retired_lydiadiebolt

Segunda Liga B – Group 4, Game 14: Cartagena v Lorca

Both sides aren’t happy just to sit back and absorb pressure, as Lorca look to take an early lead in the match with a free kick on a minute that goes wide, and an unmarked Sánchez heading over the bar on 5 minutes. Silva sizzles a shot just wide on 13 minutes as we look to regain control of the game, while SÃ*vori grazes the cross-bar with a long-range effort a moment later. We continue to pile on the pressure, but as per usual, my forwards can’t hit the target and we enter half-time still deadlocked at 0-0 apiece. The second half, however, is much more fruitful for the good guys, as a superb ball down the line from Jordi is perfect for Loreto to run on to. The veteran striker pulls the ball back to the unmarked SÃ*vori, who cannot miss, and we take the lead on 53 minutes. Then we’re eternally grateful to Iñaki who pulls off a superb triple save to deny Lorca an equalizer four minutes later. The match remains on a knife-edge until the last minute of normal time, when substitute Piombo rises highest at the far post to force home Jordi’s superb deep cross to make the game safe. Piombo was brought on as a late substitute for the injured Regi Blinker as I looked to tighten up the midfield – little did I know that he was going to score the game-sealing goal.

Cartagena (4-4-1-1): Iñaki; Alain, Rambier (c), Merino, Conget; Silva, Blinker (Piombo 83), Puig, Jordi; SÃ*vori; Loreto.

Lorca (4-4-2): Rafa; Gurrutxaga, Eloy Pomar, Iñaki Bea, Robles (Rafa Moreno 61); Bomba, Ramos (c) (Perona 72), Xavi Moro, Leo (Xabi Sánchez 72); Mueguin, Jorge Sánchez.

Final score: Cartagena 2:0 Lorca
MoM – Iñaki

retired_lydiadiebolt

5th of December 2004

Segunda Liga B – Group 4, Game 15: Don Benito v Cartagena

Against another club struggling against relegation, it was important that we took home three points today. Fortunately, Puig was there to give us a great early start when on 2 minutes he took his shot from about 30 yards and saw the Don Benito keeper fumble it into the back of the net. Poor play in the Don Benito defensive third allowed SÃ*vori to take control of the ball, and he fed Loreto. The veteran striker took a step to steady himself then calmly slotted the ball in the far corner to double our advantage on 22 minutes. We added a third goal on 73 minutes when Nando Sanz’s corner was poorly punched by the Don Benito keeper. The ball ended up with Jordi, who twisted this way and that before putting a shot into the back of the Don Benito net. A satisfying 3-0 win to Cartagena.

Don Benito (4-4-2): Febles; Guirado, Jorge (c), Negredo, Santana; Bernal (Cobos 45), Soler (Navarro 42), CoscollÃ*, Serrano; Pedro Carrión (Vázquez 73), Teo.

Cartagena (4-4-1-1): Iñaki; Alain, Rambier (c), Merino, Conget; Silva, Piombo, Puig, Jordi; SÃ*vori (Nando Sanz 71); Loreto.

Final score: Don Benito 0:3 Cartagena
MoM – Loreto

The victory pushes us into fifth place, just two points below fourth-placed Sevilla B, and a position in the play-off places.

6th of December 2004

I persuade Benidorm to take López, a central defender, off our books for the princely sum of £4,000. He is only paid £75 per week, so it won’t relieve the wage pressures very much, but it’s a start.

retired_lydiadiebolt

9th of December 2004

Héctor, a fairly useless centre forward, will leave this club in six days time as he joins Orihuela for £1,000. That’s another £75 per week off the club’s books.

10th of December 2004

We gain an opportunity to consolidate fifth place after top-placed Ceuta defeats Badajoz 3-1 on television. Badajoz are equal with us on 25 points, but we now have a game in hand, although we face a difficult trip to third-placed Jaén tomorrow. However, it’s these types of games that we need to win if we are to get into a play-off position by the end of the season. Hopefully, that will be enough motivation for the boys to come out tomorrow with victory in their sights.

11th of December 2004

Segunda Liga B – Group 4, Game 16: Jaén v Cartagena

Well, it wasn’t going to be. In the end, Jaén proved to be the better side and while our boys battled hard, they controlled our forwards and pretty much ran the game at their tempo. Still, I was proud of the sterling effort my defenders put in today. They really stuck to their tasks and made it very difficult in unpleasant conditions for the home players to fashion clear cut opportunities. However, our resistance finally broke on 83 minutes when Iñaki’s poor kick was coolly headed back into the danger area, where Sergio Cruz, taking advantage of our defenders being out of position, took a shot from the edge of the penalty box and beat Iñaki. We still have a way to go before we can properly consider ourselves a chance for promotion this season, I think.

Jaén (4-5-1): Jacobo; Galera, Carlos GarcÃ*a, Cidoncha (c), Dani (Pana 48); Dani Marcos, Navarro, Mostovoy (Gallo 75), Márquez, Turner (Óscar 45); Sergio Cruz.

Cartagena (4-4-1-1): Iñaki; Alain, Rambier (c), Merino, Conget; Silva, Piombo, Puig, Isach; SÃ*vori; Loreto.

Final score: Jaén 1:0 Cartagena
MoM – Pana

12th of December 2004

As a result of our loss, which ends a run of ten games unbeaten, we drop to seventh, three points off fourth place.

15th of December 2004

The transfer window opens. Héctor and López leave the club, and we bank £5,000. Héctor (23 y/o, ESP, S C): 0 apps; López (21 y/o, ESP, D C)

Kali Ongala joins the club for £1,000, but the deal to bring Rafa Moreno to the club falls through after it turns out that despite my best negotiating, we still cannot afford his transfer fee.

Signing off for now!
Dixie Flatline

retired_xs2khizar

Dixie :cool:

I was a huge fan of your previous Cartagena tale(s) so I'm very happy to see this again. Long may it continue. Best of luck :thup:

retired_lydiadiebolt

You're welcome, on all counts!

Hopefully the old Cartagonova story isn't just buried yet, too, if I can give you a hint.

retired_embartl

Hooray! Just another 50 odd pages to go eh Dixie?

Nice start, looks like the goals are beginning to arrive now after a plethora of draws. Hope this Ongala fella proves to be that striker you need :thup:

retired_lydiadiebolt

That's right. We'll see how far we get before I get sacked!


Thank you. Hopefully the last loss won't set us back too far. This story is up to date where I am in the game, so I honestly don't know how Ongala will turn out yet. Bit bummed on missing out on a right back, though.

retired_jgirl87

Good start, Dixie. I'll join in early on this one so that I can keep up with the goings-on in Cartagena. It will beat trying to read all those pages in a month or two's time.

retired_lydiadiebolt

Thanks, spav! I hope you continue to enjoy what happens at Cartagena! :thup:

retired_lydiadiebolt

Let's have a bit more from Cartagena, shall we?

17th of December 2004

Paulo Trobbiani is back in full training after recovering from his groin injury, but is a long way off full match fitness.

[b]19th of December 2004[/B}

Segunda Liga B – Group 4, Game 17: Cartagena v Linares

It is seventh (us) versus sixth (Linares) and it’s a good opportunity to climb a spot or two on the ladder. But again, our poor finishing in front of goal, combined with another goalkeeper who plays a blinder, denies us taking three points home today. To be fair, Iñaki also played exceptionally well, and Linares could feel a little aggrieved they didn’t triumph this afternoon. Both sides fashioned good chances with good midfield performances, but unfortunately neither side was capable of finishing. Ongala came on as a substitute in the 64th minute for the ineffective Loreto, but while he looks lively, he couldn’t find the back of the net on his debut.

Cartagena (4-4-1-1): Iñaki; Alain, Rambier (c), Merino, Conget; Silva, Piombo, Puig, Isach; SÃ*vori; Loreto (Ongala 64).

Linares (4-4-2): Basauri; Corveró, Chico (c), Marcos Suárez, Cociancich; Ortiz, Puché, �lex (Sergio 66), Martin Tártare; Dani Bouzas (Nacho Aznar 77), Moncho (Bordi 77).

Final score: Cartagena 0:0 Linares
MoM – Garikoitz Basauri