LANZAROTE   0   CD HERBANIA   0

The Rojillos lose ground on the playoff positions despite a spirited display from a squad absent of many first team regulars including captain Ayoze Pérez and the powerhouse Brazilian centre back Matheus.

More of the Lanzarote B team had to be drafted in to help ease the growing list of causalities and after today’s match a few will be returning to the treatment room along with several new faces.

The Fuerteventura side were making their first appearance at Ciudad Deportiva and were determined by any means to keep their two point advantage over the Rojillos with a game in hand.

The opening stages were competitive but there were few chances for either side. In the 27^th minute defender Leo Marquez belted a 25 yard dipping volley which looked destined for the top right hand corner but the Herbania keeper pulled off an outstanding save to only concede a corner.

Lanzarote only had three fit players on the bench so it came as a huge disappointment when the impressive Traore who has only just returned from injury limped off in the 35^th minute.

The replacement was the dynamic little striker Alyson. Last week he played his first 20 minutes of competitive football for almost two months and the Lanzarote management were reluctant to play their star striker but they had little choice.

Five minutes before the break the Rojillos had a good shout for a penalty turned down when the ball looked to have hit the hand of a Fuerteventura player but the official saw this as accidental.

Early in the second period and the concerns from the management of UD Lanzarote were confirmed when Alyson pulled up which looked like a calf problem and had to be replaced. On came youngster Rubén Martín but even he was unable to complete the match being forced off with an injury.

In the 56^th minute good work from Keita gave the hard working Di Renzo an opportunity but he was unable to get the ball out from under his feet to seriously threaten at goal.

The game got heated and challenges became more aggressive, then in the 85^th minute Lanzarote looked as though they had earned a penalty when Keita was looked to have been brought down inside the box. The referee again waived on play and only seconds later the Fuerteventura side had their best opportunity of the match. Winger Alexis beautifully snuck in-between two Lanzarote defenders but Rojillos keeper Alejandro quickly narrowed the angle and produced a good save to deny the visitors a winning goal.

In the 90^th minute both teams were reduced to 10 men and whilst that was too late to effect the score it certainly creates a problem for the club as now Leo Marquez will add to the absentees whilst he faces a one match suspension next week.

Lanzarote should be proud of their display with such a depleted squad especially with debutant from the B team Matthaeus filling in as left back performing admirably for the full 90 minutes. He was booked in the 6^th minute for a rash challenged so really had to be careful not to concede a second booking.

Nevertheless a home point against a direct rival for that fifth spot is not good enough. Lanzarote remain in 7^th spot two points behind the now fifth placed CD Herbania and there are other teams in a better position than Lanzarote to try and claim that final playoff position from the Fuerteventura side.

Next week Lanzarote simply have to find more players from their B team and Under 18´s to travel to Gran Canaria to face 16^th placed side CF Unión Viera because their regular squad could barely put out a 5 a side team.