La Recia look to add to Algeciras woes.

Preview Real Balompédica Linense v Algeciras C.F.

Sunday 19^th September 2021 – 17:00

Primera RFEF – Jornada 4

Author: Les McKee

When a fixture list comes out it is like opening a box of chocolates – you quickly grab the first one and scoff it down then rummage through to find your favourite.

That was exactly how it was when the Primera RFEF fixtures dropped in July – Wow! Real Madrid Castilla at home first that’s tasty – then OK! When is El Derbi with Algeciras?

Like a newly opened box we did not have far to look as on matchday 4 the treat we all wanted was awaiting us to get our teeth into it.

The reality is when the initial fixtures were released fans of both clubs would probably have expected Algeciras to have the better start. That hasn’t been the case and Balona come into this one unbeaten in their three games whereas Algeciras are yet to win and got humped 4-0 last week by Cornellà.

Both coaches, Real Balompédica Linense’s, Antonio Ruiz Romerito, and his Algeciras counterpart Iván Ania have been speaking ahead of the first Clásico del Campo de Gibraltar in the newly created Primera RFEF.

Romerito feels Algeciras’ need is the greater and he may be right. A victory for the albinegros would open an early eight-point gap between them and the near neighbours. However, he was also keen to stress that there have only been three games and it’s too early in the season to start making judgements for or against any side.

Iván Ania didn’t shy away from last week’s poor performance and result but he sees a visit to the Estadio Municipal as the perfect way to kick start their season.

It’s not that long since Algeciras last visited La Linea, on that occasion an injury time winner by Eduardo Ubis secured Algeciras promotion to Primera RFEF as well as giving them the chance to go onto the promotion play-offs to the Segunda.

The promotion bid ultimately ended at the final hurdle losing out to Xabi Alonso’s Real Sociedad B. The match winner in the last derby Ubis was moved on in the summer to Mar Menor. The manager who orchestrated that victory Salva Ballesta is also gone.

In fact, only three of the starting XI from the last derby started for Algeciras in Cornellà last week so this really is a new side just finding their feet under a new coach.

Romerito insists this game for Balona is not about revenge for that last gasp defeat. Given the changes that have taken place within Algeciras C.F. since that game and the changes at Balona I can see where he is coming from. Whilst what he is saying will ring true on the pitch and within the squad, it’s highly unlikely that sentiment will transfer to the stands.

The pain of defeat was made worse by the fact as La Recia drowned their sorrows in the club bar the songs and cheers of the Algeciras players were coming through the walls. Their songs seemed to echo off every surface creating a living hell for those in black and white. It was like listening to those early auditions for X-Factor that sound like an animal in distress. That sound will only be forgotten if the singing of the Balona himno is filling the air on Sunday evening to toast a home victory.

Of the new Algeciras C.F. squad there is high hopes for young local Álvaro Leiva. At just 18 years old the club have tied him down to a contract that runs until 2025. The boy is living his dream and is ready after playing some minutes this season to make his mark. Does Ania dare throw him in from the start on Sunday?

Captain’s of both sides Sunday could be Algeciras natives as Antoñito and Almenara are set to meet in the middle for the pre-match pleasantries.

With the handshake and the first blow of the referee’s whistle the friendship will stop. This is a great chance for Balona to stamp their authority over their campo rivals.

These games are usually tight affairs and I expect this one to be no different. One mistake, one flash of genius, one bit of good fortune can decide games of this magnitude.

You can’t fault the focus, work rate and endeavour of the Balona players to deliver Romerito’s vision to the letter so far this year.

Now he has asked for calm on the pitch. The team that plays the game not the occasion could well come out on top. Trust in what has gone well and learn from what has not. Understand that the opponent will have spells of possession but when they do, ensure everyone holds their positions and works collectively.

The brilliance of Coulibaly or Koroma can win this game but as much as those guys take a lot of the plaudits this team is a unit. Without Masllorens, Coulibaly lacks freedom. Without Loren overlapping Koroma can’t cut inside. Without Dorrio covering Mena gets pinned back. Each and every player in the side impacts the other and in Antoñito not only is he the glue that joins it all but, on this day, he is the man who knows what it is like to be on the other side.

A matchday 4 fixture cannot be pivotal in a team’s season, or can it? It certainly doesn’t decide anything permanent but what it would mean in terms of confidence for the victors is hard to measure at this stage.

There is not one player, staff member or fan who has even mentioned who Balona are playing in matchday 5 (it’s Barça B away) and that I feel shows how much the club, the town and the people are all focused on Algeciras and only Algeciras. Last time they left with everything, this time they need to leave with nothing.

If managers Romerito and Iván Ania sleep tonight they are calmer men than me. The fans of Balona will be dreaming of a win but that doesn’t mean they will be sleeping. Bragging rights that far outweigh the three points on offer are up for grabs. Who will be crowned Kings of the Campo?

Coulibaly fizzes the winner to sink Barco and Castellón

Real Balompédica Linense 1-0 CD Castellón

Author: Les McKee

When the fixture computer threw up Real Madrid Castilla followed by two sides relegated from La Liga Smartbank in Sabadell and Castellón there will not have been many who would have expected la Balona to bag seven points from a possible nine.

That’s exactly what has happened thanks to Romerito creating a side that has a mixture of flair and fight. A togetherness that links those in the stands to those on the pitch that is pulling punches that are knocking out opponents of a much bigger stature than the albinegros.

Romerito’s charges saw off the challenge of Castellón by a solitary goal. The goal came ten minutes into the second half when Antoñito’s shot from the edge was too hot for goalkeeper Álvaro Campos to handle. The Castellón skipper’s punch was poor with the ball fired straight back into the danger zone.

In the right place at the right time again was Aly Coulibaly who gathered, swivelled like an ice skater and shot. The effort took a deflection off Luna which sent the ball over the head of Campos and into the net.

This was a poor error for a goalkeeper of Campos’ experience. He should have tipped over for a corner or deflected the ball away from danger. Punching the ball down to the penalty spot was criminal and his crime was punished by the ever improving Coulibaly.

The fans of Balona cared not a jot for Campos’ misery as they jubilantly celebrated the second goal of the season from the Frenchman.

Interviewed after the game Coulibaly described himself as a box-to-box midfielder who is getting lucky in front of goal. I don’t believe this is luck as the class of Coulibaly had been spotted in his debut season and is now coming to fruition time and time again.

The game overall was pretty even with the key chance of the first half coming near the end when a powerful strike from the edge of the box by Castellón’s Mario Barco clipped the leg of Victor Mena. Nacho Miras was not fazed by the deflection diving with a strong arm that sent the ball flying over his cross bar.

Nacho Miras is a fantastic goalkeeper – even when he is rarely worked in a game when the decisive moment comes, he is ready and focused and continually delivers.

I firmly believe Coulibaly, Koroma and Nacho Miras can perform in La Liga Smartbank or higher. Let’s hope they get the chance to show their talent in La Liga Smartbank for La Recia next season.

Soon after Balona had the lead Mario Barco found himself in troubled waters. After a tangle in the box he saw red mist and butted Fran Morante. The referee gave him a straight red. Barco had already been booked earlier in the game. This was crazy from the Castellón forward but even though they were now a man light Escobar’s side were far from done.

Once again it became a test of Balona’s game management and Romerito’s side delivered once again. Castellón were restricted to taking pot shots from distance that failed to trouble Nacho Miras.

On the occasions when Balona broke away they failed to create anything clear cut. A couple of half chances were created, Gerard Oliva firing wide with a chance he will feel he could have done more with.

Pablo Hernández, formerly of Leeds United and Valencia, was trying to lift his side. Several times during the game he was pinging balls from flank-to-flank but his team mates did not seem to be on his level on this day. A work in progress.

As the clock ticked into the third and final minute of injury time Castellón won a corner. Up came Campos and with the corner played short and returned to the taker the cross came in. Campos try as he might could not get his head on the ball and Balona cleared. With that the referee blew the whistle and brought the game to its close.

Another home victory against a team with more resources than Balona. Another alert put out to the division that Balona can battle and Balona can play.

Next up it’s the derby as Algeciras make the short journey to La Línea. Algeciras were on the receiving end of a 4-0 defeat away at Cornella at the weekend.

Defeating Algeciras would be another huge scalp for Balona having lost the game in the dying embers last time Algeciras came to town.

Masllorens, Mena, Koroma, Coulibaly, Loren and Nacho Miras were all involved in a defeat which ultimately sent Algeciras to the promotion play-offs. The singing of the Algeciras side that day echoed round Bar Balona and it’s not a sound we will want to hear again.

This Balona side has already shown a bigger stomach for the fight and will be ready to go again at the weekend.

They say that form goes out the window in a derby and Algeciras will be hoping that’s the case because if this derby goes to form – the singing will be coming from Real Balompédica Linense’s dressing room.