It has been a fascinating season in the Tercera Division (fifth tier) with the top four sides CD Tenerife B, Yaiza, UD Las Palmas B and Lanzarote battling for top spot. Ian lane reports.
Each one of those sides has been top at some point during the season and each team has all but guaranteed themselves a play-off position with 10 matches remaining. The real fight now is to win the league as only the Champions are automatically promoted, and four other teams will have to battle it out in the play-offs.
At the time of writing, CD Tenerife B is leading the pack with a four-point advantage over second-placed Yaiza. UD Las Palmas B and Lanzarote are level on points and both trail second spot by a single point.
On the 3rd March a fantastic home crowd of around 1,500 came to see Lanzarote take on leaders CD Tenerife B and reduce a four point gap between the two sides.
The Rojillos were without their hugely important centre back Raúl who couldn’t shake off the flu and only two minutes into the match lost their influential wing back Alex Cruz.
Nevertheless, in a match played with high intensity Lanzarote were on top and in the 39th minute a 25-yard super strike from Javi Martín with power, bend and dip hit the underside of the crossbar and clearly bounced behind the goal line. But the official did not award a goal.
On the stroke of half-time the Rojillos deservedly went in front with defender Chucky Pierce heading home a corner kick to make the score 1-0 at the break.
On the hour mark a strike from eight yards for Tenerife thundered against the crossbar and incredibly bounced off the goal line. This time the official unbelievably awarded the visitors a goal. Lanzarote’s disallowed goal could perhaps be excused as he wasn’t in the best position, but this decision was criminal. Tenerife had only conceded 12 goals all season so to give them two goals thanks to the official gave them a massive advantage.
Lanzarote were visibly shaken by this, and the league leaders took full advantage, only eight minutes later a beautiful low strike from the edge of the box nestled into the right-hand corner to give Tenerife a 1-2 lead. The Rojillos fought till the end but there was no way through as they went on to suffer their second defeat of the season.
It is likely to be an incredible end to the season so why not come and enjoy? All are welcome to our home matches, and you simply pay at the gate. Refreshments and merchandise are available inside the stadium on all match days.
FORTHCOMING HOME FIXTURES
(normally it is Sunday at 12 noon but please check)
APRIL 7TH: LANZAROTE V ARUCAS CF
APRIL 21ST: LANZAROTE V CD MARINO
MAY 1ST: LANZAROTE V CD HERBANIA
WHERE TO BUY MERCHANDISE
Go to Lanzarote Football Club (Facebook page) or www.lanzarotefootball.com website for info on prices, directions to stadium etc. All shirts and other merchandise can be bought at the Teguise Market stall on Sundays, online at www.mercancialanzarote.com/shop/ or at our merchandise shop in Costa Teguise which is based at Centro Commercial Nautical, Local 25 (up from Decades Bar and behind Café Oppa).The shop is open Mon to Fri 10am to 1pm and also on Wednesdays 5-7pm.
