LANZAROTE 4 C.D. COTILLO 0
LANZAROTE 4 C.D. COTILLO 0, 24TH March 2016,
A superb second half display from the Rojillos (The Reds) moves them up to second spot in the league table and just one point behind the new league leaders Villa Santa Brígida.
The evening before this match Las Palmas B occupied top spot and played lowly Real Sporting who had not picked up a point in six matches however a shock win for the relegation threatened team 2-1 enabled both Lanzarote and Santa Brígida to leapfrog the title favourites.
Earlier on in the season CD Cotillo beat Lanzarote 3-1 and in doing so were only the second team in this league to defeat the Rojillos this season. The Fuerteventura side were and remain one position off the playoffs and in the opening 45 minutes did look a team that were going to be difficult to beat.
In the 8th minute Louis Kennedy won a free kick and Marcos Cabrera´s quick thinking enabled Rosmen to glance a header which glanced off the top of the crossbar and away for a goal kick.
Kennedy looking lively especially in the first period cut inside his defender from the left wing in the 16th minute and struck low but his effort went into the side netting though many supporters thought that the ball had crept inside the goal.
A minute later and Lanzarote´s exceptionally talented wing back Miguel Gómez was unlucky with an over head kick forcing the keeper into a save. This player will pull your hair out, off the pitch he is a very respectful person but on the pitch his disciplinary record is awful being sent off three times this season and has a wardrobe full of yellow cards.
It is obvious to see why manager Adolfo Pérez sticks with this player as his reading of the game is second to none and he possesses a lethally accurate left foot which has produced many goals this season.
In the 38th minute the Majoreros (Fuerteventurians) had their best opportunity of the match. A through ball splitting through the heart of the Lanzarote defence found striker Isaac, his shot was fired low but the Lanzarote keeper Agoney produced a comfortable save.
The Rojillos certainly had the better chances in the first half but failed to capitalise with their superior possession so the score remained goalless at the break.
Lanzarote again upped the tempo in the second period and in the 52nd minute Rosmen chested down a cross from the wing and struck but his effort was a yard wide of the upright.
Just a minute later and the Fuerteventura keeper also called Agoney touched the ball too heavy from a back pass and Rojilloos midfielder Marcos Cabrera immediately pounced on the error and stole the ball from the keeper and punished him passing the ball into the empty net to put Lanzarote 1-0 in front .
Cotillo now had to come out from their defence which enabled Lanzarote to create more opportunities. On the hour Toñito cut inside from the left wing and tried to bend the ball into the top corner but his strike was a yard over.
In the 65th minute Kennedy was replaced with Ayoze Pérez. This is Ayoze´s third stint with the club as he has played his football in Norway and had recently been a coach with Puerto Del Carmen and also played for them in the Regional league. Anyone who has seen Ayoze play will know what talent this lad has but it has taken him a few games to come to terms with the pace of returning to a higher level of football.
His first touch was a strike at goal which was deflected away for a corner. From the resulting corner kick the ball was lifted into the area and Rosmen rose above all and nodded the ball home from six yards to give his side breathing space with a 2-0 lead.
Three minutes later and Ayoze was sent through down the left hand side and placed his powerful low drive inside the left hand post to make it 3-0. This goal will of course give Ayoze a huge amount of confidence which can only fair well to Lanzarote´s title push.
The Fuerteventura side were now deflated and in the 79th minute sub Adrián took a long throw which was flicked on by Rosmen and powering in at the far post was man of the match Miguel Gómez who made no mistake heading home to give his side an unassailable 4-0 lead.
Rosmen then had two good chances to score the fifth when he narrowly headed wide from a free kick and in the 85th minute the Lanzarote captain was put through the centre but was denied by a good save from the feet of the Fuerteventura keeper.
With this latest victory it is now 37 games since the Rojillos have suffered defeat on home turf and with seven matches remaining are all but guaranteed a playoff position with their 10 point cushion from the final playoff spot.
Lanzarote would love to go the whole season unbeaten at home however the only item now on the agenda is to finish top which guarantees a Copa Del Rey place for next season as well as just having a final playoff for promotion to Segunda B (League 1) against a league winner from the mainland rather than the playoffs.
Next week Lanzarote travel to Gran Canaria and face 14th placed side Unión Viera whilst league leaders Santa Brígida travel to Lanzarote to play Yaiza, hopefully our neighbours can do us a favour. Third placed Las Palmas B are at home against the lowly but much improved CD La Cuadra( Unión Puerto).
Many thanks to Martin Hancock owner of Colorworks and the 6D cinema at the new marina in Arrecife who kindly donated two free tickets to all the playing squad as well as backroom staff and club directors to his cinema. This was a reward for beating the record of 33 home matches since defeat. Below are some of the players showing their voucher.
GOALS
1-0 min 53 Marcos Cabrera
2-0 min 66 Rosmen
3-0 min 69 Ayoze Pérez
4-0 min 79 Miguel Gómez
