WHAT a difference a week makes. Seven days after one of FC Torrevieja’s worst performances of the season, losing at Alicante B, the team stepped up a couple of gears to notch up a much needed and morale boosting home win over an ‘in form’ La Nucia side.
It was just the tonic for a team that had not won in six matches, and had seen an outside chance of a play-off spot worryingly convert itself into a possible relegation battle.
For a change, it was a more consistent performance over the full ninety minutes, and there was the novelty of keeping eleven players on the field, something they had failed to do in their last three outings.
The one goal came late in the match, with ten minutes remaining on the clock. It was well worth waiting for, courtesy of a cracking thirty yard free-kick strike into the top corner of the net from Bailen.
As opposed to recent games at the Vicente Garcia stadium, Torrevieja showed a bit more initiative and actually played like they were the home side, though you can hardly label the encounter as a classic.
There were honest endeavours from Aitor and Torres especially, and the main disappointment was that were not enough clear cut chances created, though a goal was disallowed for offside. But to be frank, Bailen’s memorable shot was the only moment that offered genuine excitement.
FC Torrevieja now have a golden chance this coming Sunday to get another win as they make the short journey to the bottom club, Elche Ilicitano and to finally banish any lingering thoughts of relegation.

I only got back from the UK yesterday, and so I missed Sunday’s match against La Nucia, but it was good to hear about the better performance and of course getting that important victory. We’ve got far too close to the relegation area for comfort, and I reckon that another three wins would definitely seal our status for next season.
I feel sorry for the players over the fact their wages have not been fully sorted out yet, but I hope that this will be done soon, especially once the required paperwork that Samm Inc need has been provided to them. I certainly have missed being around them during the week and I‘m glad to be back. I have been busy, like at the weekend checking out on a Mexican player who is playing for the Canadian Academy on their tour of Britain.
I’ve also been trying to sort out some pre-season friendlies, and I’m hopeful of getting the League Two play-off contenders, Dagenham & Redbridge to come over in the summer. I feel that some of our players could possibly cut it in that standard over in England, and perhaps Dagenham could have a look at some of them.
I’m also waiting on an answer from a Premier League side over sending their under-20 team to Torrevieja, and I’ll let you know as soon as everything is confirmed.
A few of you have been asking me on match days at the Vicente Garcia what I make of the standard of the football that we have in our division. I have to say that as a benchmark, a decent English non-league side could fly over here and give all of the teams a hell of a game in our division.
And that also means that FC Torrevieja isn’t that much different in terms of quality compared to the others. We’ve met a lot of the promotion contenders in the last couple of months, and frankly I’ve seen nothing to suggest that we are that greatly inferior to them.
We just need to do the basics better, and of course have more of that killer instinct, as well as(and I’m sorry to keep repeating this), keeping all eleven men on the field.
One of our problems is that our players show some good ball skills in training, but then in a match situation, they try to over-complicate things when it matters. We need to be quicker moving in what we try to do on the pitch , and if we do that, I am convinced we will climb up the table.

Birmingham 2-2 Everton. The Brummies clashed with The Blues at St Andrews. The away side went ahead thanks to Victor Anichebe and Yakubu, but the host fought back via Cameron Jerome & Craig Gardner to earn a point. Alex McLeish’s troops in eighth with David Moyes´s warriors in ninth.
Bolton 4-0 Wigan. The Trotters played host to The Latics at The Reebok. One way traffic with good goals from Johan Elmander, Kevin Davies (penalty), Fabrice Muamda & Matt Taylor. Owen Coyle’s men in thirteenth with Roberto Martinez´s boys in fifteenth.
Burnley 1-2 Wolves. The Clarets took on The Wolves at Turf Moor. Strikes from Matt Jarvis and Clarke Carlisle (Own Goal) won the day in Lancashire. Stephen Thompson replied. Brian Law´s team in eighteenth with Mick McCarthy’s players in seventeenth.
Chelsea 4-1 West Ham. The Pensioners entertained The Hammers at Stamford Bridge. The South West Londoners hit first from Alex, only for former old boy Scott Parker to equalise. But goals from Didier Drogba (2) and Florent Malouda kept the spoils on The Kings Road. Carlo Ancelotti’s squad in second with Gianfranco Zola’s charges in sixteenth.
Hull City 1-2 Arsenal. The Tigers clashed with The Gunners at The KC Stadium. Andrei Arshavin broke the deadlock, only for Jimmy Bullard (penalty) to restore parity. It was left to Nicolas Bendtnar to score a late winner. Phil Brown’s men in nineteenth with Arsene Wenger’s boys in third.
Liverpool 3-1 Portsmouth. This is a Match Prediction for The Monday Night Clash at Anfield.
Man Utd 3-0 Fulham. The Red Devils played host to The Cottagers at Old Trafford. Goals from Wayne Rooney (2) & Dimitar Berbatov kept a continuation of the home side’s winning streak. Sir Alex Ferguson’s champions Top of The League with Roy Hodgson’s players in tenth.
Stoke City 0-0 Aston Villa. The Potters took on The Villains at The Britannia Stadium. This match was a draw with both defences well on top. Tony Pulis’ charges in eleventh with Martin O´Neill’s brigade in seventh.
Sunderland 1-1 Man City. The Black Cats entertained The Citizens at The Stadium of Light. Kenwyne Jones scored early on, only for Adam Johnson to net his first goal for his new club. Steve Bruce’s team in fourteenth with Roberto Mancini’s squad in fifth.
Tottenham 3-1 Blackburn. The Spurs clashed with The Rovers at White Hart Lane. The North Londoners really went to town with efforts from Jermaine Defoe & Roman Pavlychenko (2). Christopher Samba got one back. Harry Redknapp’s players in fourth with Sam Allardyce’s team in twelfth.

Alone de Guardamar 1 Alfaz del Pi 2
Although Alone sacked their manager Carlos Perez last Thursday, his ghost continues to haunt the Club, as once again they fell to a last minute goal, condemning them to a birth in the Preferente div relegation zone. This defeat means that they have swapped places with their opponents, although it has to be said that it was a spirited performance.
Everything looked hunky dory after 17 mins, when a perfect Moreno cross was headed into the back of the net by Nino, to give the home side an early lead. Failure to clear their lines from an in swinging cross, resulted in Alone conceding an equaliser just before half time, as an Alexis drive easily beat keeper Michel. It could have been worse, when less than a minute later, the post came to Alone’s rescue, who were relieved to hear the ref’s half time whistle.
Alfaz goal scorer Alexis was unlucky, half an hour into the second half, when his firm header inched just over the bar. Shortly afterwards, Nino was played through with just the on rushing keeper to beat, but he well and truly bottled it allowing the keeper to hoof the ball up field. Action was fast and thick, in this end to end contest, when following a fractionally off target drive by Alone’s Juanje, Michel did well to prevent Alfaz taking the lead, superbly pushing a goal bound shot around the post. When Alexis received a defence splitting pass, he looked suspiciously offside, but the pretty pony-tailed female assistant referee decided otherwise, allowing the superb Alexis to plant a fierce drive past a helpless Michel, for what proved to be a cruel and far from deserved winning goal.
With a week’s break for the Preferente league imminent, Alone officials now have a fortnight to find a suitable replacement for senor Perez.

Whilst Torre ladies had a two week break from their league, they set up a friendly against 1st division Catral.
It was a chance for Torre to get a bit of confidence back, play players in different roles and also giving all the squad a chance to get some time on the pitch.
And what a change. From the whistle, Torre were in complete control and passed the ball around with ease.
It looked a completely different side from last week’s poor performance. Torre went in at half time 3 -1 up but it could have been a lot more. Goals coming from Marta and 2 from Jessi.
Second half was more of the same with Jessi scoring two more and a good solo run from Michelle ended in the goal of the game with her lobbing the keeper from well outside the box. As the game grew to an end Torre made a few changes giving players not in the squad yet, a chance.
Torre did conscede two late goals, one coming from a good free kick and the other from an error in our box. But all in all it was a comfortable win for our girls.
Lets just hope that they can play this way in their next league game which is away to Xativa Olimpic on the 27th March.
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