LANZAROTE   0   UD VILLA SANTA BRÍGIDA   1

The Rojillos lose their second home match of the season and miss out on the opportunity to move into the playoff positions after a poor and lacklustre performance.

Prior to the kick off UD Lanzarote president Juan Carlos Albuixech presented a framed shirt to defender Raúl in recognition of playing 200 games for the Rojillos (main photo).

Lanzarote began the match the much better of the two sides but without their injured wide men of Alyson and new signing Traoré they found it difficult to break down a determined Gran Canarian defence.

In the 12^th minute good work down the right wing from Keita gave Machín a half chance, the local boy did well to keep his effort low but his snapshot hit the body of the Santa Brígida keeper and the danger was cleared.

A long ball forward was chased down by Gran Canarian striker Santi in the 24^th minute, he seemed to get the first touch on the ball and defender Matheus was adjudged to have pulled him down, in the officials mind this warranted a penalty and it certainly was an untidy challenge from Lanzarote´s no nonsense centre back.

Rojillos keeper Alejandro guessed correctly and saved from the captain Santi low at his right hand post to keep the score level. The home side then enjoyed the majority of possession for the remainder of the first half but still could find no answer to get through the green and white defence.

The visitors began the second period with more confidence and in the 49^th minute Ale Gil struck from 15 yards for his team’s first effort on goal but Alejandro made a comfortable save.

It didn’t take long for Lanzarote to once again dominate play. In the 55^th minute Keita broke through the steel defence and from a narrow angle his shot shaved the crossbar but it did seem as though Lanzarote were edging closer to that goal.

Ten minutes later and a low cross from the right took a deflection and from 12 yards Miguel Gopar slightly off balance shot but his strike hit the meat of the crossbar and went for a goal kick.

Lanzarote still went in search of the winner but their ideas on how to create began to dry up. Confidence continued to grow with Santa Brígida and in the 73^rd minute they were awarded a penalty when the ball struck the hand of Dani inside the 18 yard box. The league’s top scorer Santi once again took the spot kick and this time he sent Alejandro the wrong way to give his side a 0-1 lead.

The hosts kept up the pressure in the oppositions final third until the end of the match but it was the same story throughout the match that they failed in creating any good chances.

Lanzarote remain in sixth spot and two points adrift of the playoff positions but there are a host of teams many of which have plenty of games in hand ready to leapfrog the Rojillos. Santa Brígida move away from the relegation positions and up to 9^th. Next week Lanzarote travel to Tenerife to play that team occupying that final playoff spot CD Santa Úrsula in fifth place. Lanzarote´s next home match has been moved forward a day the following weekend. It is now going to be played on Saturday 12^th February at 5pm versus CD Marino.

GOALS

0-1 min 74 Santi (penalty)