Mixed emotions hardly begins to cover what the last week has been like for CD Tenerife fans. A week ago we couldn’t have imagined that we would be following a 2-1 away win in Conquense by packing into a church to mix tears with laughter as we said goodbye to Andy Glover, or Twat Hat as he was affectionately known. At least fate, if you believe in it, had the decency to deliver a rare away win, I’m sure I could hear the clink of a glass and a trace of Andy’s Sid James laugh as the final whistle blew.

On a rock hard frozen pitch, bereft of grass, another new era was begining for the team, Calderon had been sacked and new coach Garcia Tebar took his place in the dug out, latest new sigining Luismi Loro made his debut up front just behind Kiko Raton. Chechu had the best early chance but fired wide after 10 minutes, a few minutes later he threaded a long pass through to Kiko who stretched but couldn’t get his foot to the ball. Maybe that effort gave the big forward an injury, he was replaced by Aridane after 20 minutes and his first touch was a well plaved header from new boy Loro’s perfect pass.

Loro looked classy and left back Raul Llorente (above) continued to impress after his eye catching debut in last weeks home defeat. Sergio had little to do in goal but just before half time he had to be alert to a shot that swirled in the icy cold wind. The Tenerife keeper followed up with a decisive take of the ball on the edge of the box as Ruano closed in. The second half opened well as Chechu took advantage of some slack home defending to make it 2-0. Loro had a clear penalty claim but the referee wasn’t having it and within two minutes Tarantino was sent off for his second red card. Medina was brought on for Chechu and resumed his old place in the heart of defence.

New coach Garcia soon discovered the facts of life when the customary jitters set in, Vinuesa grabbed the first decent home chance of the second half to reduce the arrears and alarm bells were ringing. Ten man CDT did well to hang on but had to thank Sergio for two more outstanding saves, one in the last seconds of injury time. Plenty for the new boss to work on in the week as he tries to instill his own ideas, at least the win put Tenerife back up into the fourth promotion play off spot.

Back at the church there was a good turnout as at the Santa Cruz crematorium on Friday. Andy enriched so many of our lives, however bad the games, and there were many shockers, he could always crack us up with a well chosen word or another of his endless filthy bad taste jokes. The coffin and the urn had no connection with the Andy I knew, for me his spirit will always be there in the Heliodoro stadium, any bar where we watch an away game, and most of all in some fantastic memories of a great friend.

Say Hello Wave Goodbye was playing over the speaker on the Armada Sur bus when we heard of the inevitable sacking of coach Antonio Calderon. It just about sums up our record with coaches (and shows how old we are) but this has been coming for weeks and a disasterous first half ending in a 2-o deficit sealed Calderons fate, even a fight back before losing 3-2 at home to Sporting Gijon B couldn’t gloss over the glaring problems out on the pitch.

Nothing is ever quite clear at CD Tenerife, who really picks the team, young midfield prospect Abel (above right) was a shock recall to midfield and looked like a headless chicken. I suspect even he was surprised to get the call up, it came as he was looking for assurances about his future at the club, clearly a political selection to keep him sweet, handed down from sporting director Cordero or even President Concepcion. Why is Medina playing at right back, and Tarantino at centre back, both had poor games, it’s worrying when the normally consistent and assured Medina loses the plot. Atleast Raul Llorente (above left) looks a classy new addition at left back. How does Chechu keep getting picked, his crosses from the right were sloppy and off target and Mendy tortured Tenerife down that flank.

Abel lost the ball just before the opening goal after 23 minutes and Guerrero had no problems with the static defence before giving the visitors the lead. There was no effective midfield for Tenerife, the ball did get up to new forward Aridane several times but his control on the ground is shockingly bad, of course top scorer Perona was dropped to the bench – work that one out. Then after 34 minutes it got much worse, Muniz struck a pin point free kick and Sergio was late to the ball and it beat his outstretched hand at the top corner. The shouts for Calderon to go rained down and after Tarantino picked up a yellow card there was a chorus of support for the return of Ayoze to the middle of defence. Pablo Sicila had his work cut out mopping up at the back and it was all painful to watch.

Changes had to come at half time, Abel went off for Nico and Medina went for Kiko Raton with Chechu dropping back to defend the right side. The wake up call made some difference, just a few minutes in and Kiko’s prescence helped to make an opening for Aridane to tap in for a goal. CD Tenerife showed a bit more fight and the final change, Perona for Ferran Tacon added more fire power. Nico was lively when he was fed the ball and after 76 minutes his determination earned a penalty, Perona was sharp from the spot and maybe we had a hope of getting out of jail.

It was a short lived and false hope, Guerrero took advantage of a rare slip by Sicilia and put the ball in the net – taxi for Calderon! As many of the 8,352 crowd streamed away new left back Llorente, easily the best home player, pushed forward again and unleashed a good shot that wasn’t too far away. The whistle came and we were left with the wreckage of another home game without a win, last one was 20 th November. Dare we hope that new midfield signing Luismi Loro from Elche can make a difference, dare we hope that a new coach can squeeze more out of the squad, and dare we hope that that coach (looks like Garcia Tebar) will have a free hand to pick his team. Stay tuned for the next gripping instalment.

It was a win, had to be a win, 1-o up at Vecindario and into the last seconds of injury time and then it happened, a corner, Futre got his head to it and Sergio’s punch just helped it into the CD Tenerife net for a 1-1 draw. What a sucker punch but the day was another glaring lesson in taking your chances, while Kiko’s head was displaying first half power but not accuracy Real Oviedo were winning 5-0 at home to Leganes to jump into third place.

There were changes again despite last weeks 4-0 away win, Medina was moved to right back to allow Pablo Sicilia to return to the heart of defence. Vecindario had the first shot of the game just over the bar after five minutes but after that Tenerife dominated the first half. Chechu from the right and Bravo from the left put in some perfect crosses but Kiko couldn’t get the headers on target. Bravo had a go just before the break running the ball down the left and forcing a corner, Chechu slung it in but again Kiko missed the target.

The second half started with a booking for Marcos that will rule him out of next Sundays home game. Vecindario born Aridane came on for Kiko after 60 minutes to a fair few boos. Ferran Tacon raided down the left but with noone closing in on goal he screwed his shot into the side netting. Perona came on for Chechu but it was Bravo who nearly broke the deadlock with a floated free kick that the home keeper punched clear. Kitoko showed great determination to win the ball and charged into the penalty area, an outstreched defenders foot brought him crashing down and Perona sent the keeeper the wrong way to score the penalty.

There was wild celebration in the stands from the 500 plus Tenerife fans but as the game went into four minutes of injury time Vecindario got a corner and as the ball came over Futre rose to head the ball, Sergio went to punch it away but merely helped it into the net, what a sickener. It was definately two points dropped and spoilt what would have been a perfect start to the new year.

It wouldn’t be a Tenerife project if it ran to schedule so it’s hardly surprising that the new Garachico marina is evolving in it’s own sweet time. Back for another look just before Christmas it had moved on but still looked a lot short of the finished article.

The project started in November 2008 and the works board still proudly claims it will be finished by 10^th September 2011. There is a lot riding on the 33,150,000 euro marina, it’s seen as the driving force that will boost the economy of the former capital and main trading port for Tenerife. A huge volcanic lava flow wiped that out but as a small consolation left the spit of volcanic rock just off the coast, it’s now on most tourists must see tick list.

Anyway back to the job in hand, it has since been announced that the marina is nearly finished but the fancy last touches mean it won’t be ready to use until the summer. Looking across, the basics seem in place including the pile driven black metal posts that will secure the pontoons for boats to park up to. Down in Los Cristianos the adding of pontoons and underlaid fuel pipes took several months and that was on a smaller scale.

There was a flurry of activity unfolding before my eyes but the JCB digger was a sight to behold. Had it been set on fire, dipped in the sea to cool off and then left to rust? What a state it looked and it made noises to match as it clanked, screeched, and clanked along. There are plans for a new hotel near the marina, the sheer beauty and history of Garachico will make it a popular stop off point for private boats and the proposed pleasure boat trips will also gain from the rugged and towering coastline.

On the day of my visit the sea was decidedly choppy, reaching the natural channels in the rocks that make a superb natural swimming spot the chain and keep out notice were up. The warning seemed to just arouse people’s sense of adventure and there was quite a crowd along the rocky crests watching the hardy swimmers riding the surges as the tide swept up the channels and sprayed mist over onlookers.

Crossing over and into the main plaza there was a much more sedate scene, sunshine and shade shared the quiet well laid out square, even the bandstand and snack kiosk was running at half pace. A statue of Simon Bolivar, founder of Simonlivia (just testing, Bolivia) looked at the scene thoughtfully, maybe wondering about the finished look of the marina.

A cooling breeze had struck up and with a long way to go back to the south , I caught the next bus to Icod de Los Vinos to retrace my journey. It’s an uplifting thought that on my next visit I should be able to have a little tour around the open and thriving marina – I hope they save a little corner for that ancient digger.

At least two of the goals were gifts and Alcala had ten men for most of the game but this was a tremendous 4-0 win with the two transfer window signings playing a key role. The whistles and boos from the last home game in December hung in the air over the festive season and the departures of Josmar on loan to Venezuela and Luna full time to Ecuador left room to bolster the squad. In came Raul Llorente a 25 year old formerly with Alaves, he took over the left back role for this opening game of 2012, and Gran Canaria born 31 year old striker Aridane started on the bench.

Alcala had early chances but found Sergio Aragoneses at his agile best. At the other end the home keeper tried to stop Bravo taking the ball around him and pulled the CDT player down for a penalty and got sent off. Bravo slipped the ball past the keepers replacement for a 27th minute lead. Victor Bravo (above) was having an outstanding game and his shot just after the break was parried to Kiko who scored with a bit of help from both posts. Marcos Rodriguez came on for Zazo and within 10 minutes had made it 3-0 after another half hearted stop from the keeper.

New boy Aridane took to the pitch after 80 minutes and proved his worth with a well taken header from a Bravo cross five minutes later. A much needed boost for the confidence of players and fans, hopefully a draw at least at Vecindario next week and the numbers will be on the rise again for the home games. Tenerife remain third on 34 points behind leaders Castilla on 40 points and Lugo on 37, Oviedo are just behind in fourth but only on goal difference. Better but still a long way to go.