With the season now underway for a few weeks, here’s a round-up of what’s been going on and some interesting news stories from the island.
Tercera RFEF
CD Migjorn got off the mark at the fourth time of asking as they defeated Binissalem 1-0 thanks to Karim Sidibe’s goal.
They bounced back from a 5-1 drubbing away at league leaders Manacor last time out, where they also had a man sent-off. Migjorn previously lost their home opener 3-1 to SD Ibiza, and their first game of the season 1-0 at PE Sant Jordi.
CE Mercadal have had a stuttering start to the season, perhaps best reflected by a 1-1 draw at Santanyi at the weekend where they took the lead in the 90th minute but still didn’t manage to win.
Sergio Martinez converted a penalty to give them the lead following an elbow in the box, but Santanyi scrambled an equaliser home in the tenth minute of injury time.
After their opening day draw at home to Formentera, Mercadal then won 2-0 away at Inter Ibiza, before going down 2-1 at home to Arenal in week three.
Mercadal sit 12th in the 18-team league after four games, with Migjorn just above the drop zone in 15th.
Duo remain perfect in Menorca Cup
Penya Ciutadella have emerged as a surprise frontrunner at the start of the Menorca Cup, which takes the form of a single round-robin format this year.
Penya have won three out of three, the latest a 3-1 win away at Sporting Mahon.
The only other side to maintain a 100% record to date is CE Ferreries, who thumped CF Norteno 5-1 at the weekend thanks to a Carlos hat-trick.
Both UD Mahon and CD Menorca remain winless, while CCE Sant Lluis have also enjoyed a surprise turnaround from last season, winning two games so far.
There was a rare midweek game on the island on Wednesday too, as CE Ciutadella were beaten 1-0 at home by Atletico Villacarlos for their second win.
Ex-Premier League star’s son heads to Mercadal
The son of former Manchester City, Swansea and Ivory Coast striker Wilfried Bony is on trial in Menorca with CE Mercadal.
Geoffrey Bony, 21, is described as an explosive forward who was in the youth system at Swansea and moved on to Nice. He made six appearances in the Football League with Newport County.
His father earned 56 caps for Ivory Coast and won the EFL Cup with Manchester City in 2016.
The local paper says Bony “has arrived to try and convince the team’s manager, Lluís Vidal, that he can be the goalscorer the Mercadal squad needs to boost their attacking prowess and improve their finishing.”
Fornells gets the nod
FFIB president Jordi Horrach was present as Las Arenas de Fornells Municipal Stadium, home of CF Norteno, has become the official headquarters of the FFIB delegation in Menorca this year, hosting training sessions and matches for the island’s teams, young category finals and other events.
