Clawing back an early deficit, CD Marino failed to convert long spells of dominance into a victory. The price of a 1-2 home defeat to Recreativo Granada could be a heavy one in the relegation phase of their Segunda B division season. Dimas roasted the visitors defence in the opening minutes with crosses from the right. N´Diaye headed one on past the stranded goalie but just outside the post, and caused mayhem with a second bomb into the reds defence.

Emerson cut loose and made a hopeful hand ball appeal for a Granada penalty after his rocket shot canoned off a home defender with no response from the ref. The same attacker tried again, taking the ball wide down the left before skewing a shot over the bar. Nami was full of running for blues, he latched onto a long free kick and beat Montoro before goalie Costa claimed the ball to deny a home lead. Towering Torrente couldn´t cope with the smaller Marino forwards, Nami rose above him to set up another close call from Dimas.

Emerson was the visitor to fear, having failed from a short corner, he was more lethal with a near copy that beat Galvan in the home goal just before the half hour. A low shot from Lopez just after wasn´t good enough to extend the lead. N´Diaye was influential for Marino so it was a huge blow to loose him just before half time with a head injury that saw him stretchered off to receive a Tenerife hospital check over. The Dimas-Nami combination produced two more chances before the half time whistle gave the home team time to refocus.

A win was vital for Marino in the first of eight games in the mini league to try to secure another season in Spain´s third tier. A double change for the second half saw forwards Borja Llarena and Rodrigo join the chase. Granada had their tails up and Arencibia and Jurgen had to clear two good attempts to stretch their lead. There was renewed hope when Dimas floated in a shot from the edge of the box while the Granada defence and goalie froze as the ball nestled in the back of the goal. Marino kept the pressure on by adding attacking right back Nikki with 20 minutes left on the clock. The speedy player troubled Costa with two powerful strikes, it could have been third time lucky when Nikki raced clear of his marker only to be pulled back by the refs badly judged offside call.

It was a thrilling finish as Borja blasted a shot wide in the 90th minute. Marino minds were on attack but when the ball broke to Rodriguez on the left, he sped inside and tucked the ball past Galvan. It was the second time in two consecutive home games that Marino had fallen to a last kick winner. Empty handed in their empty stadium, Marino were left hoping for away points and another return for their home fans to help save their season.

There was plenty of hunger shown by CD Marino, but San Fernando were early to the table with a second minute free kick winner. It was served up as a well flighted Rodriguez strike taht found the bottom corner of the home net. Marino were robbed of three key players by injury and it took them a while to adjust against a Gran Canaria team destined for the promotion play ofs.

Moreno was always pushing for the pink shirted visitors but N´Diaye and Pedro Aleman combined well a few minutes later to take up the chase. Marinos nerves showed when goalie Kikvidze ´s soft clearance had to be tidied up with a back pass from N´Diaye. San Fernando  had their own let off when Nami beat two static defenders and was only halted by the knee of keeper Perales. The keeper recovered his composure with a  follow up tip over from an N´Diaye shot.

Nami on the right and Dimas on the left swapped flanks to give the blues their best spell of the game just before the break. Moussa was quick to get into a good position as a N´Diaye  glanced header came his way but there wasn´t quite room for a threatening shot. Kikvidze did well to pluck out a high shot from Bernal to keep the deficit to the single goal. The maspalomas based visitors could have sat back in the second half but came out all guns blazing. Bernal tried to atone for his earlier failed attempt, and Rodriguez had the home goal in his sights  before Aleman came to the rescue.

Rodrigo replaced Nami and held the ball up well as Marino fought to get back on terms. Kikvidze had a busy game, a full length diving save was the pick of his busy work load. The second phase of the Segunda B (Spain´s third tier) season was beckoning. Regional groups will split into new groups to chase the long road to possible promotion and relegation. San Fernando were assured of their upper chase and Marino were already booked in for the relegation battle, but as league points are carried into this second phase, Marino needed to fight for at least a draw from this last first phase match.

A double substitution refreshed the blues urgency, Borja llarena added pace and an eye for goal from the right, and Julien added his creative vision from midfield. Borja was close with his shot from a Julien hanging cross, Perales had to stretch to grab the ball to safety. Right back Nikki was the final home sub, another fleet footed ‘player, he took on San fernando down the right and left wings and caused them problems. Rodrigo produced a couple of decent shots but San Fernando held firm and were delighted to give themselves a boost ahead of the next set of games. It´s been a hard season so far for Marino after their promotion  but they will have to dig even deeper over the next couple of months to secure their elevated status.

Elation, relief, and pride in a relentless performance. CD Marino reeled in Recreativo Huelva after trailing, and sealed a 2-1 victory in the fourth minute of added time. The sound of celebration ripped into theTenerife  evening sky for the blues first home win of the Segunda B season. Everyone played their part against the cynical visitors who only showed hunger for all three points at the end of normal time.

Backed by a 400 plus crowd, Marino showed their desire from the start. Julien broke through on the right and exposed defender Madrigal before the ball ran on and out of play. Manu Dimas was next to torture the big centre back and test the erratic goalie Nauzet in the mainlanders net. Blues Fede Olivera made a rare slip to leave the ball in an enticing position, Arencibia was quick to cover and close the gap.

Santana was the danger man for Recreativo, he was brought down on the edge of the Marino box and Quiles gratefully converted the penalty for a 23rd minute lead. That could have signalled a collapse but Marino stuck to their promising format. Nadjib was making creative runs down the left, Dimas was elusive as he drifted out wide to surge in from the right, keeping the orange shirted defenders off guard.  A sloppy back pass by Jimenez put keeper Nauzet under pressure and he was lucky to get away with a scuffed clearance kick to avert the threat just before the break.

Marino returned with more intent and Dimas levelled from the spot after being brought down after 53 minutes. Recreativo spurned a chance of a quick reply when they blasted a shot over the bar. Home coach Kiko de Diego made an inspired triple change after 73 minutes to bring on Ahmed, Moussa, and Borja llarena. The crouching goalie had to scramble to cover a Borja shot, it served as more encouragement to the blues. Nunca Se Rinde (Never Surrender) was the message from the stands, and the team responded. When play moved to the other end, David Kikvidze made a sharp save to further fuel the sense of hope.

Moussa used his sixe and determination as he ran at the Recreativo defence, forcing a corner that was cleared. Ahmed showed his attacking instincts, he went close with a header as the pressure grew on the visitors. When Dimas was held down in the penalty area by Valentino, there were strong shouts for a penalty but the ref kept his whistle silent. Recreativo keeper Nauzet rushed to the half way line to take a free kick for his side as the game entered the extra four minutes, but it didn´t find one of his team mates and he had to retreat at top speed to avoid getting caught out. As Marino pushed for the winner, Recreativo broke upfield  twice only to find Kikvidze on top form with two sparkling saves. There were precious seconds left as Moussa pounced on the ball and charged down the right before slipping the ball across to Borja to bury it past the goalie just before the final whistle sounded.

Improved in midfield and with several half chances, CD Marino´s home goal drought continued with an injury time penalty miss in a 0-0 draw with Cadiz B. It was another frustrating afternoon in the south of Tenerife and left Marino rooted to the floor of their Segunda B group.

Visiting goalie Garrancho claimed an early ball off the head of Rodrigo´Gonzalez. Lively Darra opened up the blues defence after 10 minutes, but his ball across the goal mouth was way beyond his team mates. Julien Vercauteren from Belgium, was always looking to kick start a Marino raid from midfield, and right back Fede Olivera looked comfortable in defence and added some surging forward runs. Cadiz had the outstanding player on the pitch, centre back Saturday Keigo was dominant on the ground and in the air and caused problems when joining the attack. Marino´s best chance of the opening half cane when Ekangamene, also from Belgium, set up Colombian Rodrigo whose shot skewed off target. Borja llarena´s cross cum shot cleared the bar for Marino to leave the game finely poised at half time.

Late confirmation of fans being allowed back in the stadium, limited the crowd to around 300, but they gave good vocal support to try to inspire some clinical finishing. Colombian, Rodrigo looked likely to break the stalemate just after the break but Garrancho punched away his effort. Gudeli led a charmed life for the yellows as two bruising blocks by him went unpunished by the ref. Julien found Ekangamene who fired high, and Julien hooked his own attempt over the bar.

The home tension was growing as Cadiz pushed Marino back into defence in the final minute of normal time. Rodrigo had a great chance to use his size to power between two markers and race into the yellows half unchallenged but they squeezed him out. The ref signalled four minutes injury time as Rodrigo and sub Nami both squandered half chances  but salvation seemed at hand when the ref blew for a penalty in the dying seconds. Nami stepped up and fired wide of the goal. The closing whistle was immediate and the points were shared.

Mali international Anbaba had an uncomfortable debut in the centre of defence, and new young forward Jurgen struggled to trouble visiting goalie Herrero as CD Marino lost 0-3 to Marbella FC behind closed doors in Tenerife. The visitors dominated the game, spreading the play in attack and closing down the rear with rapid interceptions.

Niki created an encouraging opening for the home side, picking out Dumas with a neat pass but the pink defence squeezed him into making a weak shot. Marbella have well financed ambitions to win promotion to Spain´s Second Division, only early wayward finishing from Chumbi and Redruello kept the first 29 minutes goal less. That was broken when a high inswinger found a leaping Chumbi who nodded the ball into the home net for make his own debut a happy one after a move from Real Murcia.

Nami tried for a quick reply with a low shot, Busquets was a little lucky to get a boot to it to stub out the danger. Just before half time, an unchecked run down the left by Callejon ended with him tucking the ball under the diving Kidvice. Ahmed made a couple of threatening breaks after the restart, and Aleman did well to hold off Callejon to keep the visitors in sight. After 65 minutes, Niki tried to dig out a loose ball as Marbella goalie Herrero dived  to smother it. The ref gave Niki a harsh sending off to further restrict Marino.

Marbella made the most of their man advantage and within five minutes it was 0-3 from a Tresako penalty for a foul by Saavedra. Kidvice kept the scoreline down with a late full length tip away. Chumbi could have inflicted further damage, his build up dribble was good but not matched by a shot that drifted wide of the goal. It was another blow for CD Marino´s season and a few days later they scoured the January window transfer market to sign another forward. Rodrigo Rivas, a 24 year old Colombian with experience in the Cyprus and Croatia leagues as well as a spell with Alaves in Spain is the latest hope to stabilise the blues first season back in the Segunda B.

Shooting practice will be on the menu for CD Marino after sharing a 0-0 draw with visitors Tamaraceite in Tenerife. Resolute defending and a packed midfield limited chances but the home side should have capitalized on their superior first half showing, especially Borja Llarena who had two golden chances.

Boosted by a bumper 700 plus crowd, the blues set off at a good pace with Nami flashing a shot wide of the Gran Canaria teams post. Aythami could only reply with a wild, deep, hopefull ball trying to find Quintero, their main striker. Pablo Santana prompted from the home midfield, setting Borja onto his through ball, but his shot found an alert defender. A delicate touch  from Nami  set up another go for Borja but he rushed the shot and missed the target. It took 30 minutes for the reds to threaten as Quintero put a header over the bar. A free kick just before half time was easily blocked by the Marino wall.

Maybe the reds sensed they had weathered the storm. Just after the restart Baez shot wide when Angel Galvan missed a high ball. The keeper was back on top form to snuff out afurther attack as Quintero thundered in. A rush from deep in the visitors half fizzled out as both teams struggled to grab hold of the game.Cristo came on for Pablo to pep up the Marino attacking options. It was still important to ensure that Tamaraceite didn´t break free, and there was danger as Padron beat Pedro Aleman before firing straight at Galvan.

Fede pushing up down the right offered some encouragement to his Marino team mates. A double change with 15 minutes left brought Moussa and Samuel onto the pitch. Moussa and Fede both had late  half chances but it was a frustrating finish for the single point.

Do pass go, do collect 500 fans. That was the set up for CD Marino on their return to Segunda B football. Despite giving a good account of themselves at the higher level, a sucker punch last minute goal from visitors RB Linense was enough to separate the two teams. Less than 24 hours after Marino got the go ahead to allow a limited capacity crowd, all places were taken with social distancing observed on the Playa de Las America terraces as well as for the pre match team photos.

A harder, more intense tempo greeted the blues step up. Danese blocked an early shot from new home striker Manu Dimas. Anaba, another new addition, posted his central defensive qualities with a strong clearing header. Pablo Santana matched him with some neat tidying up and a safe tap back to goalie David Kikvidze as Marino settled to their task. Dimas was probing for an attacking opening and Nadjib cut in from the right with a mazey run and a shot that veered wide. Alejandro looked lively up front for the Andalucia team but his finishing was wasteful. The best home effort of the first half came from a Dimas free kick that keeper Miras smothered. Anaba was rock solid in the heart of the blues defence, Linense had to rely on scraps, Antonio was cursing himself after he put a rare headed chance over the home goal.

The lateness of their confirmed promotion and squad strengthening left Marino playing catch up but they came out after the break with a renewed determination and a growing awareness of each others play. Captain Saavedra was in a unfamiar left back role but Niki was adding his usual attacking bursts down the right slot. Alejandro was still the danger man to watch from Linense, a quick turn to create space should have been finished with something better than his drag wide. Dimas had a similar miss at the other end as Marino stepped up the pressure. Saavedra found Cristo Diaz with a good through ball, although he forced a corner, Linense held firm.

Ahmed was having a quiet game by his own standards and wasn´t helped by the ref ignoring a foul on him when he was free in the box. New blood was needed, strikers Borja llarena and last seasons top scorer, Nami came on to push for the winner. Cristo Diaz came close with a powerful strike that deflected of a defender as time slipped away. In the final minute, a free kick just outside  the home box had the nerves jangling. Alejandro shaped up to take the kick but  Camacho took the job and lifted his shot over the defensive wall and into the back of the net. Marino tried to level in injury time but a bullet header from Pablo Santana was cleared off the goal line by the head of Sergio Rodriguez. The loss was a bitter pill but the sight of 500 fans in the stadium was a shot in the arm for Marino and football in Tenerife.

Despite finishing third in the Tercera Division, Group 12, CD Marino were declared champions after the season was ended early due to the Coronavirus lockdown. Up there with the infamous Duckworth Lewis method of deciding cricket matches, this decision was based on results between leaders SD Tenisca of La Palma and the blues from the border of Los Cristianos and Playa de Las Americas. Any champagne being spilled would have been soured by a decision that would upset all football purists, and certainly had the Tenisca club spitting feathers.

Marino had a game in hand and had recently beaten Tenisca 3-1 at home to establish a better coeficient but it must have been hard for the La Palma side to take, they brought a small army of 200 plus fans over for the February game, wonderful support at that level. The top four teams now go into promotion play offs for progress from Spain´s fourth tier to a vastly reorganised Segunda B Division (third tier) next season. Atletico Paso, also of La Palma, also felt badly treated as they had a game in hand on fourth spot and in theory could have crashed the play off party.

Even those climax games are subject to clearance from the health authorities and may well be played behind closed doors on the neautral Canary Island of La Gomera. CD Bahia Santiago in Playa Santiago is the proposed venue for the two semi finals and a grand final with the victor getting promoted, if the climax games cant be played, CD Marino will automatically be promoted.There should be plenty of addesd spice to the play offs after the unusual end to the season. The play offs are a much sought after economic boost to the semi pro clubs, even without fans this year, coverage from TV Canaria could offer them the payout that is so vital to the clubs involved. The other two teams for the games are Tamaraceite of Gran Canaria and San Fernando of Maspalomas, Gran Canaria.

CD Tenerife are back in training to hopefully complete the 2019-2020 Second Division, if the governing bodies and players union can hammer out a working plan for the outstanding 11 games. Five players tested positive in the top two divisions of La Liga just before teams restarted training, Tenerife came through their first round of coronavirus testing all clear but there are many worries to be addressed. La Liga wants to play the concluding games at a frantic pace of a amtch every 72 hours and with an option of four water breaks a game as summer turns up the heat.

Tenerife started with individual players training in small separated zones with masked coaches on hand, the idea being to increase the groups through three and then eight players before full open training. The remainder of the season would be followed with a short breat of around two weeks before launching into the 2020-2021 season. the situation would create lots of extra pressure on players, and fans would be kicking their heels away from the stadiums but at least the TV monster would get fed and we could get our beloved sport back. Fingers crossed, its been far too long without any live action.

Irresistible in attack and resilient in defence, CD Marino surveyed their Tercera division rivals from a three point lead after seeing off Union Puerto Rosario 2-1 in Playa de Las Americas. Chata was the first  player to have a go at goal, his wild blast didn’t trouble David in the home goal. The blues keeper had more of a test from a Juanmi back pass but claimed the ball comfortably.

Precious was making things tick at the heart of the Union midfield, he dug out a dead ball to feed Cebolla whose run floundered against the defensive resolve of Marino. It only took 15 minutes for Marino to take the lead, and it was a text book goal. Nami sped down the right and casually laid the ball across into the path of Santi for an easy slot in. Nami worked his magic again a few minutes later, this time the pass was to Charni who shot straight at the goalie. Ahmed has been a welcome return to the Marino numbers on the left, he can play the flicks and neat lay offs to set others on their way, but also has a keen eye for goal. On the half hour, Ahmed rode a defenders tackle and went on to tease his way past the outstretched goalie to double the lead.

That should have been enough to kill the game but Union came out for the second half with a positive attitude and made Marino work for their points. Precious saw his chance down the left for an unchallenged raid on the home goal and finished well to reduce the arrears. That woke up his team mates, Sandro came close to scoring from a corner but Diego and Saavedra held firm in the centre of defence. Ahmed was always ready to pounce for Marino, this time Paquito cleared the danger. Hector picked up from the visitors defence and aimed at David but the keeper plucked the ball under control.

Cebolla managed a weak header that hardly tickled David’s glove and Marino made a couple of quick swaps with Javi Gonzalez and Zeban forming a new frontal spearhead as Santi and Diego departed. Union tried to claw their way back but Marino have a sterner look this season and know how to close a game down. Paquito did well to repel a late bombardment from Marino, especially in the air, but the points were well already under lock  and key. There was more good news when second placed Tenisca slipped up with a defeat at CD Tenerife B to ensure some space between the blues and second placed Atletico Paso. It’s a test of nerves now to see if Marino can hold off the teams snapping at their heels. Top spot would deliver a shorter play off path when the 18 regional group winners fight for the promotion to Segunda B. Those left behind in the three runner up places face a long drawn out series of games to claim the big move up into the third tier of Spanish football.

Overcoming a 10 th minute SD Tenisca goal, CD Marino surged back for a 3-1 win to move three points clear at the top of their Tercera Division group. In the process they leapt two teams from the island of La Palma, as Atletico Paso had joined the level points summit with a win the previous evening. It could be an omen, a prophecy, or simply a fitting reward for another strong team performance in Playa de Las Americas.

The large inter island following of Tenisca fans vented their anger at the referees decisions, but their team should have built on a well struck Agoney goal after 19 goal top scorer, Dani Gomez, showed his play making side by winning the ball with his back to goal before passing. Marino are good at reeling teams in and started to find their shape and purpose. Roy picked out Nicki who set up a Nami shot that the visiting defence covered. Jorge Gomez threatened for Tenisca but Lopez was being closely shadowed by Diego.

As Roy got more involved, Marino started to pressure the white shirted visitors. Ahmed was drifting in from the left and Nami got the better of Cardenas to force a couple of corners that came to nothing. Agoney slipped his chains and let fly a good shot that David controlled at the second grab. It was a good open game as the teams tested each other. The swirling wind that had blown the subs dugouts over pre game, made high crosses difficult to predict and Oli made some important interventions for the blues. Ahmed managed a few wide strikes but Marino needed to put more direct pressure on goalie Garate.

The half ended in frustration for Tenisca as Chus fouled  Samuel with a high trip, his booking was quickly doubled up to a second yellow and he was off, his team mates and supporters were incensed but the decision stood. That put the pressure on Tenisca, Cardenas served them well with some tight, calm defending. Charni should have done better with his wide shot but there was better to come as after good work from Ahmed, Charni was fouled in the box and Javi Gonzalez  scored from a penalty to put Marino level. Jorge Gomez went close to answering with a shot past the Marino post but just three minutes later Ahmed got the goal his efforts deserved and Marino were in front.

Oli did well to bottle up Gomez as Tenisca sought a way back, a corner made little impact on the Marino defence and Roy went close again at the other end. Home sub Michael was making good headway down the left and left Cabezola trailing behind as he rounded him but couldn´t produce a telling shot. A third goal was needed to ensure a home victory, sub Santi Ramirez obliged in the 76th minute , latching onto a ball in from the left. Tenisca´s mood was not helped when the ref denied a penalty appeal for an Oli tackle on Gomez in the box. The La Palma side staged a late rally, Dani Lopez missed a good chance after Agoney and Cabezola cut loose but it was too late and Marino were delighted to claim the three valuable points.