My eyes were witnessing the colour and passion of the Los Cristianos Carnaval parade but my ears were being fed the slow lingering death of CD Tenerife with the latest defeat, this time 1-0 at Elche. After watching the first half in town duty called for my Tenerife Magazine report, I’m told we played better in the second half and late red cards for Beranger and Ricardo were unlucky, sadly that just wont wash anymore we are plummeting towards an uncertain future in Segunda B and the studio talk on the radio was of another coaching change with either or both Marrero’s Martin and Christo coming in.

Salamanca had sent an encouraging signal in the morning with a 5-0 home to Valladolid but other results meant a defeat would leave CDT seven points adrift of safety. So it had to be all out attack didn’t it? I couldn’t believe how slow, timid and deep we were early on, Prieto (above) and Luna were the centre back pairing after last weeks double red cards but Prieto’s first touch of the game was a clumsy tackle-welcome back. Elche were on top and from a corner after 16 minutes Mateo rose unchallenged to head the ball in the Tenerife net. Omar had a good chance to level when free on the left but fired his shot wide of the post. Carpio kept up the home pressure forcing a strong save from Sergio and then missing the target. Ricardo had probably the best chance of the half as Tenerife finished strongly but the home keeper Jaime pulled off a superb save. Natalio set up Hidalgo who couldn’t finish and Nino was unlucky just before the whistle for half time.

The second half opened with a penalty claim by former Tenerife forward Angel after a Prieto tackle, thankfully the ref was not impressed. Nino was quick to pounce on a poor clearance by the goalie at the other end but failed to make the most of it. Angel in a good run of scoring form was keen to put one past his old team mates but hit his best chance straight at Sergio. Igor was brought on for Natalio and went close from a cross by an earlier sub Juanlu. Coach Tapia gambled bringing on Julio Alvarez forPrieto but there was no way back despite a late effort from Omar from just outside the area. There always seems room for a little more damage with Tenerife this season, Ricardo got his red card for a second booking in inury time and Beranger joined him a moment after with a straight red. The problems just keep mounting up as the games dwindle away, if the proposed players strike doesn’t close the league down next week Tenerife have to travel to relegation rivals Nastic with their latest red carders missing.

AFTERMATH – Reports say that Ricardo and Julio Alvarez came to blows in the Tenerife dressing room after the game and security had to be called. Who needs Eastenders?.