LANZAROTE 4 CD EL COTILLO 0, 7th April 2019,

LANZAROTE 4 CD EL COTILLO 0, 7^th April 2019,

The Rojillos blew apart their neighbours from Fuerteventura with a lethal look about them and moved back up into the playoff positions and up to third spot with just six games left to play.

Many Lanzarote fans were nervous about this encounter. The Fuerteventura side are bottom of the league but had the league began nine games ago Cotillo would be sitting in a playoff spot.

Their resurgence had been incredible from being a team doomed to relegation 14 points from safety fighting back to within five points from the drop. After today’s destruction they will need to pick themselves up quickly.

Lanzarote refused to allow the Majoreros (Fuerteventurians) a sniff of the ball in the early stages and with Miguel Gómez on fire switching flanks and bamboozling the Cotillo defence with deft touches, flicks and running at the heart of them, one felt that this was going to be a good day.

A corner in the 6^th minute from Nico González saw British boy Brad Cockerill rise well and power his header home giving the Rojillos a well deserved early 1-0 lead.

Brad celebrating his opening goal with Alex Yunes to his left and Rosmen on the right.

The Rojillos were in complete command and another goal looked imminent, then in the 20^th minute Miguel Gómez went down which looked as though it was an ankle injury and had to be replaced. The great news is that it was precautionary and he should be fine for next week.

Chatting to a Cotillo fan he told me his worst worry was seeing the stocky bald headed fellow on the pitch and was relieved to see that he was not in the initial line up, however off from the bench stepped up that bald headed chap Ayoze Pérez and onto the playing field he went replacing Miguel and this chaps worries were soon to be confirmed.

Elliot in the Cotillo shirt centre having a laugh with some Rojillo fans.

In the 28^th minute it was Ayoze that got on the end of a Javi Morales cross and volleyed at goal, the keeper did well to save but Nico González tapped home though the linesman disallowed his effort for offside.

Great technique from Ayoze Pérez.

Argentine Nico was not going to be denied for long. Three minutes later a wonderful through ball by Ayoze sent Nico galloping on goal, he rounded the keeper and coolly slotted the ball in the back of the net to give Lanzarote a 2-0 lead.

Nico González slotting home after rounding the keeper to send Lanzarote 2-0 up.

The visitors offered very little in way of attack and such was the dominance I believe Rojillos manager Maxi Barrera who was celebrating his 37^th birthday could have given Lanzarote´s most popular fan 75 year old Antonio a go in goal and his side would have still kept a clean sheet.

Our favourite fan Antonio acting as ball boy but could have he gone in goal?

On the stroke of half time it looked as though the home side had gone three up. A free kick was swung in from the left and a Cotillo defender headed the ball onto the crossbar and Captain Rosmen poked the ball home. The linesman raised his flag for offside I think believing that a Rojillo player had headed the ball rather than a defender and the goal was denied.

Happy birthday to Rojillos manager Maxi Barrera.

The atmosphere at the stadium was brilliant throughout the day. The fans managed to draw some breath during the half time interval as well as stocking up on beer. All was set for another entertaining half of football and they were not to be disappointed.

The Cotillo defence were not given a moments respite as Rosmen and Alex Yunes were both running at them and causing havoc.

Rosmen terrozing the Cotillo defence.

Alberto Escudero was part of the midfield than ran the show and early in the second half he forced the Cotillo goalkeeper to make a good save from the edge of the box tipping the ball away for a corner.

A good performance from Alberto Escudero.

In the 66^th minute Ayoze set himself up to swing in a free kick from the left, the disguise fooled the Fuerteventura defence as he played the ball back to the edge of the area and Nico González rounded off a brilliant personal performance as he curled a controlled left footer into the top right hand corner and the Rojillos were coasting 3-0 up.

In the 80^th minute Ayoze drilled in a corner from the left and Pedro Viera who had only been on the pitch five minutes found himself free of his marker and headed in from close range. Lanzarote were now 4-0 to the good and the birthday celebrations of his manager were about to go into full swing.

Pedro Viera running off and celebrating his goal.

The Fuerteventura side managed to play the final ten minutes without conceding but would have been relieved to hear the final whistle and get ready to comeback for next week’s match.

Cotillo are still five points from salvation with six games to play and I am sure most of us have a soft spot for this side as our annual trip over there is always great fun. The best of luck guys!

Things are looking good for the Rojillos with playmaker Enrique Castaño imminent on a return and the injury to the phenomenal new centre back Luciano Pierce is not as bad as first feared. He is expected to be sidelined for just one more week and ready for the run in.

Next Saturday Lanzarote travel to Gran Canaria and face 12^th placed side CF Panadería Pulido at 4pm and then it’s a home game that has finally been confirmed on FRIDAY 19^th April at 12.30 versus mid table side Atlético Unión de Guímar.

GOALS