LANZAROTE 1 CD EL COTILLO 0, 8th April 2018,

 LANZAROTE   1   CD EL COTILLO   0,   8th April 2018,   

The Rojillos brilliant end of season form continues by taking their 25th point out of the last 27 points available which has consolidated a playoff position for the opportunity to apply their trade in Segunda B (league 1) next season.

Nearest rivals for the last playoff spot UD Ibarra and CD Santa Úrsula both suffered home losses so Lanzarote now find themselves seven points clear with a game in hand with only five matches remaining.

The goal now is to try and overtake UD San Fernando (3^rd) and CD Mensajero (2^nd) to clinch the only Copa Del Rey position. Lanzarote have kept on closing the gap but do trail second spot by five points though have that game in hand.

CD El Cotillo always seems to hold that good performance in reserve when they face Lanzarote. The Fuerteventura side are only one place and two points away from relegation but defensively put in an almighty performance.

The first chance of the game came in the 19^th minute when Gaston worked a one two with Rosmen, the tall and in form Lanzarote striker back heeled his part setting up Gaston but his curling effort from the edge of the 18 yard box was tipped away for a corner by the Cotillo keeper.

Whilst Lanzarote dominated possession they were unable to breakdown a stubborn defence and were restricted to a couple of long range efforts that didn’t worry the Fuerteventura keeper Julio. For the visitors Nestor hit a 20 yard strike in the 36^th minute though Rojillos keeper Sasha saved with ease.

The Rojillos played with a faster rhythm in the second period but their patience was being tested by resolute defending.

Substitute Trujillo showed a glimpse of the class that he has in abundance when in the 63^rd minute and pinned in on the left around the half way line he had to do some brilliant keepy uppy with the ball before releasing a pass to Miguel Gómez splitting two defenders.

The attacking wing back then cut inside beating a couple of defenders before blasting a 20 yard strike which whistled low past the keeper but came off the right hand post and away to safety.

Lanzarote remained patient and had their opponents chasing the ball which they hoped would finally exhaust them and lead to a winner.

The game was entertaining but for a Lanzarote fan it felt like you were in the waiting room on edge waiting to go and see the dentist.

The Rojillos were getting closer and the intensity increased. Josito saw the keeper off the line and tried his luck from distance but his effort flew a yard over.

With 12 minutes remaining good work from Miguel Gómez earned Lanzarote a throw in deep down the left. A quick throw by Miguel found Borja, the Lanzarote number 10 then dinked in an excellent cross to the far post and Ayoze Pérez perfectly guided his header from eight yards back across the keeper and inside the far left hand post to give his side a 1-0 lead.

Lanzarote then defended the mini onslaught by Cotillo and almost doubled their lead on the break when sub Javi Melian was denied by an excellent save from Julio.

As the referee blew for full time a sigh of relief was felt around the ground. To be honest that filling wasn’t too painful after all.

Next Sunday Lanzarote travel to Gran Canaria to face CF Estrella. Estrella have taken four points in their last two matches and are sitting in the last relegation spot fighting for their lives and are two points adrift of CD El Cotillo.

Our Fuerteventura friends will be wishing that Lanzarote beat their relegation rivals as I am sure that most Lanzarote fans also want Cotillo to stay up as the day trip over there in recent years has become memorable.

Fellow Lanzarote side Yaiza won 2-0 at home and remain 10^th whilst Haría confirmed the inevitable with a 2-0 away loss and will be playing Regional football next season.

GOALS

1-0 min 78 Ayoze Pérez