You can only beat whats put in front of you, or so goes the football saying. Even so, this rampant 4-0 home win for CD Tenerife over UD Ibiza, has to be measured by the visitors almost certain impending relegation. It took just 13 minutes for the goals to start flowing, left back Nacho powered down the flank before crossing for Romero to head past the keeper.

The spirited but limited opponents provided a great oportunity for Tenerife fringe players to stake their claims for next seasons squad. Waldo has only shown glimpses of his potential this season but he shone for the second goal, a left side raid, finished with a close up dribble that exposed the Ibaza goalie. Some of the more consistent Tenerife players are drawing admiring glances from rival teams, Right back Mellot was the instigator of a stylish third goal, his raid, finished with a close up dribble that exposed the Ibaza goalie, the French defenders long ball led to a hanging cross that Gallego hooked into the net from a tight angle.

The home pace slackened a little in the second half as changes were made, including home debuts for the January transfer window loanees Kike Salas, and Dirmisi. Sipcic has grown in stature this season with his defensive control, but the powerful centre back needs to show he can chip in with a few goals at the other end. Coming off the bench, the Montenegro international pushed up and delivered a bullet header past the goalie with his first touch of the game.

A satisfying afternoon in front of a 13,799 crowd, boosted by another ticket promotion – this one to mark the previous days International Day Of The Child. With six league games left, Tenerife have some big decisions to make in advance of the next campaign. Coach Ramis, perceived as favouring a defensive style, will point to this big win as he negotiates a possible contract extension. The introduction of more locally produced young players will also help the coach´s case. Promotion play offs are out of reach and any relegation threat is all but banished, so a push for the highest possible finish remains a noble cause.

Long serving CD Tenerife fans have always expected the unexpected from their heroes but this 4-1 home blitz of UD Las Palmas from Gran Canaria was as surprising as the high octane style of play that earned the bragging rights. Goals have been as fleeting as Haileys Comet in the Heliodoro but Enric Gallego took the game by the scruff of the neck within 25 seconds of kick off. A pacey raid down the right and the big striker picked out the top corner of the goal with precision and power.

There was hardly time to celebrate before Tenerife were two goals to the good, the big man latched onto a nifty build up and subtle pass from Romero, and cracked the ball past the bewildered keeper. Life has been getting better by the day for Gallego, he celebrated his goal haul and upcoming status as a first time father, as the near 18,000 crowd roared their approval. With Las Palmas praying for the halft time whistle, Romero put a weak shot wide, but he was back again with a deep midfield pass for the hard working Waldo to make it 3-0 from a tight angle at the break.

Las Palmas looked shell shocked and their travelling fans were stunned into silence. Tenerife kept up the pressure as the game resumed. Even changes to the starting line up failed to derail Tenerife, David Rodriguez, another youth product got a rare run out. After 81 minutes Las Palmas finally did something when Alvaro Jimenez threaded through the home defence to score a consolation goal. The final word had to belong to CD Tenerife, in injury time Cardona made a clumsy foul and Nacho stepped up to top a wonderful evening for the home fans.

All the action happened before the CD Tenerife v SD Eibar game had even officially started. January loan signing Kike Salas was set to make his debut but pulled up with an injury in the warm up and had to be replaced with Jose Leon. Then the recently elected Santa Cruz Carnaval Queen made the ceremonial kick off ahead of the World Day Of The Woman. Alas, the honoured guests flick of her high heels was about the best foot home work to be seen all evening as Tenerife´s lack of cutting edge played a big part in their 0-1 defeat.

Eibar were strong and well organised but Tenerife showed hopeful signs with Mellot and Nacho pushing up from the full back slots. On the half hour Tenerife had their first decent goal chance but a soft shot gave the visiting keeper few worries. Eibar then gave a lesson in decisive finishing, Corpas sliced through two defenders and from an acute angle fired the ball just beyond the despairing fingers of Soriano to take the lead.

Regular Tenerife fans know better than to expect assistance from the referee, and it proved true again just into the second half when Garces beat the goalie but the ref ruled a handball against Alexandre in the build up. VAR wasn´t even offered as a check, and later replays showed it was the slightest of contact at worst, and in no way intentional. Eibar boosted by a 100 or so travelling fans, kept their game tight to restrict Tenerife. The home changes came late, after 72 minutes with Jose Angel Jurado and Elady for Aitor Sanz and Garces, but the lack of fire power looked just as glaringly obvious. The 13,220 crowd were not to get any last minute elation, the weekend ended with Tenerife in 13th place and hopeful eyes looking to the home derby with island rivals Las Palmas in two weeks. Mid table mediocrity seems the best the faithful can hope for this season.

Even the city that never sleeps might have stifled a yawn as CD Tenerife were the slightly better of two poor sides. Grinding out the 1-o win over Mirandes was encouragement enough for the colourful costumed, all singing, all dancing  12,419 crowd to celebrate the New York themed Carnaval that packed out the Tenerife capital city.

Tenerife started brightest with a shot across the goal face, but home goalie Soriano was soon earning his pay at the other end with a superb tip over that was bound for the top corner of the net. It wasn´t quite coming together for Tenerife, coach Ramis made two good changes at half time, adding the close control and vision of Alexandre for local youngster Teto. The first season forward has bags of enthusiasm and skill but still lacks strength and power and needs to beef up.Big front man Elady also arrived for Jose Angel Jurado.

Mirandes showed little ambition but produced a low shot from the edge of the box, Soriano showed he is the master of saves on the ground as well as in the air. A draw looked to be looming after 79 minutes until Vicente fouled Nacho in the box. The ref blew for a home penalty and waved a red card for the newly arrived Vicente. Hearts sank among the crowd as it was referred to VAR, but after several raw verdicts in recent games, the card was reduced to yellow and the spot kick was kept and duly converted by Borja Garces.

Not a classic win for such a special day, but very welcome. Tenerife are reportedly considering a contact extension for coach Ramis, although he has idicated that he will not make any decision before the dust settles on the campaign. Mo Dauda got his usal meagre 20 minute run out, and the two late January window signings Kike Salas and Riza Durmisi sat out a third game hoping for their debuts. There´s always a bit of head scratching after a Tenerife game, and there´s plenty of twists and turns left to see if Tenerife can edge into the promotion play offs from their 10th place at the end of this game.

Whisper it quietly, but after 8 undefeated games and 7 points in the last three matches, CD Tenerife lay 9th in the Segunda Division.

Fifth placed Albacete Balompie were a good bench mark, comfortable on the ball and quick to pounce on any stray passes, they brought the best out of home keeper Soriano in the opening 10 minutes. Borja Garces continued his upturn in form, his skills made room for Gallego, and a clumsy foul allowed the big forward to stroke home his penalty after 13 minutes.

As expected, Tenerife sat back as Albacete woke up and looked threatening. Alvaro Rodriguez just cleared the home cross bar with a timely reminder that it wasn´t going to be a stroll. Maybe wearing the pink shirts in honour of World Cancer Day, or the monsoon rain that swept across the ground helped to focus the attention of the Santa Cruz side.

Tenerife had a solid look in midfield with Jurado in a holding role, and Jose Leon  was solid in the heart of the home defence, covering for the suspended Sipcic. A rushed wide shot was the pick of the Albacete second half offerings, as CD Tenerife held their nerve and their advantage to the finish.

Tenerife only added two new recruits in the January transfer window, neither defence based arrival played a part in this game. Samuel Shasoua was missing again with injury, and Teto only made a fleeting appearance from the bench before the final whistle. Another suspension after an Aitor Sanz booking will also deplete the squad next game but Ramis often runs with a tight nucleus of players. Another ticket promotion produced a 15,000 plus crowd. Full marks to those in the uncovered upper stands who hung on as they took a soaking from the lashing rain.

With a decent tailor, a leopard might stride out with a passable spots makeover. Sadly for CD Tenerife fans, coach Ramis seems unshakeable from his defence based style of play. Right from the kick off FC Andorra found plenty of space and encouragment to attack as the home side back peddalled.

Fleet footed left winger Mo Dauda was used deep to back up defender Mellot, leaving an inviting wide launch pad for Jacobo to test the Tenerife defence. After 13 minutes, the move fed Carlos for the opening goal. The equality was restored after 31 minutes by an individual goal from Elady, cutting in and beating two defenders before unloading his shot just past the goalie. That should have been the green light for a home assault but caution was still the coach´s mantra.

Gallego lumbered and laboured to little effect as the main home striker but it was predictable and not enough to upset the composed away team. Ramis seemed content at all square, flair players are not his preferred option. Sam Shasoua got a miserly 23 minutes as a late sub for the inventive Dauda. Winger Arvin Appiah got a run out for the last five minutes but looked way off the pace. Worst of all, fit again Alex Corredera never got a look in, he is the entertaining player that the fans love to see. For the final 20 minutes, Tenerife rarely visited their opponents half, it was very hard to watch.

The coach´s line ups show no ambition and drain the enthusiasm from the fans. Lurking in 15th place, Tenerife need to make a vast improvement in the new year, but attracting transfer window signings to such a dour ship will be a tough sell. Somethng´s gotta give.

Weakened at the knees by football´s current femme fatal, the penalty spot. Enric Gallego made amends with a 2-0 strike that withstood a Alaves rally. Expecting to retake top spot in Spain´s Second Division, Alaves found hosts CD Tenerife in defiant and creative mood as they outplayed the visitors for most of the game.

Ivan Romero was always ready to strike from the shadow of the target man, Gallego, and Waldo gave good support on the left. The big centre forward should have learned from the World Cup follies when he was brought down and rose to take the penalty on the half hour. It was a straight soft shot that barely tickled  keeper Silvera.

Team mate Teto took some attention of the big man a few minutes later as he reacted well to a loose ball, turned well and buried it in the corner of the net to take the lead. There was even redemption for the man himself five minutes into the second half, determination carried him through and this time he showed no mercy. A 2-0 lead still left Alaves with some hope, Aitor Sanz and Sipcic in particular worked hard to squeeze them down, and it seemed to be working.

Sub Sylla came on hungry and sniffed out a half chance, looping a shot past home keeper Soriano after 81 minutes. It made for a nervous end but Tenerife held firm. Alaves never gave up, Duarte shaved a post, but it was a happy ending to the 100th game in charge for coach Ramis.

The league is a harsh judge of resurgent form and reborn hope, the final two pre christmas league games will need to pull in some more points. The Santa Cruz crowd also need their confidence rebuilding, another drop to  a 6,794 attendance came after weeks of under achieving. As a stand alone game this was good to watch and a tonic for bruised pride after recent cave ins. Now in 14th place, Tenerife can at least hope to reach higher with a new President and a few tweaks to the squad in the January window.

While last seasons loan player Mollejo had a lively return on the right for Real Zaragoza, it was another ex loanee Valentin Vada who destroyed hosts CD Tenerife with the only two goals of the game. Tenerife couldn´t complain, they were poor all over the pitch. The home defence was creaky, particularly left back Nacho who was continually exposed by the smart thinking yellow and blacks with their neat passing and cool finishing. Zaragoza had some luck on their side, after their goalie Alvarez had two bad cases of poor juggling from Tenerife shots in the first half.

Vada did little to impress last season in Santa Cruz, on loan from Almeria and got a free transfer to Zaragoza this summer and was buzzing in this Friday night game. Ivan Romero missed a sitter for the home cause, hitting the side of the netting, and Mo Dauda showed flashes of skill down the left flank but Tenerife seemed to run out of ideas as the game wore on.

Vada anticipated wonderfully for the opener after 23 minutes, latching onto a deep cross, and when he doubled the agony after 67 minutes there were streams of home fans deserting the stadium. At least another youth prospect, Alassan, got a run out with 18 minutes left but it was painful to watch and by the final whistle those remaining from the 11,443 crowd vented their frustration at the players and the negative tactics of coach Ramis. Now in 14th position, pressure is growing on the coach after this horror show.

Quality opponents coming off a 5-0 win, Granada might have seen CD Tenerife as easy prey but it was the Santa Cruz team that showed the hunger, the eye for goal, and the pride in a comfortable 2-0 home win.

Changes are almost a foregone conclusion under coach Ramis, but they worked well this week with Aitor Sanz and Javi Alonso running a tight ship in midfield.  Juan Soriano was immense between the sticks for Tenerife, he was solid behind the ball and frusrated the divisions top scorer, Uzani, with first half stops with feet, knees, and head. The keeper even turned provider with a 31st minute long punt upfield to Ivan Romero, who muscled past two defenders for the opening goal.

Mo Dauda was a constant menace to Granada and 20 minutes into the second half he was shaping up in front of goal when the visiting goalie chopped him down in the box. Gallego stepped up to double the damage and deny Granada any lingering hope. There was further good news when Elady made a return from injury. The squad all worked hard for the common cause, and that instilled greater appreciation from the fans.

After the final whistle, the Tenerife team surged towards the 11,472 crowd to soak up the applause. That win pushed the team up to 12th position, eyes are certainly looking upward now, anything is possible on this form.

Well The defence was tighter and ensured a 0-0 home draw for CD Tenerife v Cartagena. Coach Ramis continued to ring the changes with Aitor Buñuel (right) and Andoni Lopez (left) starting in the full back slots. But the players that made way for them, Nacho and ultra consistent Mellot were back in their old roles within the hour. The constant tinkering is coming under the spotlight at the team struggles to put any prolonged form together.

Cartagena were revelling in their surprise status of third place. Home keeper Soriano had to be alert and agile to repel Borja Valle after the defence failed to cover the gap. Sipcic was magnificent at the heart of home defence, and Larrea was a quality playmaker in the middle of the park. It all ground to a halt in front of goal with Garces and Romero both struggling to cash in on the set ups from Appiah, and his later replacement Mo Dauda. The Ghana winger clipped the post with a rasping shot as frustration built.

Cartagena had their own hero in goalie, Escandell but were left to regret twice putting the ball in the Tenerife net – after straying into offside positions. Tenerife need to string a few wins together to get into the top half of the table and should be exploiting their home games. The crowd was up again, a bunper 12,180 turnout on an evening  of  extreme rain and sunshine but it´s the changing climate of the coach´s selections that are putting a few clouds in the Santa Cruz sky.