U.D. TAMARACEITE 0 LANZAROTE 0, 9th February 2019,

U.D. TAMARACEITE   0   LANZAROTE   0,   9^th February 2019,

This may have ended goalless against the league leaders but the quality of football and tension on a gorgeous sunny day was electric from start to finish.

The Gran Canarian side are clear leaders of the league and with four wins on the bounce this was always going to be a difficult task for Maxi Barerra´s men.

Tamaraceite are a small club that have had three successive promotions following the Ramírez Alonso brother’s takeover of the club in 2015. One of those brothers is the President of Segunda A side Las Palmas and they also have many other business interests on the island.

With three ex Las Palmas players in the starting line up including the 37 year old David González who played over 200 matches for Las Palmas the home side were clear favourites.

It was David González wearing the number 10 shirt that orchestrated their 0-2 win in Lanzarote earlier in the season and he was once again showing the class that he still possesses.

The first half did not have many goal mouth incidents yet it kept the 450 spectators glued to the game including Lanzarote´s 30-40 travelling fans.

The locals had the edge in a tight first half with striker Eros Delgado forcing Alejandro into a good save but Lanzarote also came close with new boy Luciano heading a foot over the bar.

The Rojillos came out for the second half with an excellent attitude. Javi Morales let rip on a 35 yard volley in the first minute which almost caught out the Gran keeper but his intelligent effort cleared the crossbar by a couple of yards.

A couple of minutes later and a great cross from Alex Cruz looked as though it was heading for Javi Morales in the centre but the keeper did well to anticipate the danger and gathered the cross.

The hosts began knocking the ball around midfield with David González involved in everything as Lanzarote had to chase the ball in the 24 degree heat without the slightest glimpse of a single cloud.

The Rojillos defence were tired yet stood firm and it is with no coincidence that Lanzarote have not conceded in their last two games with new signing Luciano Pierce installed as centre back.

In one class moment the 21 year old Argentine had two players closing him down but he kept his cool and with a swerve of body movement and oozed his way out of a tight situation fooling both players.

Both sides pushed forward looking for that elusive winning goal though it was not to come as the match ended fairly in a stalemate.

This point proved to be valuable as none of the top sides won so Lanzarote remain in 5^th spot and are still just three points from that final playoff position, fourth spot.

Next Sunday 17^th February at 12 noon Lanzarote are at home to 11^th placed side CD Tenerife B.