HALOES, HAT TRICKS AND HOWLERS!

This being Holy Week it was fitting that Elche’s quicksilver little striker, the aptly-named Angel should be heroically celebrated in the City of Palms with his brilliant hat-trick, rightly claiming the match ball as well as his halo in the process.

There was only one change from the Illicitanos’ exciting away draw at Girona last week, reliable full-back Carpio’s suspension meaning Vasco Fernandez was given a run out, Albacar preferred to back-from-suspension Ripa at left back, who was substitute.

The cheaply-advertised entrance prices didn’t really turn on the locals, only 7,366 watched the game, which considering Elche’s sound fifth play-off place in the league has to be disappointing.

Elche started briskly, only 3 minutes had gone when Mantecon’s fierce drive was drilled wide, Kiki Mateo’s mazy run down the left was smothered at the near post, this then countered by Huesca’s long corner on 20 minutes which caught Elche’s goalkeeper Jaime stranded and it was Elche’s turn to scramble the ball away to safety; that effectively was really the last time the visitors seriously bothered the well-organised home defence, Elche taking control in all departments.

On the half-hour, and the Illicitanos’ were on their way; a Xumetra cross was pushed out by goalkeeper Andres, only to be headed back by a rejuvenated Generelo. As Andres hesitated Angel nipped in to loop his header safely over the goalkeeper to deservedly put Elche in front;  indeed he should have made it two four minutes later when clear through but rolled his soft shot agonisingly wide.

Mantecon, Generelo and Kiki Mateo were all booked for niggling fouls as the referee had a word with Xunetra about diving in the box, but didn’t book him - hmmm, interesting, that - no further score before half time - and no howlers – yet!

The second half continued with Elche in the driving seat, and an Albacar free-kick whistled wide. But the referee – El Cerro Grande, no less - decided to alienate himself from the home crowd as on 64 minutes Kik Mateo burst through clear, got to the ball before Andres to push it wide, only to be blatantly brought down by the desperate goalkeeper. Sure he went down theatrically, but it was a clear last-man foul.

However instead of Andres going off, Kiki Mateo got a second yellow for diving and was off himself. Funny interpretation that - and it went down badly with the home fans!

Strangely enough, it didn’t make a scrap of difference to Elche that they had only ten men (let’s face it, they’ve had plenty of practice - though not lately); the spirit was still there in abundance, and Elche continued to dominate. Only 5 minutes after the sending-off, Mr Lightning, our hero Angel did it again as he caught Huesca napping at the back, ran though, and checked before planting a cracker inside Andres’ near post. Elche 2 – 0 and coasting...

With 15 minutes left, off came Generelo to well-deserved applause for once, to be replaced by anchor-man Acciairi. But man-of-the match Angel was not finished yet,

With 7 minutes left he teased, twisted and turned his marker who pulled him down to earn his penalty – and he didn’t get booked for diving -  merely coolly despatching his penalty low into the corner for his well-deserved hat-trick: he never stops working and running. Angel now has nine goals in 18 starts – great striker stats!

With the score safe at 3 – 0 there was just time for a little hilarity. With 5 minutes left Ripa replaced Xumetra and Bodipo for Angel. The new pair combined for Ripa to be left clear – what, five yards out?

He managed somehow to sky his shot so far over the bar it looked impossible, but worse still, more farce was to come as the young sub was then put though one-on-one with only the goalkeeper to beat, but again inexplicably managed to muff it; good job it didn’t matter, and it took the edge of the El Cerro Grande’s misdemeanours – he will look again at the video and see how wrong he got it!

But hey, the Franjiverdes go marching on, now beaten only once in nine  games as they march towards the play-offs.

Next week Elche are away to lowly-placed Salamanca, sweating away just inside the drop-zone with a dodgy home record, winning only 5 of their 17 games. Elche are in great form and fear no-one these days – game on!