retired_lydiadiebolt

29th of January 2005

Segunda Liga – Game 24: Cartagena v Salamanca

I’m forced to make several changes to the starting eleven, with Iñaki, Corino and Godino all unavailable through injury. Yepes, Merino and Azkoitia step up to the first eleven. We begin the match strongly, matching Salamanca for endeavour and outplaying them in terms of creativity, as we force three corners in quick succession, but we are unfortunate not to make better use of them. The first goal arrives on 32 minutes thanks to a brilliant, defence-splitting pass from Conget, which finds the excellent run of SÃ*vori. The forward coolly holds off his marker, rounds the Salamanca keeper and slots the ball in the net. :thup: With ex-Cartagena player Trobbiani booed by the home crowd every time he touches the ball, Salamanca probe for an opening to restore parity. Finally, they find a way late in the game when Lusarreta plays the ball through to Deus, who fends off Merino and slides the ball into the far corner of Yepes’ net.

At this point, I’m thinking to myself that at least we’ll pick up a point. But I did not reckon upon the contribution of the veteran striker Fran Nogueira, on for the tiring Kaviedes. He turns the game around on 89 minutes when he collects Conget’s excellent cross-field pass and calmly puts the ball past the keeper at his near post. Then, with just seconds remaining, MÃ*chel knocks a pass down the line for Nogueira to pick up. He cuts inside the Salamanca defender and blasts a shot into the top of the net to make it 3-1 and the points safe! :thup: A great game from ‘super-sub’ Nogueira!

Cartagena (4-1-3-2): Yepes; Alain, Cazzola, Merino, Carlos; Guardiola; MÃ*chel, Azkoitia, Conget (c); Kaviedes (Nogueira 68), SÃ*vori.

Salamanca (4-1-2-1-2): Ricardo; Lusarreta, Aurelio (c), Carlos Casquero, Gañán; Redero (Markel 62); David Cano (Amieva 62), Trobbiani; Oskitz; Hornos (Deus 72), Raúl Sanchez.

Final score: Cartagena 3:1 Salamanca
MoM – MÃ*chel

Unsurprisingly, the Board of Directors of Cartagena is delighted with the result, which pushes us into the giddy heights of twelfth place on the ladder, six points clear of the relegation zone and eight points behind third-placed Pontevedra.

30th of January 2005

Not unsurprisingly, MÃ*chel and Nogueira are named in the Segunda Liga Team of the Week.

retired_lydiadiebolt

1st of February 2006

Cartagena signs Colombian international midfielder Javier Araújo. Again, he is a non-EU citizen, which means I now have four non-EU citizens in my overall squad. I decide to leave out Chaurant of the squad for the time being and include Araújo. It’s tough luck on Chaurant, but I need Kaviedes in the squad for the time being, and Araújo looks the better player. So much so that his current value exceeds his minimum release fee, so I hurriedly move to re-negotiate Araújo’s contract before anybody else catches wind of this and buys him from underneath my nose at a bargain price.

5th of February 2006

Five players are called up from Cartagena to international squads. They are Javier Araújo (Colombia), Oswaldo Chaurant (Venezuela), Kali Ongala (The Congo), Sipho Nunens (South Africa) and Iván Kaviedes (Ecuador).

Segunda Liga – Game 25: Cartagena v Xerez

We throw away an opportunity to score another victory as Xerez pull back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 by the end of the game. SÃ*vori scored both goals to take his season tally to five. The first came on 9 minutes when Alain’s cross was missed by the Xerez defender and unmarked SÃ*vori easily scored. His second goal came on 39 minutes when he was allowed too much time and space inside the Xerez box to control Conget’s cross and fire it past the Xerez’s keeper. Two goals up, you’d think we’d cruise towards a comfortable victory, but our defence loses concentration crucially three minutes later, and a free kick is given away needlessly within range of Dani PendÃ*n, who blasts a free kick from 25 yards into the far corner of Yepes’ net. Then, Xerez score the equalizer when our defence is pulled out of shape, Yepes deflects David Alonso’s shot away but it falls into the path of Pineda and he taps it in to level the scores on 79 minutes.

Cartagena (4-1-3-2): Yepes; Alain, Cazzola, Merino, Carlos; Guardiola; MÃ*chel (De Pedro 69), Godino, Conget (c); Kaviedes (Nogueira 69), SÃ*vori.

Xerez (4-4-2): Alberto; Bertin, Cañas, Franz, Cristante (Cordero 59); Slovak, Dani PendÃ*n (c), Quiñónez (Rios 57), Camuñas; Pineda, Mena (Alejo 57).

Final score: Cartagena 2:2 Xerez
MoM – SÃ*vori

11th of February 2006

Segunda Liga – Game 26: Murcia v Cartagena

A derby game, but Murcia are much higher on the ladder than we are and with so many of my first team regulars missing, I’m not surprised to see us go down 3-0 losers, ending an unbeaten run of 10 games. Tomás did the damage to us, scoring two goals in the space of 3 minutes on 35 and 38 minutes. The first was a bullet header past Iñaki from Karanka’s cross. The second was the exact duplicate, though this time it came from Alonso’s cross. His late runs into the box had cost us two goals and basically any chance of taking anything from this game, as my forwards were well marshaled by the Murcia defence. Just on 71 minutes, Alonso applied the icing on the cake when he out-bustled Rafa Moreno and forced the ball past Iñaki to score Murcia’s third goal of the game. To compound my problems, I lost De Pedro to an injury late in the game and he joins my ever-growing injury list.

Murcia (4-1-2-1-2): Olave; Javi Prats (Platero 62), Cuadrado, Maciel, Juanma; Natxo (Figueroa 62); Tomás, Pulido (c); Richi; Iván Alonso, Karanka (Tato 71).

Cartagena (4-1-3-2): Iñaki (c); Alain, Cazzola, Merino, Rafa Moreno; Guardiola (Araújo 59); De Pedro (Ongala 87), Godino, Conget; Nogueira, SÃ*vori.

Final score: Murcia 3:0 Cartagena
MoM – Tomás

retired_lydiadiebolt

15th of February 2006

Segunda Liga – Game 27: Cartagena v Real Madrid B

Unsurprisingly, we also lose this game, thanks to a ninth minute strike from Juan Sebastián Verón, who is played on-side by Alain and Cazzola yet is left unmarked inside our penalty area. We try our hardest, but Real Madrid B is a cut above us and deservedly take the three points today.

Cartagena (4-1-3-2): Iñaki (c); Alain, Cazzola, Corino, Carlos; Guardiola (Jordi 45); Araújo, Godino, Conget; Nogueira (Kaviedes 75), SÃ*vori (Ongala 75).

Real Madrid B (4-2-2-2): DÃ*ego López; Palencia (Robles 45), Duque, Rubén, Arbeloa; Meléndez, Soldo (c); Verón (VÃ*ctor 61), Adrián (Juanfran 45); Portillo, Adrián.

Final score: Cartagena 0:1 Real Madrid B
MoM – �lvaro Arbeloa

16th of February 2006

A piece of good news as I persuade ex-Danish international defender Thomas Gaardsøe to leave England and come to Spain and specifically Cartagena. The 26 year old defender, currently playing for West Bromwich Albion in the Championship, is a tough, strong, powerful defender. Furthermore, he’s willing to take a substantial pay cut to come to Cartagena.

19th of February 2006

Segunda Liga – Game 28: Sporting Gijón v Cartagena

Sporting are the better side on the day, but desperate defending and excellent goalkeeping from Iñaki preserves the goalless draw throughout the 90 minutes. It’s becoming clear to me that without MÃ*chel we don’t seem to have a lot of creativity through midfield, and the lack of his influence was clear to see as we struggled to create any chances for the strikers. Sporting, on the other hand, had no such problem – their issue was finishing. This game isn’t one for the memory banks.

Sporting Gijón (4-4-2): Roberto; Supasepa (Lombardo 61), Ivisson (Alberto 61), Christian DÃ*az, Sastre; Juan (c), Samuel, Dani Borreguero, Pablo Ã�lvarez; Calandria (Ã�lvaro 71), Ismael.

Cartagena (4-1-3-2): Iñaki (c); Alain (Rafa Moreno 24), Cazzola, Corino, Carlos; Conget; Araújo, Ongala, Godino (Jordi 63); Nogueira (Kaviedes 80), SÃ*vori.

Final score: Sporting Gijón 0:0 Cartagena
MoM – Pablo �lvarez

20th of February 2006

Sergio Corino is named in the Segunda Liga Team of the Week for his excellent effort against Sporting.

Alain was forced out of the last game on 24 minutes after fracturing his ribs. He will miss a month. I admit to the media that his loss is a blow, but I’m confident that we have the cover to replace him for that time. Rafa Moreno in particular will need to step up.

25th of February 2006

I’m pleased to announce another Bosman free transfer, with Palermo striker Davide Matteini agreeing to join Cartagena from 1st of August 2006. The striker, currently on loan to Serie B club Foggia, has caught the eye of both my scouts and myself and I was keen on bringing him to the club earlier than the end of the season. However, we couldn’t agree a fee so I let the matter rest for a while. Palermo aren’t particularly keen to keep him at the club and he was willing to join on relatively cheap terms.

The manager of our next opponent, relegation battler Extremadura, tells the media he is confident of beating my club at our home. I decide to give Ciski, the manager, a back-handed comment, telling the media that while others might think Ciski is useless, I believe he is competent enough.

retired_lydiadiebolt

26th of February 2006

Ciski decides that he will be friendly towards me and comments in the match preview published in La Marça that he thinks I’m doing a sterling job at Cartagena and the fans were lucky to have me.

We’ve had the wood over Extremadura in our three meetings to date, with two wins and a draw. Let’s hope this form continues and we can put ourselves back amongst the winners.

Segunda Liga – Game 29: Cartagena v Extremadura

As I suspected, bringing MÃ*chel back gives us a spark of creativity that has been sorely lacking in his absence. His vision creates the first goal on 43 minutes when he accepts Rafa Moreno’s short throw-in, swivels on the ball and fires the ball low across the teeth of Extremadura’s goal, where SÃ*vori is eagerly awaiting to knock it past the Extremadura keeper! However, Extremadura hit back when veteran Brazilian striker Adhemar judges Salas’ cross best and heads it past Iñaki on 49 minutes. But we reclaim the lead on 69 minutes when Kaviedes plays a brilliant ball through the defence for the advantage of SÃ*vori, and the forward doesn’t miss too many of those. The last 20 minutes see a titanic struggle as Extremadura refuse to concede defeat and we strive to kill the match off with a third goal. However, neither side scores again and we run out 2-1 winners. The only downside is an injury to substitute striker Fran Nogueira which he sustained only moments after coming on to replace Kaviedes.

Cartagena (4-1-3-2): Iñaki (c); Rafa Moreno, Cazzola, Corino, Carlos; Guardiola; MÃ*chel, Godino, Araújo; Kaviedes (Nogueira 70 (Ortiz 75)), SÃ*vori.

Extremadura (4-4-2): Pata; Ruiz, Gámiz, Luis Manuel, Robles; Gaizka (Salas 45), Marco (c), Rivera (Soler 63), Simeón; Adhemar (Roberto 70), Pavone.

Final score: Cartagena 2:1 Extremadura
MoM – Pata

The victory pushes us back into twelfth place on the ladder, six points clear of relegation and 15 points short of promotion.

SÃ*vori now becomes our leading goalscorer of the campaign, with seven goals to his name.

Nogueira suffered a damaged elbow and will miss a week.

27th of February 2006

Sergio Corino is making a habit of this – again, he is named in the Segunda Liga Team of the Week. That’s four times in six weeks!

I persuade Guardiola to sign a contract extension that will keep the veteran midfielder at the club until the end of the 2007 season.

retired_lydiadiebolt

5th of March 2006

Segunda Liga – Game 30: Pontevedra v Cartagena

Pontevedra need a win to keep their promotion hopes alive and they get their wish with a comfortable 2-0 win over my mob. To be truthful, Pontevedra looks the classier side and with six shots on target compared to our three, they make the better chances. Iñaki is left stranded when his parry from a shot falls nicely for Cabrera to pass off to the better positioned Calle, and he makes no mistake from five yards on 38 minutes. Calle causes us problems on 61 minutes when he runs into the box and fires a drive at Iñaki. Patri is on hand to turn in the rebound, getting to the ball ahead of Cazzola. :thdn:

Pontevedra (4-4-2): Moso; Neretljak, Peña, Frassetto, Pedro MartÃ*; Cabrera (Jaime 72), Salcedo (Casablanca 72), Pepelu (c), PadÃ*n (Xaco 81); Calle, Patri.

Cartagena (4-1-3-2): Iñaki (c); Rafa Moreno (Juanmi 63), Cazzola, Corino, Carlos; Guardiola; MÃ*chel, Godino, Araújo (Conget 63); Kaviedes (Nacho GarcÃ*a 63), SÃ*vori.

Final score: Pontevedra 2:0 Cartagena
MoM – Calle

6th of March 2006

I dish out an official warning to Rafa Moreno for his poor performance. He doesn’t take it well. I’m going to drop him in favour of Juanmi for our next match against Ejido.

Sipho Nunens’ patience is beginning to wear thin at not playing regular football, particularly as he is now a South African international, and he tells La Marça so. I’m sympathetic with the midfielder’s plight, but at this stage of the season, I believe my two non-EU citizen slots on the roster can be better filled by Araújo and Kaviedes.

12th of March 2006

Segunda Liga – Game 31: Cartagena v Ejido

As promised, Rafa Moreno is dropped in favour of Juanmi. Godino is suspended for this game, so Conget comes in on the right of a three-man midfield, with Araújo shifting into the centre. Kaviedes is injured and is replaced by Nacho GarcÃ*a.

The match begins poorly for us when Ejido’s midfielders waltz through our defence and tee up an easy opportunity for Sabino to score on 28 minutes. However, in the second half, the match changes complexion as Araújo finds his confidence to run at defenders with the ball at his feet. We equalize on 55 minutes when Corino cuts out a long ball and feeds it to SÃ*vori. The forward cleverly draws several Ejido defenders to him, freeing Nacho GarcÃ*a. The ball is passed to the striker and he uses the space and time effectively to drill an unstoppable shot into the back of the net!

Then on 74 minutes we take the lead when again we strip Ejido of the ball. Nacho GarcÃ*a and Conget put the ball in SÃ*vori’s path, and he sees the unmarked Araújo rushing towards goal. Araújo commands the ball be played to his feet and SÃ*vori obliges. The Colombian international dances his way into the box and lets fly with a powerful drive that leaves the Ejido keeper with no opportunity! We make the points safe a couple of minutes later when Ejido fail to adequately deal with a Guardiola corner, Carlos picks out the run of SÃ*vori, who feeds the ball across the Ejido penalty area for Araújo to blast goalwards. The Ejido keeper does well to get a hand to the shot, but it deflects into the path of Nacho GarcÃ*a and he makes no mistake from 6 yards! :thup: With my defenders probably playing their best game of the season, Ejido have no chance of staging a revival, and the match statistics of 14 on-target shots to two by Ejido tell a story in themselves! :cool:

Cartagena (4-1-3-2): Iñaki (c); Juanmi, Cazzola, Corino, Carlos; Guardiola; MÃ*chel, Araújo, Conget; Nacho GarcÃ*a, SÃ*vori.

Ejido (4-4-2): Kike; Javi Paredes (Llorens 21), Pedro, Urbano (Kirian 69), Pineda; Vellisca, VÃ*ctor Salas, MartÃ* (c), Sierra; Toedtli, Sabino (Vucko 69).

Final score: Cartagena 3:1 Ejido
MoM – Javier Araújo

Understandably, the Board is delighted with the win over a top four side – indeed, since Real Madrid B cannot be promoted, Ejido is in line for promotion at the end of the season.

retired_lydiadiebolt

16th of March 2006

We have a season-high three players in the Segunda Liga Team of the Week: Sergio Corino, MÃ*chel and Javier Araújo.

19th of March 2006

Segunda Liga – Game 32: Cartagena v AlmerÃ*a

A single goal settles this game, in our favour, as Nacho GarcÃ*a scores a goal on 21 minutes when he is given too much space and time by the AlmerÃ*a defence to place his shot from Araújo’s pass. In total, we fashion 14 shots at AlmerÃ*a’s goal, but only three on target, while AlmerÃ*a conjure up 9 shots at our goal, but again with only three on target. However, this is a much more satisfying result than being on the receiving end of a hiding like we were the last time we played AlmerÃ*a.

Cartagena (4-1-3-2): Iñaki (c); Rafa Moreno, Cazzola, Corino, Carlos; Conget; MÃ*chel, Araújo, Jordi; Nacho GarcÃ*a (Ongala 90), SÃ*vori.

AlmerÃ*a (4-5-1): Ceballos; Manel (Acasiete 23), Soria, Rebosio, Galván (Gálcã 63); Ibon Begoña, Guié-Mien (Cervián 63), Jamelli, Lozano, Juanma; Ortiz (c).

Final score: Cartagena 1:0 AlmerÃ*a
MoM – Jamelli

The victory pushes us into a season-high eleventh place, and we’re now 11 points clear of the relegation zone with ten games to play.

retired_lydiadiebolt

20th of March 2006

Sergio Corino and MÃ*chel are named in the Segunda Liga Team of the Week.

26th of March 2006

Segunda Liga – Game 33: Cartagena v Málaga

I’m excited to see us take the lead with a nicely crafted goal from SÃ*vori on 9 minutes who actually manages to head Jordi’s cross home – it’s not often that SÃ*vori scores a goal with his head. :thup: We last until half-time and actually look the better side, but my counterpart must have launched a rocket in the visitor’s dressing room as they come after us with everything they have in the second half. The equalizer comes on 56 minutes when the dangerous Basti slips his marker and fires a shot at Iñaki, who proceeds to fumble the ball over the line. I’d settle for a point against the league leaders, but a coast to coast move on 64 minutes sees Basti give Cazzola the runaround before slipping the ball inside Iñaki’s near post. Two bad errors from my goalkeeper and captain result in us going behind. Then on 85 minutes, Alex Geijo finds himself matched by Carlos and Carlos has no chance of clearing ex-Cartagena player Carlos Isach’s cross and Geijo comfortably nods it home to cap off the comeback.

I’m not particularly pleased with the efforts of my defenders today.

Cartagena (4-1-3-2): Iñaki (c); Rafa Moreno, Cazzola, Corino, Carlos; Conget; MÃ*chel, Araújo (Ongala 69), Jordi; Nacho GarcÃ*a (Kaviedes 88), SÃ*vori.

Málaga (4-4-2): Calatayud; Valcarce, Juanito, Fernando Sanz, EvanÃ*lson; Duda (Edgar 57), Miguel Ã�ngel, Romero (c), Manu (Isach 60); Wanchope (Geijo 57), Basti.

Final score: Cartagena 1:3 Málaga
MoM – Kléber Marcelo Romero

We drop back a spot to twelfth.

2nd of April 2006

Segunda Liga – Game 34: Elche v Cartagena

Finishing was the difference in this game, as we had only two shots on target but scored two goals, while Elche had nine shots on target but did not score. Our goals did not come until late in the second half. First, SÃ*vori benefited from a clever ball played by Araújo, fended off his markers just long enough and slid the ball between the legs of the Elche keeper on 76 minutes. Secondly, despite close attention being paid to him, Araújo accepted Conget’s low cross and belted it past the Elche keeper on 86 minutes. Clinical, efficient finishing by both players gains us three invaluable points.

Elche (4-4-2): Unanua; Marc, Unai, Benja (c), Txiki (Sergio 61); Rubén (Gil 72), Iriney, Kiko Torres, ElÃ*as (Zárate 61); Nino, Peragón.

Cartagena (4-1-3-2): Iñaki (c); Alain, Cazzola, Corino, Carlos; Guardiola; MÃ*chel, Araújo, Conget; Nacho GarcÃ*a, SÃ*vori.

Final score: Elche 0:2 Cartagena
MoM – Iñaki

The only downside to the victory is that Cazzola picked up his fifth yellow card for the season and will miss our next game, away to Mallorca B.

The Board is pleased with the result.

We go back into eleventh position on the league ladder.

retired_lydiadiebolt

3rd of April 2006

Iñaki and Sergio Corino are named in the Segunda Liga Team of the Week.

9th of April 2006

Segunda Liga – Game 35: Mallorca B v Cartagena

We play possibly the best first half of football under my stewardship against the hapless Mallorca B. By half-time, we lead 5-1, with SÃ*vori claiming a hat-trick and Araújo a brace! :cool: The carnage begins on 8 minutes when comical defending by Mallorca B allows SÃ*vori in to smack the ball past the stranded keeper. I had a chuckle at the sight of the Mallorca B defenders desperately trying to clear the ball only for SÃ*vori to waltz in and bang the ball home. :thup: Five minutes later, Araújo passes the ball neatly for Nacho GarcÃ*a to have a shot, only for it to bounce back off the post. However, Araújo is on hand to tuck home the rebound. On 21 minutes, Guardiola rips the ball off Luciano and feeds Nacho GarcÃ*a, who squares the ball to Conget on the right. The vice-captain lofts a cross into the box where the unmarked Araújo is on hand to volley it past the Mallorca B keeper to make it 3-0. Then on 38 minutes, Guardiola finds SÃ*vori unmarked on the edge of the box from a corner and SÃ*vori strolls in before planting it beyond the Mallorca B keeper. A moment before half-time, Mallorca B spoil our party when Javi prods home Francis’ free kick, but straight from kick-off, we have our revenge when Conget finds SÃ*vori lurking on the edge of the box and the forward makes no mistake!

The second half is a more sedate affair, although Mallorca B squander a penalty on 63 minutes when Alfageme fires it wide of the post. I bring on Kaviedes and Godino as substitutes, and it is the former who is instrumental in SÃ*vori’s fourth goal of the game. Kaviedes dribbles his way through the Mallorca B defence before shooting at goal. The keeper palms it away but it falls straight at SÃ*vori’s feet and he cannot miss. We end the game, finishing 6-1 up, which is a great boost for our goal difference.

Mallorca B (4-4-2): Cabrero; José, Camacho (c), Rafita (Dani González 45), Iván; Javi Moreno, Francis, Fran (Cheche 45), Javi; Luciano (Pi 62), Alfageme.

Cartagena (4-1-3-2): Iñaki (c); Alain, Merino, Corino, Carlos; Guardiola; MÃ*chel, Araújo, Conget (Godino 71); Nacho GarcÃ*a (Kaviedes 71), SÃ*vori.

Final score: Mallorca B 1:6 Cartagena
MoM – SÃ*vori

10th of April 2006

Unsurprisingly, five players from Cartagena are named in the Segunda Liga Team of the Week: Sergio Corino, MÃ*chel, Eduardo Conget, Javier Araújo and SÃ*vori.

19th of April 2006

Quite a gap to our next game, which is at home against Ferrol.

Segunda Liga – Game 36: Cartagena v Ferrol

Again, a single goal decides this game, in our favour. Nacho GarcÃ*a receives the ball from Javier Araújo and runs at the Ferrol defence, causing them no end of heart palpitations, as it should, because our striker calmly puts the ball into the far corner of the Ferrol net. Ferrol miss a gilt-edged opportunity to equalize with the last kick of the game, as the ball ends up on the wrong side of the net with substitute keeper Yepes looking on, praying frantically that it won’t creep into his net. But we basically control the game and deserve to win.

Cartagena (4-1-3-2): Iñaki (c) (Yepes 89); Alain (Rafa Moreno 66), Merino, Corino, Carlos; Guardiola; MÃ*chel, Araújo, Conget; Nacho GarcÃ*a, SÃ*vori.

Ferrol (4-4-2): Diego; Iznata (Moreno 64), Santana, Alberto, Vosahlo; Solabarrieta (Andrés 70), Alaña (Cobas 64), Ba****i, Carlos; Jandro, Mario Bermejo.

Final score: Cartagena 1:0 Ferrol
MoM – MÃ*chel

The win comes at a price, with Iñaki deeply bruising a thigh and Sergio Corino straining a wrist. Both are in doubt for our next game on the weekend.

However, it lifts us into tenth position on the ladder, our highest position to date, with a record of 13 wins, 12 draws and 11 losses for the season, and a goal difference of -6.

retired_lydiadiebolt

22nd of April 2006

Málaga secures promotion to the Primera Liga this afternoon after lowly Numancia defeats Real Madrid B 1-0 in Soria.

23rd of April 2006

Segunda Liga – Game 37: Ciudad de Murcia v Cartagena

Another derby game, but one we should win, as our opponent sits nineteenth and in danger of relegation. We dominate proceedings but poor finishing and excellent keeping means we only win the game 1-0. SÃ*vori breaks clear of the defence after accepting the pass from Araújo and runs at the Ciudad de Murcia defence, dragging two defenders with him. Araújo is in clean air and accepts SÃ*vori’s pass on the edge of the area. The Colombian then coolly slots the ball home. With eleven on-target shots for the game, we really should have had more goals, but that is our third win on the bounce and a satisfying result.

Ciudad de Murcia (4-4-2): Miki; Jesule, Córdoba, Amaya, Sergio Ramos; Aguilar (c) (Ferrón 73), Gibanel, Quino, Rivero (Arturo 63); Cuevas, Birchall (Borrell 63).

Cartagena (4-1-3-2): Iñaki (c); Alain, Merino, Cazzola, Carlos; Guardiola; MÃ*chel, Araújo, Conget (Godino 45); Nacho GarcÃ*a, SÃ*vori.

Final score: Ciudad de Murcia 0:1 Cartagena
MoM – Javier Araújo

The win pushes us up to the dizzying heights of ninth place with 37 games completed.

Málaga is crowned the Segunda Liga champion, with 84 points from a possible 108 (so far).

As the victory today was over a local rival, the Board is again pleased with the result.

Another Bosman free transfer will join the club in the summer, bringing the number of new players to 11 overall (all Bosman free transfers, too). West Ham sweeper Hayden Mullins is the latest to agree to come to the club.

24th of April 2006

MÃ*chel and Javier Araújo are named in the Segunda Liga Team of the Week.

retired_lydiadiebolt

30th of April 2006

Segunda Liga – Game 38: Cartagena v Real Vallodolid

This ends up being a somewhat understated match where the points are shared. We take the lead on 12 minutes when SÃ*vori is left unmarked at the edge of the area at a corner, Guardiola finds him and SÃ*vori does the rest. But on 18 minutes, Guardiola plays a poor ball to his defenders, and the Real Vallodolid forwards pressure my defence into going the backpass route. Iñaki isn’t the best player with the ball at his feet and the pressure is on. Merino manages to clear the ball once, but it goes to a Real Vallodolid player, who plays in their key striker, VÃ*ctor, and he scores at the near post on 19 minutes. After that, not much else happened.

Cartagena (4-1-3-2): Iñaki (c); Alain, Merino, Cazzola, Carlos (Rafa Moreno 74); Guardiola; MÃ*chel, Araújo, Conget; Nacho GarcÃ*a (Kaviedes 83), SÃ*vori.

Real Vallodolid (4-5-1): Barreto; Marcos, Boris (Mateo 60), Borja, Cristian Ã�lvarez; Camacho, Nando, Sousa, Javi Jiménez (c), Chema (Richetti 60); VÃ*ctor (Aduriz 72).

Final score: Cartagena 1:1 Real Vallodolid
MoM – SÃ*vori

We stay ninth and with four games to play in the season, we sit 19 points clear of relegation, which means that we are safe for this season. Surprisingly, we are only 12 points behind third-placed Racing Santander, but we would need to win every game and every club above us (including Racing Santander) must lose every game for us to creep into the third promotion spot. It’s not going to happen this season.

For some reason, the papers are beginning to criticize my selection of Guardiola, saying that the best is behind him and I should look to younger players in my squad. I’m personally very happy with Guardiola’s contribution in the half-season he has played for us and I think a little bit of gratitude should be shown.

2nd of May 2006

My public defence of Guardiola is reflected in the supporters’ collective opinion, as a report appears in the local newspaper saying that the fans are loving every moment of his recent performances.