LANZAROTE   2   CD BUZANADA   0

The Rojillos cruised to a 2-0 win in their opening match of the season versus Tenerife side CD Buzanada in front of an excellent crowd at their new temporary home in Tías.

The club were delighted with the turnout with around 800 adults plus children there to witness their first home league win wearing their new home shirt. Many people were concerned that the attendance would fall whilst work is being done at our home stadium Ciudad Deportiva in Arrecife and that was probably still the case, though a full Tías stadium produces a wonderful atmosphere and all the players told me how special it was.

It was also wonderful to see so many people buying tickets for our match day raffle. This is more important than ever at the moment as the club will understandably not receive any revenue from the canteen in Tías. There are always six great prizes and the highlight of those prizes was a signed UD Lanzarote new shirt. I was delighted to see non resident Ian Mills who had just bought himself a Goldcard on the Friday be the first person to own the new home shirt. He was delighted!

A minutes silence was held before the kick off for the passing of the mother in law of our kit man Clemente García and as always the crowd stood silent showing their respect.

Lanzarote were on the front foot from the start passing the ball around nicely and creating opportunities. In only the 10^th minute captain Ayoze Pérez spotted Ale Fuentes on the edge of the box before taking a corner kick. His delivery was perfect and the local lad who has had a superb pre season volleyed the ball from 12 yards into the left hand corner to send his side into a 1-0 lead.

The Rojillos were dominant and Ale Fuentes was terrorising the Tenerife defence, in the 19^th minute he was inches away from doubling his sides lead after great work from debutant Oli. Javi Martín was the boss of midfield and  took a strike that whistled just over the crossbar. A couple of minutes before the break the Rojillos new hard working striker Iván Aguilar cleverly back heeled to Fuentes and again he was only inches away from the target.

One felt that Lanzarote could pay the price for so many missed opportunities in the first half but fortunately they found that second goal cushion five minutes after the interval. Another local boy making his debut Pablillo, saw the keeper busy organising his defence around the penalty spot on a corner kick so tried his luck from the corner. His in swinging shot edged a retreating defender and flew straight in the net giving Lanzarote a deserved 2-0 lead.

New manager Juan Carlos Socorro made three changes on the hour mark introducing two more debutants. In the 88^th minute both of them created the final opportunity of the match. 26 year old striker Álvaro Iglesias chased a ball that he had no right to win, he hustled down and robbed the defender then passed to fellow debutant Josimar, the youngster that had been on trial with the club and had only just earned himself a contract took one touch but then his shot from 10 yards unfortunately struck the post, nevertheless he was beaming at the end of the match as were all of the players.

Next Saturday Lanzarote travel to Tenerife and face bogey side CD Santa Úrsula at 4.30pm. The Rojillos have failed to win away versus CD Santa Úrsula in their previous 10 outings having drawn seven and lost on three occasions. It is time that voodoo is undone.

GOALS

1-0 min 10 Ale Fuentes

2-0 min 50 Pablillo