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ELCHE ECSTASY!!!

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John McGregor / 2010-03-07 18:40:03

Elche  2 Hercules 0 ... If nothing else exciting or meaningful happens to Elche this season, this dramatic result says it all. In the same fixture back in October at Hercules’ Rico Perez stadium in Alicante, the home side’s resounding 3- 0 win meant the sack for Elche’s popular coach Claudio, so serious is it seen to abjectly lose to your local rivals, the league-leading deadly rivals Hercules.

This defeat will not precipitate the same fate to Hercules coach, but do not be in any doubt – Elche richly deserved this prestigious win.

In a surprise reshuffle at the back, after only conceding three goals in six games Illicitano’s coach Claudio brought back Tena in the middle of the back alongside Samuel, and also new boy Ripa at left back for Raul Fuster. Acciairi, having signed a new two year contract this week lined up with ‘El Loco’ Wakaso, Usero, Saul and Juli in a strong midfield, and upfront? Yes, at last our mighty Molina, Elche’s eleven goal hero returned earlier than expected from injury, no place for poor tireless workhorse Trejo who has manfully shouldered the burden in Molina’s absence.

Elche’s huge Martinez Valero stadium was buzzing as noon approached, with the car park full of Alicantino coaches as befits a team at the top of the league aiming for La Liga. With 18,704 deeply partisan and very noisy aficionados inside , the atmosphere was electric, upper and lower tiers used for the first time this season. For Hercules an early diving header from Delibasic was pushed past the post by Captain Caballero in Elche’s goal, but after but only sixteen minutes the Illicitanos were ahead.

With his strong back close in to goal Molina firmly held off his marker, and laid the ball off perfectly to Saul whose low hard cross was met unopposed at the far post by Usero to put Elche 1 – 0 up. A terrific start for the home side, and not one that could have been expected by many. Now – where were the league leaders? Surely they wouldn’t take this lying down?

It was Elche who continued the first half in the ascendancy, with Juli clear through on the half-hour, only goalkeeper Calatayud rushing from his line just in time to smother the shot. Wakaso was cruelly chopped down in full flight as he flew down the left wing, as the Hercules frustration began to show with bookings for the visitors. But on thirty-seven minutes – cometh the hour, cometh the man.

Saul fed Juli who cut in from the right touchline, delaying his pinpoint pass to the far post until the last minute. There top gun Molina was on hand to crash the ball into the net for Elche’s second. Wow, you couldn’t make it up! 2 - 0 against the great Hercules! Man mountain Molina held it up again, this time for Wakaso to shoot wide (he couldn’t hit a barn door if the truth be known) but Elche went into the interval in the driving seat, and it has to be said – well worth their lead!

Only two minutes into the second half and a Juli – Molina – Usero move ended with the latter’s shot just past the post. Hercules did have the ball in the net from a Delibasic header following a free kick , but it was rightly disallowed, it was miles offside. Willy Caballero is back to his imperious best for Elche and put in a tremendous second half performance with his speed off his line and power in the air. It was the Franjiverdes who looked more likely to score more as the second half wore on, Molina missing a great opportunity for a third when put through by Saul.

The ever-wayward Wakaso was booked, again, as usual, we all held our breath, but it wasn’t a bad one; in fact for a local derby as important as this, the game was played in a good spirit, three minor bookings for each side. Coach Jose Bordelas was confident enough to boldly take off Saul and put on Trejo on 67 minutes, although shortly after Molina went off for Raul Fuster to a terrific cheer: it is great to see him back, how Elche have missed his powerful leadership upfront - and his goals!

The Herculean bandwagon we have observed from our palm trees with envy this season just never got going, but you can only play as well as the opposition lets you. The Illicitanos never gave their table-topping neighbours room to breath, the home defence was superb, all five including Willy deserving praise: Tena was terrific in the middle and perhaps Elche have found a star in Ripa at left back.

The hard-working Elche midfield dominated the game, but it was a terrific all-round performance This moves the Illicitanos up to eighth with this richly-deserved win. In yet another local six pointer next week Elche are away to Villareal ‘B’, one pace ahead. But for the moment in our province it is bragging rights this week to Elche – and the Illicitanos deserve ‘em!

Mucho Elche!  

Photos Mark Welton www.foto23.info