So many things could have gone wrong for CD Tenerife in this Segunda B opener but a goal in the first 20 seconds settled the nerves and the eventual 2-0 win should help to dispel the pre season doubts that have haunted the fans. New coach Alvaro Cervera has chopped and changed in the warm up games and the squad still has a couple of shirts waiting to be filled. A new striker should be heading in this week but Aridane (above) looked determined to nail down his regular place with a bustling performance and two well taken goals.

This was the first time I have walked to an away game, CD Marino are just 20 minutes from Kirby Towers so there was a strange feeling as I met up with the Armada Sur and some of the other Peñas at Bar 13. It was as near as we could get to our spiritual home The Royal Oak 2 and many memories of our former host Andy mixed with the buzz of getting the league underway. Marino hiked their match day price to 20 euros and that seemed to rile their fans even more than ours, it was like the city of Santa Cruz had relocated for the day as we entered the ground.

Tenerife didn’t hang about, a quick break down the right and a strong cross and Aridane was there to head it in the net. It could have been 2-0 within 10 minutes, the home keeper had to make a diving interception to fist the ball clear. Loro fired wide when it looked easier to score and Marino came into the game and tested Sergio Aragoneses, particularly when forcing a finger tip save after 40 minutes.

The second half brought more scorching sun and a second goal was urgently needed to ensure we didn’t let the lead slip. Loro had a good break but couldn’t quite reach the ball to put in a telling shot. Chechu was probing out wide as new boys Inigo Ross and Cristo Martin impressed with their creative play. Aridane was alert after 65 minutes and gave a home defender the slip before racing through to slot the ball past the keeper for a 2-0 cushion. Marino had chances themselves but the Tenerife defence stood firm and Sergio was always on hand to deny anyone who got through.

It’s very early days and there will be better teams than Marino to beat, an away win and a clean sheet are good reasons to smile for at least the next week. It’s not always the obvious that works, the pairing of Bruno and Tarantino in defence is a strange one considering some of the other defenders we have at the club. The red card hungry Tarantino and former hot prospect Bruno, back from a years loan, have surprised many fans but they seem to bring out the best in each other. As for Marino, it could be a long hard season and they will have to woo back their hardcore fans, the official figure of 2,500 was quite a bit short of Marino´s prediction of 4,000 and did that include those copping a free one perched on top of the fence near the scoreboard?