SANTA POLA HUMILIATE HOPELESS HERC’

Sport » Soccer » Santa Pola CF

Kevin Rendall / 2010-02-07 17:47:22

Make Way - Goalscorer German skips past Rubi

Santa Pola CF 4 - 1 Hercules B
Santa Pola put their recent disappointments behind them with a clinical dissection of Hercules B at the Manolo Macia. Inspired by tormenter-in-chief, midfielder German, the home side barely put a foot wrong and thoroughly deserved their thumping win.

In a one sided first half it’s difficult to say where Hercules B performed worse, attack or defence, Julio had a very comfortable first forty five minutes in goal for Santa Pola as most of the action occurred in and around the visitors penalty area. As early as the fifth minute German served notice of his intentions by picking out Adriano with a raking cross field pass the striker could only shoot against the feet of the onrushing Cristian.

With a fit again Chema in their starting eleven, Santa Pola look a different side, twice the veteran forward outstripped far younger defenders to set up attacks, the second, a surging run from deep inside his own half. Somehow, Hercules stayed level until almost half time, a combination of luck and profligate Santa Pola finishing. On thirty seven minutes though their luck ran out.

Paloma fired in a shot from the edge of the box a Hercules boot sliced clear but only as far as the lurking German, his flat cross was steered in at the far post by a combination of Adriano and Paloma, with the latter claiming the final touch.
Half time 1-0

A brief flurry of Hercules attacks, during which they forced three successive corners, started the second half as Santa Pola easily dealt with the best their guests could muster. From the third of these, Juan cleared to the irrepressible Chema who, from just inside his own half, set off on a mazy run that left a trail of Hercules havoc in his wake. Ignoring German, in space to his left, Chema charged forward at pace, beat the final two defenders and slotted an incredible second for his team.

Less than five minutes later Hercules pulled a goal back, following a weak defensive clearance from Juan, Rubi was allowed time and space to pick his spot which he did with an exquisite curled shot into the top left hand corner. The goal was simply a stay of execution.

Paloma notched his second and Santa Pola’s third with a brilliant strike running on to a pass from man of the match German as the home side threatened to rack up a cricket score. Twice in quick succession goalkeeper Cristian rescued Hercules, denying ‘Pola captain Monsa with his feet and then diving full length to turn a Paloma drive over his bar in spectacular fashion.

Before leaving the field to huge applause, German capped his high energy display with a well earned fourth goal. Pablo split the Hercules defence with a slide rule pass and Santa Pola’s number eight did the rest, drilling the ball beyond a stranded Cristian. Full time 4-1

This was a hugely entertaining match and how nice it is to pay tribute to one of the best refereeing performances of the season so far. Gandia official Gonzalez Ferrando didn’t make a mistake all game, twice play was allowed to develop before yellow cards were issued to miscreants who thought they’d got away with it. In match day twenty two next weekend Hercules B host Benisa while Santa Pola travel to Aspe.

Photos: Mark Welton www.foto23.info