LANZAROTE 3 U.D. TELDE 0

LANZAROTE 3 U.D. TELDE 0,

10th April 2016,

The Rojillos return to the league summit after a six week absence following an outstanding first half display against the eighth placed side UD Telde.
Prior to the match manager Adolfo Pérez had invited 10 of their foreign fans to join the squad for breakfast at the Sands Beach resort in Costa Teguise. A good touch from Lanzarote´s longest ever serving manager.

Lanzarote began the match with a spring in their step and were totally dominant from as soon as the ref whistled for the start of the match until he blew for half time.
The Gran Canarian side just could not get out of their own half as the Rojillos midfield governed by Vladi and Javi Betancort were closing down their opponents, forcing errors and regaining possession the instant it was lost. Mauri and Toñito were a constant nightmare for the defenders on either flank whilst Rosmen was winning everything in the air and constantly making off the ball runs.

In the 16th minute Rosmen leapt towards the sky and perfectly angled his cushioned header into the path of Toñito, the veteran winger had one touch then struck the ball with venom into the left hand corner from 15 yards to send his side into a well deserved 1-0 lead.

Only two minutes later and Toñito was at it again. This time he cut inside his defender on the left wing and from just inside the box fired in a curling drive which the keeper did superbly well by getting his fingers onto it and tipping over for a corner.

The second goal was inevitable. In the 25th minute Toñito put a through ball down the middle and Rosmen left his defender for dead on a diagonal run and slipped the ball under the advancing keeper to give his side daylight with a 2-0 advantage.

Attacking midfielder Ayoze Pérez, built stocky with the bald head and wearing number seven rejoined Lanzarote in January after a few years out, playing in Germany for a season and then training Puerto Del Carmen juniors as well as playing for their Regional team. He has had to readjust to a faster pace and also lose a few pounds but anyone who has seen this lad play will tell you he is special and has a shot that is so hard and accurate that he will definitely score goals.

It was Ayoze who is now well trimmed and fully up to the pace of a higher level of football that was the next player to be put through down the centre. It seemed as though he timed his run to perfection though the linesman raised his flag for offside in what must have been a marginal decision before he tucked the ball home thinking that he had extended his sides lead.

In the 33rd minute Rosmen chased down the keeper and won possession, he then back heeled the ball to Toñito who immediately fed Mauri on the right wing but with the keeper in no man’s land the Colombian striker saw his goal bound effort get blocked and diverted for a corner kick.

The only disappointment for the first half was that the game was not dead and buried. Anyone who has played football knows that a 2-0 lead can turn into a nightmare if the opposition score the next goal. A true reflection of this first half should have been a four nil lead.

The Gran Canarian side came out for the second half with far more enthusiasm but still failed to get a strike on target.

Lanzarote´s life was made much easier in the 56th minute when striker Miguel Ángel was shown a red card after a tussle with centre back Fran Gil.

The Rojillos were always in full control of the game but did not find their third goal until added on time at the end of the match.

Louis Kennedy had shaken off an ankle injury and was on the bench was given 20 minutes to prove his fitness. He won the ball in midfield and had broke through the centre, as a challenge came in the British boy sensibly teed the ball to his captain Rosmen, who chipped the keeper from the edge of the box to add a more justifiable final score of 3-0.

This was an emphatic performance by Lanzarote which will hopefully put them in good stead for the final five matches.

The big game of the day was Santa Brígida (1st) versus Las Palmas B (3rd). The 0-0 score line could not have been better news for Adolfo Pérez´s men and all that follow Unión Deportiva Lanzarote.

The Rojillos are one point clear of Santa Brígida and two points clear of Las Palmas B. Next week Lanzarote are away to 13th placed side CD Santa Úrsula. The Tenerife outfit are a bit of a mix bag. They won four games on the bounce but then have just lost their last three matches.

Las Palmas B has a difficult home match versus the inform UD San Fernando who are putting in a late rally for a playoff spot whilst Santa Brígida have a nasty away match in Fuerteventura against play off hopefuls CD Cotillo.

GOALS
1-0 min 16 Toñito
2-0 min 25 Rosmen
3-0 min 90+1 Rosmen