La Nucia 1-CD Thader 3
Fresh from a superb home 1-1 draw against high flying Benidorm, Thader made the journey north to take on La Nucia ‘B’. Back in early October, a youthful Thader were on the receiving end of a 0-3 defeat at their temporary home of Formentera.
Just inland from Benidorm, La Nucia boasts the superb complex surrounding the Camilo Cano Stadium. Starting the day in 10th place, La Nucia were in for a shock if they thought another easy encounter was on the cards. A change of manager, plus a complete overhaul of players, has seen the boys from Rojales sit within touching distance of safety from relegation.
With Santa Pola winning earlier in the day by the only goal of the game, at home to Javea, Thader knew that nothing less than three points could lift them back above the Santapoleros and up into 11th, but not even the most optimistic fans from amongst the band of travelling supporters could have prepared them for what lay ahead.
It took just 5 minutes, with virtually the first serious foray of the match, for the visitors to find the back of the net, with Pedro Juan stabbing it home from a narrow angle. Unfortunately, the intervention of a linesman saw the goal ruled out as the ball had previously crossed the goal line.
It was a warning that La Nucia failed to heed, however, as just six minutes later the same player had the ball in the back of the net once again, and this time it did count, after he did well to control a Crossfield pass firing in low from the edge of the box.
With fortunes reversed from the meeting between the two sides back in October, the Thader pressure continued with Dani Lucas extending their lead in the 19th minute. This time Javi was the provider setting the winger up to fire past the outstretched arms of La Nucia’s keeper.
With the home side finally realising they had a game on their hands tempers became a little frayed with players from both sides fining a place in the referees book, however the visitors continued to look comfortable with Chema in the Thader goal relatively untroubled as the teams went into the half time interval. HT La Nucia 0-2 CD Thader.
Quite what they put in the tea at the Camilo Cano Stadium I really don’t know but the home side came out of the blocks for the 2nd period like a team possessed.
Chema in the Thader goal really did have to be on his game, making save after save as La Nucia laid siege to the Thader goal. But for the keepers heroics it could have been a completely different story until, that is, La Nucia finally broke their duck in the 69th minute. Although Chema got a good hand to Pablo’s shot he was unable to stop it crossing the line.
A further golden opportunity was unbelievable squandered by the home side and then, after the La Nucia keeper, Ethan, was dismissed in the 87th minute for bringing down Raul just outside the box, the same player got up to strike an exquisite free kick that bounced in off the underside of the bar to secure all 3 points.
Since Carlos Caneles took over at the Thader helm it really has been a turn around for the boys in blue.
Next week a home fixture, looking for more of the same, against Tavernes de la Vaildigna
