Just six games into the season UD Lanzarote remain unbeaten and are in second position in the tercera division (fifth tier), just a point behind the league leaders UD Las Palmas B. Ian Lane reports:
On the 17th September the Rojillos (The Reds) travelled across to Fuerteventura to face UD Gran Tarajal. In the 39th minute an unusually naïve challenge from centre back Chucky Pierce saw him earn a deserved red card, despite this Lanzarote went in front shortly after the break with Alex Cruz heading his side into a 0-1 lead.
Gran Tarajal then turned the tables and within five minutes were 2-1 up with 30 minutes remaining. Last season’s player of the year and the league´s top scorer Di Renzo rescued a point and bagged his first goal of the season in the 77th minute with an instinctive finish as the match ended 2-2.
The following Sunday saw one of the biggest crowds for a league match that Lanzarote has seen in years. Newly-promoted local side San Bartolomé CF visited Arrecife and seemed to have brought their entire town with them. In front of around 2000 fans they fought an admirable battle but Lanzarote´s crisper passing in intense heat weakened the Batateros (potato farmers) as the Rojillos comfortably ran out 2-0 winners.
October in Lanzarote is normally quite pleasant with daytime temperatures in the mid 20´s, but for the next three games a heatwave engulfed the Canary Isles with schools and outdoor training being suspended. On the 1st October in Tenerife on a 35-degree day Lanzarote beat Club Atlético Victoria 1-2 to go top of the league.
Lanzarote maintained their hold as league leaders the following week when, again in ridiculous temperatures, they eased to a 3-0 home win versus UD Ibarra with two goals from Di Renzo and the other from captain Raúl.
The B teams of both UD Las Palmas and CD Tenerife are hot favourites to be challenging for promotion mid May. Lanzarote secured an important and worthy point away against CD Tenerife B in a goalless draw, however Las Palmas B scored a late winner to secure their fifth win out of six to dislodge the Rojillos from top spot.
Lanzarote are playing entertaining football and to watch a match in Arrecife it is simple, all you have to do is turn up and pay on the door. The number 3 bus from Costa Teguise and Puerto Del Carmen leaves and returns every 30 minutes and drops you outside the stadium. Always check kick off times (details below).
FORTHCOMING HOME FIXTURES
Normally taking place on Sundays at 12 noon but please check.
NOVEMBER 12TH: LANZAROTE V CF P.P. SAN MATEO
NOVEMBER 26TH: LANZAROTE V CD SANTA ÚRSULA
Go to Lanzarote Football Club (Facebook page) or www.mercancialanzarote.com for info, season ticket & membership details etc. All shirts and other merchandise can be bought at the Teguise market stall on Sundays; online at www.mercancialanzarote.com/shop/ or at the shop in Costa Teguise which is based at Centro Comercial Nautical, local 25 (up from Decades bar and behind Café Bonjour). The shop is open Mon to Fri 10am to 1pm.
For regular updates, pictures and videos of Lanzarote be sure to like and follow our Facebook page “Gazette Life Lanzarote”.
