Todo empeco bastante bien con el Altea jugando bien y con una intelligencia contra el Pinoso y su huracan. Chole y Angel dieron la cara contra un Pinoso limitado y un cabezazo de Carrasco casi hizo el primer gol mientras tanto un chilena de Pascual se estrello contra el larguero y se meti de olvidar del viento, coche, novia etc etc. Sobre Pascual, aqui tenemos un jugador rapido, incisivo y desequibrilante pero un futbolista que necesita un gol y todos esperan que llegue prontisimo porque los otros llegaran en seguida, suerte Pascual. In mi juicio este arbitro es bastante bien, le he visto en muchas ocasiones pero en este partido no creere nunca como ni vio la clara falta sobre Tomas antes del primer ‘gol’. Pude verla y tambien Peter Hulls, Dave, Mal, Big John, Pimpollo, Carrete………pero el arbitro se equivoco y con el Altea en pleno ‘shock’ el zurdo de Pinoso supero a Miramar y marco el segundo gol. El termino de la primera parte llego con un disparo de Chole pegando el poste y ya este es cinco veces en dos partidos, yo creo que el refran sea ‘mala pata’….

This was the most important game of the season, at home against a workmanlike team, league leadership still in the pocket and yet Altea through a combination of bad finishing and at times rank bad play saw their chances disappear in the gale force wind writes Matthew Bell. The visitors won the toss and decided to play with the hurricane behind them, and crucially, the referee. The game was of the Keystone Cops variety at times as clearances flew out for corners, goalkeepers shooting at one another and passing traffic on the N 332 in danger of panel re-alignment. On the rare occasion that the ball was on the ground Altea played some decent football with Angel and (as ever) Chole to the fore provoking some incisive play. Livewire striker Diego Domenech was looking alert but his fellow frontman, David Carrasco, has disappointed for too long and his sole contribution was to power a header toward the goal only for Pinoso’s Crouch-clone centre half to clear well when a goal seemed certain. Carrete’s men sensed blood and poured forward as the wind tried to send them back and the previous week’s lament of it not being our day returned to haunt as Pascual’s acrobatic bicycle kick crashed against the bar on the half hour. My mind began to wander to half time with the thought that if we can get there at 0-0, although now it was the turn of the referee to wreck my plans. Corners are nothing less than a farce in these conditions, especially when the Pinoso right back sits on Altea ‘keeper Tomas and the ball is lashed into the net and to the incredulity of one and all the referee points to the centre circle. The decision was met with derision all round and it seems that Altea spent the next few minutes in a daze as moments later a 90 yard clearance saw the tricky Pinoso left winger skip round a rather tentative Miramar and Altea are two down as we head for the break.

The 15 minute break evolved into 35 as Altea’s Ultras (average age 85) attempted to storm the referee’s dressing room in scenes reminiscent of Monte Cassino before the Guardia Civil brought order. The siege would continue on the field for the next ’45 with Tomas redundant and the half started with Chole smacking the ball against the post which makes 6 shots against the woodwork in 2 games, maybe unlucky, maybe careless. For too often the ball was hoofed in a manner not seen since England’s epic first half against Croatia and Pinoso’s defence dealt with the threat extremely well. Diego Domenech is improving as the season progresses, farout-weighing the contribution of his fellow striker Carrasco and time and again he nearly cut through only to be thwarted as the equaliser beckoned. Centre half Christian was sent to where he should be, in the midfield, running the game and crucially freeing the frustrated Chole to work his magic. With the clock running down the former powered in a header from Marin’s free kick to give the locals hope but Pinoso held on to a rather fortuitous three points. For more analysis and pictures log onto the unofficial website www.udaltea.info