Not even one of the Armada Sur coaches breaking down at the southern end of our football pilgrimage could put a dampener on a 2-0 home win over Real Madrid C. A replacement was found swiftly and delivered us with the minimum of fuss. That’s so like the squad this season, injuries and suspensions are taken in our stride and there is always a quality replacement revving up on the sidelines.

Alberto Jimenez made a surprise debut in the centre of defence away last week so this was our first chance to see him up close and he didn’t disappoint. Big and imposing, the 20 year old looked a natural alongside Bruno, himself a new recruit from the B side this season. Strong on the ball and good in the air, Alberto was able to push up with everyone confident that Bruno would stay back and look after the shop. Loro was back to his best, hassling up front he forced an early corner and a few minutes later tried to dig out the ball from the Madrid defence to create an opening.

Much of Tenerife’s play was veering over to the right side leaving Llorente begging for service on the other flank but with Inigo Ros breaking up any budding Madrid moves in midfield and Suso cutting their defence to shreds the chances continued to come. After 28 minutes Loro floated in a perfect corner and Alberto rose high to head a home lead. Loro followed up with a good chance but was caught between a shot and a cross. Suso had his determined head on and after breaking down the right he charged in on the keeper but he just won the race to the loose ball.

Aridane was battling away and when Derick fouled him Loro curled a sweet free kick into the bottom corner of the visitors net, so much for the usual dogged first half. Yeray was on after the break replacing the booked Fran Ochoa, he’s another young gun that has fired himself into the reckoning. Cristo was unlucky to be pulled up by the ref when through on goal and a Suso cross and Aridane’s head forced a one handed save out of Sobrino. The young visitors have been climbing the table rapidly oveer the last few weeks but Tenerife restricted them and it was only the arrival of forward Mariano that finally gave Madrid a player that could threaten Tenerife.

Aridane gets through a lot of work, he fell awkwardly when covering back and jumping to defend, he carried on briefly but had to give way to Guillem Marti. Ayoze Perez got another run out as well, fresh from his two goal heroics for the B team in thee Federation Cup. Yeray tested the Madrid keeper and Alberto tightened his grip on Mariano to snuff out his enthusiasm. Guillem shot high late on and Alvaro resorted to fouling him to clip his wings and got sent off in injury time. Tenerife were never really troubled, the 8,651 crowd went home stress free and with the top of the table gap extended to eight points.