Eddie's Final Whistle

2nd B Division, Group 3 Match day 1 Saturday August 24 Villarreal CF B 2 – 1 Atletico Levante UD These two reserve sides played out a very entertaining match to open the season, with the home side taking all three points from this local “derby” game.

Villarreal took the lead after just 3 minutes when Villa killed of a quick break away and slotted the ball home. Shortly after that, Levante were denied what looked like a clear penalty When one of their forwards appeared to be tripped inside the area, only for the referee to wave play on.

On 15 minutes, the teams were level again in what was a bizarre equaliser. Villarreal had a free kick on the half way line with all the Levante players inside their own half. The Villarreal player decided to play the ball backwards, into this own half to his centre half, who was instantly challenged by a Levante forward. Without thinking too much, the Villarreal player past it back to where he thought his goalkeeper was only to find that his goalkeeper had come out to the edge of his area and watch the ball as it sped past him into the goal. A crazy own goal to give the visitors a worthy equaliser despite it being in bizarre circumstances.

After the half time break, it was the home side who again took the lead, although unlike the Levante equaliser, there was nothing bizarre about the goal that turned out to be the winner. Villarreal forward, Espiau, finished off a good move with a stunning overhead kick from just outside the six yard box to score a sensational goal for his club. Had this goal been scored by a Messi or a Ronaldo, it would have been shown across the world for days on end. A truly magnificent goal. Despite a fight back from Levante, especially in the final 10 minutes of the game, Villarreal were worthy winners and look again as if they can be at or near the top of this group for yet another season. Their passing, which is something Villarreal are known for, was outstanding on the day. AE Prat 1 – 1 Hercules CF

Hercules travelled north to Cataluña to face newly promoted side AE Prat, close to Barcelona airport. Hercules have not had the best of preseason and results have not been what they would have expected. In fact, this pre-season has been very similar to last season where they were very poor in front of goal and struggled for the first part of the season. Looking at the first game of this season, they look to still have the same problems. Hercules dominated much of the play but looked toothless up front. The home side, fresh from last season's promotion, were also shy upfront.

All that changed in the 83rd minute when Benja, a 70th minute substitute on for Jona, put the Alicante based side ahead with what most people thought would be the winner and the three points to start the new season. However, that lead lasted all of two minutes as with the very next attack, the Catalan side scored the equaliser and the celebrated it as if it was the winner.

So a share of the points is how the game ended and for Hercules the result was a disappointment, especially after taking the lead at such a late stage. Unless things can change and they can as Hercules demonstrated last season, this could turn out to be another frustrating season for them. But early days yet. Sunday, August 25 RCD Español B 2 – 0 FC Andorra

SD Ejea 4 – 0 Orihuela CF The worst possible start for an Orihuela side who have waited six seasons´ to play at this level. Although an away trip to Ejea de los Caballeros in Aragon was not a bad way to kick off the season, the final result adds pressure on them to win their next game, at home to AE Prat. Should they also lose that game things will start to get worrying for them.

A goal early in each half more or less killed of the game for the visitors who, in reality, had been second best throughout the game. Goals in the 6th and 53rd minute off the game with a third goal for the home side in the 59th minute and a fourth in the 83rd minute sent the visitors on the long journey home in poor spirits.

It has certainly not been a bad pre-season for Orihuela but with a squad made up of players with limited experience at this level, they will need to learn very quickly if they are not to struggle all season. UE Olot 1 – 0 CD Ebro CF Badalona 0 – 2 FC Barcelona B

Gimnastica Tarragona 1 – 3 UE Llagostera

CF La Nucia 1 – 0 UE Cornella An excellent start for La Nucia in their first ever game at this level. A special day indeed which saw them inaugurate the new Olimpic Stadium in La Nucia in front of over 2,000 supporters to see history being made.

In a nervy first half, Cornella were the better team and were unfortunate not to open the scoring. However, La Nucia slowly started to overcome their nervous start and it was they, through Fran, who scored what turned out to be the only goal of the game in the 43rd minute. Fran will go down in the history of La Nucia as the scorer of the first ever goal at this level for them.

The second half was better for La Nucia who not only managed to hang on for the three points, but they also played some good football and started to look comfortable for the first time in the game although in the final ten minutes, the visitors threw everything they had at La Nucia who, somehow, managed to hold on for the points. Valencia CF Mestalla 1 – 2 Lleida Esportiu

This was always going to be a tough start to the season for the Valencia reserve side, Mestalla. Although they were at home and their pre-season form has been decent, Lleida are always one of the better sides at this level and so they proved. Two goals in the first 20 minutes for the visitors certainly put them in the driving seat although it has to be said that the home side had been the better of the two sides up to that point.

The second half started in the best possible way for Valencia. Just one minute on the clock and they pull a goal back from Jordi Sanchez. From that point onwards, the Valencia youngsters go all out for an equaliser which, unfortunately for them, they are unable to get as Lleida use their experience to frustrate the home side and hold on to three opening day points. The performance from Valencia Mestalla was certainly good enough to give them a share of the points and it is hoped that they learn from this harsh lesson and try to avoid their struggles from last season when they only confirmed their safety on the final day of the season. CE Sabadell CF 0 – 2 CD Castellon

A magnificent start to the new season for CD Castellon as they travelled north to Sabadell and came away with a massive 0-2 victory which would have done their confidence a world of good, not only because of the 0-2 win but in the way they played and controlled the match, even when the home side put them under pressure. Goals from Cesar Diaz in the 16th minute and a second from Ruben Diaz just before the half time break, gave the visitors a comfortable lead which they were able to hold onto in the second half.

A great start for Castellon who look to have improved on last season where, for much of the season, they looked like relegation material. Match day 2 Saturday, August 31 UE Cornella – UE Olot Sunday, September 1 Atletico Levante UD – CE Sabadell FC

Hercules CF – Villarreal CF B Orihuela CF – AE Prat UE Llagostera – SD Ejea FC Andorra – CF Badalona CD Ebro – RCD Español Lleida Esportiu – CF La Nucia CD Castellon – Valencia CF Mestalla

FC Barcelona B – Gimnastica de Tarragona 3rd Division, Group 6 Match day 1 A full round of matches at this level started again last weekend. There were few surprises although with the three newly promoted sides, Hercules “B”, Intercity San Juan and Recambios Colon, all doing well on their opening day matches. Recambios Colon got their season off with an excellent 3-2 win over Villarreal C whilst Hercules B also had a superb win (1-2) away at Olimpic Xativa, a side that were only given the ok to register their players on the Friday before, after paying their debt with past players, who had blocked Olimpic being able to register new players until the club had fulfilled their contractual obligations. The other new boys, Intercity San Juan, were held to a 1-1 draw at home against one of the expected top sides, Atletico Saguntino. Both sides gave as good as they got so expect these two sides to be at or near the top of the group at the very death.

CD Alcoyano took all the points in commanding style at Beniganim, where the home side took an early lead before ending up beaten 1-3. Either Alcoyano look good or Beniganim will struggle because Alcoyano were very superior to their opponents.

CD Alzira won at home against CD Roda. Their 2-0 win goes some way to getting revenge for their defeat at Roda at the end of last season which ended any chances of Alzira making the Play Offs´ .

Another “small” club who have been holding their own at this level are Silla CF. The side from the outskirts of Valencia City are realistically punching way above their weight and have once again started a new season with a win, this time a 2-1 home win against Vilamarxant. Jove Español started with a defeat this season as they went down 2-3, somewhat surprisingly against a seemingly rejuvenated Novelda CF side. CD Eldense also got off to a win as they defeated Paterna 2-1. There were draws for Crevillente against CD Acero and Elche Ilicitano against Atzeneta UE. Saturday, August 24 FC Jove Español 2 – 3 Nov CF Crevillente Deportivo 1 – 1 CD Acero

CF Intercity San Juan 1 – 1 Atletico Saguntino

CF Recambios Colon Catarroja 3 – 2 Villarreal CF C Sunday, August 25

Elche Ilicitano CF 1 – 1 Atzeneta UE

CD Eldense 2 – 1 Paterna CF CD Olimpic Xativa 1 – 2 Hercules CF B

Silla CF 2 – 1 CF Vilamarxant UD Alzira 2 – 0 CD Roda UD Beniganim 1 – 3 CD Alcoyano Match day 2 Sunday, September 1

Novelda CF – CD Eldense CD Acero – FC Jove Español Hercules CF B – Crevillente Deportivo

Villarreal CF C – CD Olimpic Xativa

Paterna CF – Silla CF CF Vilamarxant – UD Alzira Atletico Saguntino – UD SIA Beniganim

Atzeneta UE – CF Intercity San Juan

CD Roda – Elche CF B CD Alcoyano – Recambios Colon Regional Preferente Match day 1 Match day 1 kicks off this Sunday in all four groups, with the following fixtures; Group 1 CF San Pedro – Manises CF CD Almazora – CF Albuixech CD Benicarlo – CD Burriana UD Vall de Uxo – UD Puzol CD Soneja – Alqueries CF CF Alcala – CD LA´ lcora CF Nules – CD Castellon B CD Onda – CD Cabanes Club Almenara Atletic – CF Huracan Moncada Group 2

SC Requena – UD Juventud Barrio Cristo

San Antonio Benageber CF – Atletico Benimar Pîcanya CF Burjassot CF – CDFB La Eliana UD Quart de Poblet – Ribarroja CF

Discobolo-La Torre AC – UD Aldaia CF

CF Torre Levante – Paiporta CF CD Buñol – Torrent CF

CD Utiel – Atletico Vallbonense CD San Marcelino – Godella CF Group 3

CD Llosa – CD Denia Muro CF – Racing Rafelcofer CF

LO´ lleria CF – UD Canals CD Javea – Pego CF

CD Enguera – CD Pedreguer UD Alginet – UE LA´ lcudia Alcasser CF – UD Castellonense SD Sueca – CF UE Tavernes UD Carcaixent – UD Portuarios Group 4

Orihuela CF B – CF UD Ilicitana

UD Rayo Ibense – Benferri CF CD Uni Alicante – CD Thader CF Independiente Alicante – Atheltic Club Torrellano Elitei Project CF – CF Calvari Benidorm Villajoyosa CF – UD Horadada Benidorm CD – CD Murada CD Almoradi – UD Petrelense CF