Fireworks ripping through the Los Cristianos sky this week are as good a way as any to mark a two win perfect start for CD Marino. It’s the Virgen del Carmen celebrations to mark the fishing traditions of south Tenerife and the Marino club knows all about tradition and pride.

A quiet revolution has been going on at CD Marino, a raft of new faces has been brought in to build on last seasons promotion play off reaching team. Not many were in place when I saw them lose 1-7 to a strong Las Palmas side pre season but all that was forgotten when they opened their Tercera division campaign last week with a 1-2 win at Estrella. There was a good shape to the side in the latest win,1-0 at home to Atletico Victoria, Amado back for a second spell had the captains armband and marshaled his defence well, as well as making some timely interventions. Pibe led the attack with plenty of pace and old favourites like goalie Alberto, Pablo, and Balduino added a steadying influence to the mix.

Victoria spurned a couple of early chances, Lele looped his shot marginally over the goal but Marino settled quickly and took the game to their rivals from the north. Pibe carved his way through a couple of defenders but stumbled when shaping for a shot, a long high strike from Airan didn’t threaten the Victoria keeper, but a second effort from Pibe deserved better after he turned quickly and blasted just over the bar.

The stocky Joseph caused some trouble at the other end but found Alberto ready for him with a fine take in the air. Marino were testing their guests all the time, Nestor Trujillo was always willing to take the ball wide and challenge the defenders. At the break the blues had to be content with having the greater share of the play. The action resumed with a rare Victoria attack but the home defence mopped it up well. Marchena, another former Marino player lured back to the Antonio Dominguez stadium replaced Kevin Castro and added more bulk to the attack.

Pibe should have passed to a team mate after steering the ball around the defence but he hesitated and the moment was gone. Nestor Trujillo learnt from that and a few minutes later he drew his marker before placing his shot perfectly to grab the lead with 20 minutes to go. This stung Victoria into action, their goalie camped out on the edge of his box to help launch a fight back, Alberto came to the rescue twice with a powerful punch clear and then a dash outside his area to boot the ball out of play. It was a well deserved win and they will be looking for a third next weekend at Santa Ursula.

Man sees Jesus in slice of toast! As much as you want to believe it and strain your eyes it’s just a blur. Now I’m not saying that CD Tenerife’s 1-1 home draw with Albacete marked a moment of divine revelation but something is definitely appearing out of the recent months gloom. Of course it helped having a hallelujah moment when Aridane scored the first league goal in 790 minutes.

Maybe the late night air of Santa Cruz suits us but don’t tell the TV companies, their imposed 10pm kick off is not something we want to make a habit of. The late recruitment of a whole shoal of new players has put CD Tenerife a month behind their rivals but two of the new boys made a big impact on this game. The injured Ifran made way for Cristo Martin, and Aridane played the central striking role, he had great support from Guarrotxena who was strong and went close to scoring after just five minutes. At the other end, Albuzua looked assured alongside Carlos Ruiz in central defence.

Jacobo made a couple of good early saves but repeated his opening day weakness after 32 minutes, Portu put the ball into Diaz in the area and he fired, it was a soft effort and the big goalie should have easily swallowed it but it went straight through him for an away lead. The home spirit was good, Aridane, Ruiz, and Guarrotxena all went close in a hot five minute spell and hope still hung in the air at half time. The second half saw the steady improvement continue, Ruso came on for the busy Cristo Martin and a minute later the visiting goalie showed his generous side after Guarrotxena forced a mistake out of him to present Aridane with the goal we had all craved since April.

The second biggest cheer of the night was for the return of Vitolo after nine years away from his home island. Although clearly a little rusty he slotted in well and another piece of the jigsaw arrived when Maxi came on after 70 minutes. The Albacete goalie and some bad luck prevented a home winner but the build up play was better.

Albizua looked a class act tidying up behind the more prominent Ruiz, in the last ten minutes he stopped a Albacete break and hooked the ball up field to start a Maxi run down the right wing. It was a much encouraged 7,885 crowd that filed out for a midnight cup of cocoa, we had to settle for beer. More of the new signings will be up for consideration for next weeks game at Girona and coach Cervera will have a tough decision to make on the goalie choice but I will be looking for omens in my cornflakes next Saturday morning.