At a time of the season when most championships, promotion and relegation are decided, Aljezurense entertained Quarteira who were in a position to neither win anything, nor get promoted or relegated.

Aljezurense were not in good shape with several players either injured or not available leaving just a bare fit14. No recognised central forward was available, and this showed as they did not have one shot at goal the whole first half.

Quarteira looking like a mid table side, had little more to offer and it was a surprise that they went in front midway through the first half. A throw-in deep in the Aljezurense half on the left, was taken and like many was a foul throw as the player had his back foot raised.  This went unpunished and the Aljezurense defence missed the chance to clear.  The ball fell at the back post, where a visiting forward bicycled kicked the ball into the net 0-1.

Aljezurense rallied a bit but still could not force a shot and the half ended with them behind.

Aljezurense 0-1 Quarteira

 The crowd, looking for a quick start to the second half, were only disappointed that it was not Aljezurense who acted more quickly. The visitors’ left full back who was mediocre to say the least, got space wide on the left and his sliced cross caught the home keeper flat footed, and the ball hit the far post and went into the far side netting… 0-2 with only 3 mins gone.

With Aljezurense needing the points, they rallied and at last started to string a few passes together, Several opportunities were made and João and Pop went close to scoring. Rafael who had made several chances with his long throws was released by a good through pass and his strong run saw him get to the ball in the visitors penalty area and his volley crashed past the goalkeeper       1 – 2.

Eddy 14 who had one of his worst games for the side was replaced,  as was the injured Rafael by Andre 20 and Victor 24.  This improved momentum, and several chances to level the scores went begging.  João had a fine free kick punched over by the keeper and Dani’s cross shot missed the far post by centimetres.  In a final flurry from a João corner, Carlinhos 2 got above the visiting defence but his inability to attack the ball saw him slide it onto the far post and away safe.

Final Score Aljezurense 1 – 2 Quarteira

 Aljezurense needed a point at least to keep safe and they blew the chance.  Noel, Lawrence, Dani and Rafael put in a great effort but the lack of a central striker was the downfall of the side.  Winning next week at Monchiquense and away to 11 Esperãncas on the 20th April will be more than enough to see the side safe from relegation.

Hopefully a more proactive approach to the final games will be seen.  When the ball is played quicker going forward, the players respond much better to this style of play, and the results generally go Aljezurense’s way.

This match was played at Messines due to ground problems at Silves, and saw Aljezurense’s biggest away crowd of the season, as one of the junior teams arrived with the team and were not backward in supporting the visitors.

Windy conditions faced both teams with the wind blowing down the pitch, with Aljezurense facing it in the first half. These conditions were not favoured by either team as the ball ran away from Silves when attacking in the first half,  and held up for the visitors.

The referee was very slack in allowing foul after foul from the home team’s centre forward, who relished in his freedom to kick and block when he liked.  In fact it took eight such fouls before he was finally booked in the second half.

Aljezurense looked the better of the two sides and it was against the run of play when Silves took the lead.  A long ball was misjudged by Eddy 14 and Carlinhos 2 missed his clearance and the home side’s forward struck the ball passed the oncoming keeper 1-0.

Aljezurense were still causing the home side problems and both Rafael 15 and Victor 24 were getting long throws well into the home side’s penalty box, but alas the keeper was better than the visiting forwards.

The first half finished with Aljezurense on top but 0 – 1 down at the whistle.

In the second half Aljezurense were playing with the wind and were the better for it.  Lawrence 8 and Dani 23 were in control of mid field and pass after pass was defended, but generally with some luck as Jardel, Joao and Pop all got chances to level the scores.  However, the long throw was to be Silves’ down fall and from deep in the home side,s half, Rafael launched the ball well into the penalty box only for the home side,s full back to flick the ball over the keeper to level the scores.

Aljezurense were now well on top and it was a strange decision that saw Aljezurense replace both full backs. Whilst it is appreciated that both Tiago 5 and Andre 20 are good players the long throws might well have been Silves’ undoing.

Corners from Joao time after time beat the home defence, but Noel missed the target 3 times, the third smashing against the cross bar and over.

Full Time Silves 1 – 1 Aljezurense

Well done to all in these conditions, 2 points missed but at least Aljezurense played the better football. The midfield played very well and Man Of The Match Lawrence 8 almost turned the match several times. Noel again showed his strength at the back, and hopefully this is another point to safety. Finally, great to have more vocal support cheering on Aljezurense, well done the youngsters.

Showers before kick off had freshened up the plastic pitch and the ball was difficult to control as it whipped off the slick surface. Culatrense in magnificent pink played the ball around and were happy to make 20 passes when 3 might have done. Aljezurense found it difficult to get the ball in the right places as the mid field minus Dani struggled to get a foot on the ball.

The defence were strong though and many attempts at the Aljezurense goal were thwarted until some slick passing along the right flank freed the home forward who turned inside Victor and unleashed a shot that was heading goal wards.  Luis in goal stood his line and made a magnificent one handed save to parry the ball wide. This seemed to spur the visitors, and in a period of play before halftime Aljezurense were more in control of the game.

Noel was again dominant at the back and Luis in goal punched, parried or caught all the visitors could muster but to no avail.

The Red Cross were in attendance and they brought the stretcher on 3 times, twice carrying off home side players that were replaced because of injury.

Half Time Culatrense 0 – 0 Aljezurense 0

The second half started with the home side playing with more purpose, whipping the ball around but without the penetration they were wanting.  Lawrence and Eddy were getting control of most of the loose passes made by the home team, and used the ball well, giving Jardel, João and Pope opportunities albeit slim.  The home defence were happy to tug shirts or trip the goal bound Aljezurense forwards to gain advantage.

Mid way through the half Aljezurense built from the back and Noel 17 found Lawrence 8 who’s quick pinpoint pass released Pope 18 wide on the left, he quickly changed feet moving the ball inside the full back.  He hit a furious shot from fully 30 m across the keeper and the ball screamed into the far top corner.  What a goal!  fully deserved as Aljezurense were more than holding their own.

Supporters were looking at watches and were alarmed that there was still 20 plus minutes left to play.  Culatrense made a change and a giant of a man came on to play up front for them.  Waves of attacks came but the visitors defended superbly from front to back, keeping the score line in Aljezurense’s favour.

The visitors’ forwards were given a bit more room as the home side tried to push forward, and both Jardel with a fine shot from inside the box, and João with an exquisite shot from just outside the box, left the keeper rooted to his line as the ball grazed the outside of the post.

Aljezurense made some changes to strengthen the defence and Nuno and Dani were introduced to strengthen mid field. With time running out the home side won a corner. The ball was knocked in long from the right to the back of the penalty box, was headed forward to the far post, up popped the giant who lashed the ball into the goal from 1 metre, but was adjudged by the referee’s assistant to be off side.

This incensed the home team and their play faltered as they threw caution to the wind in trying to get a point, however all to no avail and after 5 minutes extra time, the referee blew to end the game.

Great game to watch, -well done to all, as the result was thoroughly deserved. The referee and his assistants were easily the best by far that have officiated their games this term. So for 2 weeks running Aljezurense have taken points from sides in the top 4 of the league and the results were well deserved.

The new keeper has grown in stature and was adjudged man of the match by the travelling supporters although the whole side could have deserve this accolade.

On a blustery afternoon Imortal DC arrived expecting to win this 1^st Division Match but they were taken by surprise by an enthusiastic Aljezurense out to prove a point after last week’s disappointment.

Some fine flowing football from the home side put the visitors on the back foot, and both João and Pop were having a field day on the flanks. The side at last looked better defensively with Noel a tower of strength centrally. This gave the platform for some good moves and both Dani and Lawrence had the better of the mid field.

After some fine interchange of passes, Dani released Rafael 15, marauding from defence down the right wing.  His fine cross beat the visitors’ defence and there was Jardel to strike the ball home 1-0.

Imortal reacted to this goal and time after time as passes broke down, the visitors flung themselves to the ground urging an exceptionally poor referee to show yellow card after card for nothing.  Aljezurense steadied the advances of  Imortal and Noel almost single handed, had the inept visiting forwards in his pocket.

Some more interplay between Jardel, Lawrence and Dani gave Aljezurense their second chance of a goal, but Dani’s shot from the right flashed across the face of the goal instead of settling in the net.

Halftime:  Aljezurense 1 – 0 Imortal DC

Imortal started the second half with purpose, and chased everything including the ball when it went out of play. They were at last putting passes together and Aljezurense were pushed further and further back.  Noel still was the better and on several occasions his last gasp challenges saved the day.

Aljezurense made some changes João was replaced by Sam, and Eddy pushed a little more forward to help the overrun midfield.  Still Imortal had no answer, and it was Aljezurense that should have gone further ahead.  A ball won in midfield released Sam, his pass was knocked on by Jardel and  Tiago was left all on his own 20 metres out of goal with only the keeper to beat, his placed shot beat the keeper but flashed wide of the post.

Imortal were now throwing everything at Aljezurense and yet another dive by an Imortal forward saw the referee reach for the second yellow card for Tiago – down to 10 men and what hope to get points now.

Still Noel was the better and wave after wave of attacks from Imortal, was  floundered by his excellent defending, until a quick break away down the visitors right through the gap left by Tiago’s dismissal.  The perfect cross was met by the visitors, central attacker who miss headed the ball towards goal to another forward who was at least 2 metres off side.  The ball was knocked into goal and everyone looked towards the young Linesman and awaited the raising of the flag, but he stood looking shaken.  Even the referee awaited the flag but nothing happened, 1 – 1.

Now it was like the Alamo. Imortal attacking time after time but all to no avail.   Aljezurense saved a point which should have been 3. Well done everyone.  As a team Aljezurense played much better than on some occasions this term and Noel 17 had a fine match.

The only down side was to see Sam limping at the end and would guess that a longer layoff is required to put him right, Dani looked exhausted after a hard fought battle in the mid field.

Next week away to high flying Culatrense who won 1-0 in Aljezure in November.  Points would be great and probably seal another season in the First Division.

This week’s report from our Guest Reporter:

On a grey blustery day Aljezurense headed to the far east to take on Castromarim in Monte Gordo.
As usual Aljezur gave away a goal in the first 10 mins trying to play their clumsy offside trap when neither centre back had the speed to match the centre forward.

Aljezur dominated the play in the midfield with Dani 23 making some great runs, Lawrence 8 working hard and Eddy 14 making valuable contributions. Djiga 5 at left back was excellent as was Rafael 15 at right back with Pop 18 and Pipi 10 using their speed Aljezur looked certain to equalise.

However the finishing of Joao Luis 7 left a lot to be desired as he wasted a fantastic opportunity in the first half and to more in the second half. At last the coach replaced him with Sam who immediately showed he is recovering from a one month long knee injury and with Jardel 16 replacing Noel the attack looked far more potent and a goal looked certain to come!
Pipi 10 Diogo decided to argue with the ref and got a yellow card, stupidly kept arguing and got sent off for the same reason!
With 10 men and attacking flat out, unfortunately, the defense were even more open at the back and Castro Marim scored with virtually their only attack of the second half (2-0 down)!

Interplay between Sam 9, Dani 23 and Jardel 16 almost provided a goal and should have provided a penalty but in the end the only consolation was an excellent bent free kick from outside the area by Dani 23 to make the final score 2-1, Dani rewarded after another excellent performance.

Aljezur really should have won this game but the offside trap has cost them at least 6 goals this year and they look a better side when they playing a sweeper behind the back three. Eddy 14 has looked particularly good in this role.

Sam looks to be fit again and should add a little potency up front and although Luis 25 has stabilized things in goal the return of Toco 13 should secure the defense more.

It is a shame that Beja & Kieran have not been training as the team need their quality on the ball. If all the best players are fit Aljezur could have a far better second half of the season.