Castellón see off Alcoyano to get back to winning ways (2-0)

Alcoyano came into the game against Castellón having not won since the season opener in August and in search of positivity. To make matters worse, their center-back Álvaro Vega was accused of racially abusing former Castellón player Yac Diori in last weekend’s game against Algeciras and was sent off in an unrelated incident. The decision was contested, and Vega was eventually named in the starting eleven, but it’s fair to say the team from near Alicante hadn’t had an easy week. But then neither had Castellón, as the Albinegros narrowly came through their Copa del Rey game midweek against Cacereño in extra time, after their first loss to San Fernando last weekend.

Despite Castellón clearly being keen to get back to winning ways, it was a tame start at Castalia, with neither side creating much, if anything, in the first 15 minutes. Albinegre fans have been spoiled with fast starts so far this season, but Alcoyano did a good job of slowing things down and limiting Castellón’s offensive firepower.

The first chance of the game did eventually arrive when Raúl Sánchez made an incursion down the left, but his dangerous cross was put over for a corner by the Alcoyano defender.

Five minutes later, Castellón gave Alcoyano’s Aguero the chance to make inroads on the counter, but his curling shot from the edge of the area was comfortably saved by Crettaz. That was followed up minutes later by a dangerous corner that almost caught out the Castellón keeper, but they were able to clear successfully.

The Albinegres responded soon enough with their first big chance of the game just after the half-hour mark, as a cross found an open Manu Sánchez at the far post, but his diving header was expertly saved by Valens in the Alcoyano goal.

He could do nothing about Haris Medunjanin’s header minutes later though. Salva Ruiz put in a beautiful cross, and the 38-year-old Bosnian leaped like a young salmon to give Castellón the lead and make Castalia erupt. After a tightly contested first 40 minutes, it was enough to send Castellón to the changing rooms ahead and mentally on top.

The pressure from the home side continued to start the second half, and Dani Villahermosa forced a good save from Valens after almost 10 minutes, as he came in from the left.

Castellón continued largely on top, although Alcoyano contested well in the center of the park and generated a couple of dangerous situations in the home side’s penalty area. Cristian shot wide shortly after coming on, but that was the best chance Castellón could generate until they broke from an Alcoyano free kick on the counter. Despite a four-on-one advantage, they couldn’t generate a shot that troubled the keeper.

All that was soon forgotten though, as minutes later Raúl Sánchez doubled their lead with a low drive from outside the area. It initially hit the post before, unfortunately for Valens, bouncing in off his back.

With a two-goal cushion, Dick Schreuder made further changes, bringing on Gervane Kastaneer much to the delight of Castalia. The physically imposing Curaçaoan international starred against Cacereño, and it was the home fans’ first chance to see the summer signing in action. He was unfortunate not to score his first goal, as his header from a corner went narrowly over shortly after coming on.

As the game came to an end, Castellón got better and better. Raúl Sánchez had a further opportunity, while De Leon left an Alcoyano defender for dead with one of his trademark dribbles. Alcoyano faded and was unable to trouble the home side at all in the last ten minutes. The substitutes, Kastaneer, Cristian, and De Leon in particular, were constant threats. Even Raúl Sánchez, after all his running on the wing, almost added his second in added time, but his shot across the face of goal was saved low by Valens.

It was a much-needed three points to get back to winning ways after a tough week, and the Albinegros consolidated their lead at the top of the table ahead of next week’s trip to Granada.

CD Castellón: Crettaz, Chirino, Óscar Gil (Alberto 78), Salva Ruiz, Calavera, Manu Sánchez (De León 63), Villahermosa (Cristian 63), Gracia, Raúl Sánchez, Medunjanin (Kastaneer 78), De Miguel (Grønning 90)

CD Alcoyano: Valens, Campabadal, Álvaro Vega, Primi (Farru 76), Nieto (Carbonell 80), Imanol, Juanan, Armental (Pradera 46), Pablo Ganet, Aguero (Lara 61), Alcaina (Sergi 46)

Goals: Medunjanin 40, Raúl Sánchez 72.

Referee: Alejandro Morilla Turrion