Battling Monte make a point
FOLLOWING their early season thumping of the Reds, it was time for the big city, big money, title-chasers Torrevieja to visit The Cauldron to further test their championship credentials. And what a feisty, action-packed contest it was, in front of a bumper crowd, swelled by a large, loud Torre contingent.
Straight out of the traps, Torrevieja showed why they are, by all measures, a team full of quality and endeavour, and on a little over 10 minutes the prospects of any Reds result looked doomed when a quick breakaway saw the visitors overload the attack and then slot home with Sergio left stranded. As the massed away support celebrated, a kind of begrudging acceptance washed over the Monte faithful. Perhaps the predictions of a bloodbath were going to be on the mark.
However, the game was turned on its proverbial head, when on 20 minutes, former Monte poster boy, Gonzalo went for an early bath for an off the ball incident that few had spotted. Would the tide now turn, or did Torre have the nous and firepower to hold or even extend their lead?
Perhaps not surprisingly, given the man advantage, Monte grew a little more into the game, but their well-drilled and organised opponents always seemed to be able to cope, and the half that had already seen six yellows and a red card, eventually fizzled out.
Monte, to be honest, had done well without the ref's assistance, to hold Torre to the one goal advantage.
In the second period, the home team continued to plug away at their rival’s stout defences, with little effect. At the other end, the pace and skill of the Torrevieja midfield tested the resolve of the Reds' defence with the excellent Oussama holding fort at the back.
The referee continued to play to the visiting cameras with some, at times, comical decision making and brandishing cards like they were going out of fashion. On the hour, the ref found the excuse to rebalance the game he was obviously looking for, when an innocuous challenge by Dani Sawyer saw him second-yellowed, presumably for a less than complimentary comment on the man in the middle's performance so far. Something that Dani had in common with quite a few in the crowd.
So, now it all looked set for a late Torre resurgence now the numbers were even again, but Monte continued to plug away and a storming breakaway by the ever-present Pato saw his effort cannon off the bar, much to the relief of the Torre keeper and the defenders that he had left trailing in his wake.
Leaving aside the raucous rantings of some Torre supporters, along with the Oscarnomination-seeking antics of some of the visiting team’s players, the contest was starting to come to the boil, as the Reds' belief that they could actually get something from the game was clearly worrying their opponents.
And so it was, that on 80 minutes, a back post corner from the right was met by a charging Girona, classically heading the ball down and hard, making it almost impossible to stop. All level then and, for their honest endeavours, nothing more than Monte deserved.
Despite the mysterious addition of an inordinate amount of extra time and a further flurry of yellows (16 yellow and two reds in a spirited, but by no means dirty game!) by referee, the contest finished honours even.
At the end, the result was celebrated almost like a win for Monte, for whom most pundits had assumed a heavy defeat was on the cards. Maybe this result, and make no mistake it was a result, and the much-improved second half performance, might set CD Montesinos in good stead for the rest of the campaign. Certainly, I'll wager that Torrevieja won't have to face many, much more, difficult and determined adversaries this season.
Vamos Monte!
The man of the match was Girona, selected on behalf of match sponsor Alex Dunn.
On Saturday, February 11 at 17.00, CD Montesinos are away to CF Rafal. Travelling supporters to meet at Bar Rives, Los Montesinos, at 15.30.
Don't forget to take out or renew your Full Monte membership with Mick, any committee member, or by email to thefullmonte2011@hotmail.com, and ask Rob or Jane about the Full Monte merchandise on sale. Contact them on montemerch@outlook.com or through any committee member.
You can always email us at thefullmonte2011@hotmail. com
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The Monte Mentals Walking Football Club of Los Montesinos, and The Cauldron Petanca Club, in association with Torregolf.Eu, are proud supporters of The Full Monte and CD Montesinos.