sea of players into the back of the net. The next piece of injustice, in this fast and furious encounter, fell to Santa Pola. Once again, it was Andrei, in the thick of everything, who was involved.
Through on goal, with just Thader keeper Chema to beat, he appeared to have his legs taken from him, but incredibly, yet again, nothing was given! First Quino, then Pedro Juan, had fierce shots well saved by Santa Pola keeper Angel, who at full stretch kept his side in the driving seat.
Thader captain Lloyd could only watch, when his 40th min long range free kick narrowly missed the target, then in first half stoppage time, only an offside flag denied Quino celebrating an equalising goal.
Different half, same story, as Thader applied relentless pressure on their opponent’s goal, which at times led a charmed life. Within quick succession, Ruben had a goal bound effort well saved, before a netbuster long range shot by Fran required another brilliant save by Angel, who breathed a sigh of relief as the rebound was headed agonisingly wide of the target. Thader’s big no 9 then struck a beauty which rattled the underside of the bar, before bouncing to safety.
A penalty was eventually awarded on 73 mins, following a foul on Pascual, from which Lloyd converted in his normal confident manner. With time running out, a Pedro Juan header was well saved, then only what appeared to be a push on Thader sub Jony, prevented him heading into an open goal, as a goal kick and not a penalty was awarded.
It could have been worse deep in stoppage time, had Chema not pulled off a brave close range save, to deny the visitors recording what could only be described as daylight robbery.
For the final match of the season, Thader must travel to Villena on either 20 or 21 May. Check out CD Thader facebook page for details of this and other information regarding the club.
