Benidorm secured a narrow 33-31 victory over Puerto Sagunto in a club friendly on Tuesday evening. The result came just weeks after the sides met in a 28-28 draw back in May. This time the hosts found a way to separate themselves from their opponents.
And here's the thing about this one — Benidorm had not won any of their last five matches before this fixture. They lost three and drew two, including that earlier meeting with Puerto Sagunto. To be fair, they had also suffered heavy defeats abroad, losing 21-29 to Orneo Alicante and 26-31 to Cisne. This result tightened things up for the home side considerably.
Puerto Sagunto came into the match with a steadier recent record. They had drawn with Cuenca HC on their last outing and won three of their previous four games before that. The visitors kept their heads throughout despite the close scoreline. By then they had shown they could compete with anyone in this tier.
The final margin of two goals told you everything you needed to know about the contest. Both sides exchanged blows and neither could pull away for long stretches. Benidorm's attack eventually found extra gear, while Puerto Sagunto's defence held firm for most of the contest.
What stands out is the contrast with the earlier encounter. That 28-28 draw in May suggested these sides were evenly matched. This result showed the hosts could close out a tight game when it mattered most. Puerto Sagunto will take nothing away from the performance despite the loss.