UD LANZAROTE 3 RACING SANTANDER B 0
15th February 2010
Thirty seven minutes was all it took to blow away the Primera Liga sides B team and to carry on this astonishing turn around of form for U.D. Lanzarote.
The opening goal came after only five minutes. Carlitos received the ball near the penalty spot and on the turn cleverly passed the ball into the right hand corner of the net beating the outstretched Racing keeper Pablo and giving his new club a 1-0 lead.
The Rojillos were not content and went in search of a second. In the 14th minute Rubén Rodriguez split his opponents defence with an inch perfect pass and Ayoze Pérez blasted goal bound from 12 yards, the goalkeeper couldn’t hold his stinging shot and Jonathon Torres as ever was there doing what a striker should do and toe poked home giving his side a comfortable 2-0 cushion.
The visitors almost caught Lanzarote off guard in the 24th minute when a quick break saw right winger Uri with a possible one on one with the Rojillos keeper but his first touch let him down and his shot drifted aimlessly across the goal.
The Rojillos are not good travelers. Lanzarote´s daytime temperatures rarely fall below 20 degrees, so to be greeted on a cold Sunday morning with rain and a howling gale with pockets of snow dotted around the pitch did not particularly suit the Conejeros.
Enough excuses. Since the January transfer wheeling and dealing Lanzarote now have a squad capable of living in Spain’s third tier of football. They were simply outplayed by a side pushing for promotion, and indeed with this win Conquense have moved within one place and one point from the play offs.
From the first minute the home side took control of the match and the Lanzarote goalkeeper Vilches knew he was in for a busy morning. In the seventh minute Lanzarote´s defence frailties rose to the surface once more. A corner swung in from the left bobbled around the six yard box and the Rojillos had three opportunities to clear the ball but Conquense didn’t hang around for the fourth, as midfielder Cubillo blasted home from close range to put his side at ease with an early 1-0 lead.
In the 33rd minute Vilches saved brilliantly with his feet preventing striker Gato doubling his sides lead with a strike from eight yards. Vilches came to the rescue again just before half time with another great save from centre forward Oscar Silva when the Conquense striker found himself with just the keeper to beat.
Lanzarote came out for the second half with a completely different attitude and Conquense were forced to retreat. Defender Juachi put through new boy Raul Torres but his good strike was well saved by the local keeper Martinez.
On the hour mark striker Carlitos header inches over and a few minutes later defender Moncho found himself with a free header from a corner but his powerful effort fell straight into the keepers arms.
The recalled winger Toñito had a good shout for a penalty waved away midway through the second half and in the 83rd minute the home side eased their worries with the all important second goal. Good combination play from the forwards gave Martins a clear strike and with just the Lanzarote keeper to beat the centre forward comfortably gave his side a 2-0 lead.
That goal completely deflated the spirits of the Rojillos and with seven minutes remaining there was no way back against a side who on average concede a goal a game.
On the positive side fellow relegation strugglers did not fair any better. Lanzarote still remain second from bottom but are still only a point from safety. The next few weeks will prove decisive as the Rojillos will be up against a host of teams in and around relegation trouble. First up is a home game against Cacereño who lie in 14th position three points above Lanzarote with 30 points. If any other incentive is needed then the 5-0 thrashing Lanzarote suffered to the hands of Cacereño in the first round of games should be sufficient.
The good news is that Vladi, Jonathon Torres and Rubén Rodriguez all look set to return.
