Catral Castrum 1-2 SC Torrevieja CF
Goalscorers: Lewis (31), Dani Muñoz (86)
It was the meeting of 2 in form teams on Sunday evening as SC Torrevieja visited local rivals Catral Castrum knowing that 3 points would lift them to 2nd in the table, only 1 point behind current leaders CD Murada.
And it was a game that Torry went into full of confidence with the boost of three new January signings, Gombo (Fondly nicknamed ‘Dave’ by some of the Torry fans), Pablo Abadia and Fran Diez all making Jose Antonio Gils starting 11, as attacker Lewis moved out to the left wing.
But that confidence was dealt a severe blow when a clumsy foul by Campillo after just 5 minutes saw the referee point to the spot, with Catral taking an early lead.
The slow start from Torry was then nearly punished by a 2nd Catral goal with a great opportunity for the hosts when the ball is well worked through the Torry back line, thankfully stopper Valentins was quick off his line to make a smart save 5-yards out.
Catral were winning the midfield battle as the visitors struggled to play their usual possession-based football, but then, on the half hour mark and somewhat against the run of play, Dani Muñoz latched on to a Catral defender’s heavy touch to break into the box, squaring unselfishly Lewis who fired it into the open goal.
There were more encouraging signs leading up to the interval for Torrevieja with a plethora of chances coming toward the end of the 1st half for Lewis, who shot just wide of the far post, then for Cristian Montero following delightful build up play from the bright Dani Muñoz and captain Manu breaking down the right from full-back, with a shot that he just pulled wide. Hopeful signs for the visitors going into the internal.
Torry’s efforts continued after the break, almost going ahead in the first minute of the second period, when Montero hits the post after Lewis cushions a deep cross into his path 8-yarss from goal.
Lewis was the star of the show so far for Torry and he nearly scored with a lovely volley to the far post, only narrowly clearing the bar with the keeper beaten.
After a great assist in the 1st half he tried it again, Dani Muñoz doing incredibly well to break from halfway into the box it’s a carbon copy. Again being unselfish he chooses to square to Montero but it’s slightly behind the striker and the keeper was able to smother the shot.
Although it was hardly needed, four second half substitutions breathed new for into the visitors efforts with Maxi, Amin, Omar and Luis Carlos replacing Valentins, Diez, Montero and Lewis but then, rather bizarrely, sub Amin was replaced by Anto on 83 minutes after picking up a knock himself.
One thing that Torry don’t do is settle for a draw and, for the second consecutive week their late endeavours paid off when, almost at the death they pinched all three points. A deep cross from the right was poorly defended by Catral as a weak header back to the keeper is pounced on by Dani Muñoz who volleys it home from close range.
This was a massive result for Torry moving them up to 2nd in the league capitalising on both Murada and Benferri dropping points this weekend.
There was a definite concern after conceding the early goal and an overall disappointing opening 30 mins but there after Torrevieja were the better team and deserved to take all 3 points, if anything it should have been more comfortable margin with the chances created. Lewis and Muñoz were a constant attacking threat and the Torry Army may have a new hero with Gombo putting in a very solid defensive showing.
Full-time Catral Castrum 1-2 SC Torrevieja CF
Match Report, Chris Peach – Torry Army Secretary & Social Media
Contact us on torryarmyfootball@gmail.com
