PLAYOFF ¼ FINAL 2nd LEG, LANZAROTE   0   CF P.P. SAN MATEO 1 aet (aggregate 1-2)

It would be hard to find fault with any of the Rojillo players on Sunday as individually they played well but collectively they didn’t.

As the 2500 fans entered the stadium you could feel an air of optimism with many believing that this match was a formality and we already had one foot in the semi final. Lanzarote finished a massive 20 points clear of their rivals in the league but on a one off match of such importance that is nothing but a statistic as Man Utd proved the day before.

In the early stages of the match it was expected that the Rojillos would be in search of a killer goal but on the contrary it was the Gran Canarian side looking the more dangerous. In the 27^th minute a cross from the right by Raúl Sosa was headed by Ale Gemelo and forced Rojillos keeper Ruyman into an excellent save low to his left. Only a couple of minutes later Ruyman desperately saved the ball on the goal line as his team mates failed to gel.

Lanzarote did offer one moment in the first half. Striker Canillas shrugged off his defender and as he was about to strike at goal it did appear that he was pulled back and there were big shouts for a penalty but those shouts fell on deaf ears.

The Rojillos came out for the second half and looked a much better side but that only lasted for about ten minutes as the visitors held firm and once again began to impose their authority. On the hour mark a free kick from the right was headed powerfully downwards and Ruyman just managed to get his fingertips onto the ball brushing it onto the post and away to safety.

Captain Ayoze Pérez and Javi Martín were both brought on and this began to give the Rojillos some creativity. Lanzarote had a wonderful chance to snatch the lead when defender Guize found himself on a one on one with the keeper, his chip beat the advancing goalkeeper but unfortunately went into the side netting, in hindsight a square pass would have found Ismael Traoré in acres of space and staring at an empty net.

The 90 minutes were up and 30 minutes of extra time were to be played. The visitors knew they had to score because if the scores would remain level then Lanzarote would advance into the semis because of finishing the league season in a higher position.

The fans had only just settled into their seats for the beginning of extra time and in under a minute San Mateo striker Ale Gemelo fired in an excellent low hard drive across the face of the goal and Cristian Padrón was at hand at the far post for a simple tap in to score a priceless goal for his side.

With four minutes remaining in the first half of extra time the visitors were reduced to 10 men as Ale Gemelo picked up his second yellow card. Lanzarote were dominant but could not open the Gran Canarian defence.

Late on and with every fan out of their seat willing the ball to somehow cross the line the Rojillos had two great chances. In the 117^th minute winger Santi Rosa hit an effort on the right from 12 yards that shaved the post then in the final seconds the ball fell to Ayoze Pérez from a corner kick and the 37 year old got his strike in but the keeper again saved low at his right hand post.

As the ref blew for full time Lanzarote´s season had come to an end falling in the first round of the playoffs for the second successive season losing on aggregate both times 1-2. There can be little complaints as San Mateo deserved the win.

GOALS

0-1 min 91 Cristian Padrón.