Slippers seemed to be on for CD Tenerife in the second half of their home league game with Lugo. Elady had atoned for two glaring misses with a 38th minute strike but a VAR assisted penalty allowed the visitors a late equaliser and they nearly stole all three points with the final kick of the game.

A few days later, Eibar arrived for the Copa del Rey , and Tenerife were up against it after a 11th minute slip by Shaq Moore let in Garcia to grab the lead. There´s no VAR in the cup but Tenerife fans found themselves wishing there was when two home goals were ruled out and a Sam Shasoua penalty appeal was ignored. Sergio Gonzalez powered a header to level late on but the ref was suckered into giving Eibar a generous free kick after Exposito clashed with Mollejo and made out the home player had mugged him. The free kick was well taken but veteran home goalie Dani Hernandez looked a little slow to respond and narrow the angle. So farewell to the Cup.

Putting two good halfs together has become a problem for Tenerife lately, rash of bookings didn´t help in the league clash, The cup is often a stage to test fringe players, CDTs only concession was to give a first half run out to 21 year old Thierno on the left flank, The young gun put in some good crosses but it only served to expose the weaknesses of Emmanuel Apeh who backs off defenders too easily. Yhierno gave way to Sam Shashoua for the second half and Shaq Moore was back to his tough tackling best and Jeremy Mellot arrived to fill the left back slot – an answer as how to use the impressive American and French full backs together instead of a straight choice.

A bad week? Well one of the finest qualities of this Tenerife squad is its resilience, and once again they bounced back, this time with a stunning 0-2 win at Real Zaragoza to close the first half of the season. Elady with his 7th strike of the season, and Mollejo, had the game all gift wrapped within the half hour. That was sauce for the turkey as it put Tenerife in 3rd place, just a point behind the 2nd automatic promotion slot. As the players enjoy their parties, the club management will be working on fine tuning the squad in the January transfer window. 2022 could be an epic year, lets just hope we can continue to watch the games live.

Into his second season, and still without a senior goal, 25 year old Nigerian forward Emmanuel Apeh hit a 55th minute winner to keep CD Tenerife in third position. The powerfully built striker was a surprise pick to start at home to bottom placed Alcorcon.

The game was dreadful, short of creative play of note, and littered with silly errors, Tenerfe had another experiment with the defence, Sergio Gonzalez did well spreading to his right to release French full back Mellot to add to his attacking education. Emmanuel  still looked unsure and predictable in the few coherent charges at their visitors.

The 11,800 crowd hoped for better in the second half. but it was stil turgid stuff after taking the lead, An Alcorcon defender stepped over a cross into the away goal as Emmanuel crashed in between a sea of legs and drove the ball into the underside of the net. Fame was short lived as coach Ramis replaced the scorer with Roberto Diaz just four minutes later. It may still be enough to rescue Apeh from a January transfer window loan to a lower division team for at least part of his remaining 18 months of contract.

Sam Shasoua was out of favour again fron the home squad. the coach knows how to serve up the surprises. Few local fans or media can predict his match line ups – but if they cant second guess him, the opposition has no chance. Long live confusion and long live the promotion dream,

As cool as a stroll along the banks of the Seine, Jeremy Mellot teed up the ball wide and high on the right and thundered it past the bewildered Girona goalie. Not bad for his first CD Tenerife goal since joining in the summer from the French Second Division. Already admired for his staunch custody of the right back slot, Mellot continued the weekly emergence of new heroes in this quality squad. Enric Gallego ensured a 2-1 home win and third place with his own outstanding drive after 80 minutes.

In the search for perfection, coach Ramis can point out the possible drag factor of bookings and suspensions. Aitor Sanz got a second minute yellow and second half sub Pablo Larrea got a straight red after 87 minutes for a wild tackle and an Oscar winning perfprmance from his victim.

Girona are part of the City Group and included three Manchester City loanees in their squad. Nahuel Bustos was their starting target man but was kept under lock and key by Sipcic in the first half and was taken off part way through the second half. Home keeper Soriano made light work of a few speculative shots while Elady and Gallego were always a danger going forward. Ruben Diaz found the away stopper with a soft shot but it was Girona who emerged more alert for the opening of the second half.

The Tenerife midfield gave up too much room and Baena finished well to level the scores. Sam Shasoua was quiet by his standards and made way for Bermejo as Ruben departed in favour of livewire Mollejo. The two new additions revitalised the home attacks and it was just a matter of time before Tenerife reeled Girona in. The gallego goal was just reward for siege of their visitors half. Mollejo should have added an third goal late on but tried to push it straight through the goalie instead of passing or rounding him.

The refs VAR check before dispatching Larrea, and his fussy delays on late home subs, made for a nervous six minutes of extra time. Sergio Gonzalez and Shaq Moore barely had time to feel the pitch beneath their feet before the ref finally signalled another hard earned and confident three points for CD Tenerife. Just 10,173 fans this time, they deserve a much bigger audience.

Only the woodwork saved visitors Burgos FC from a feeding frenzy as Cd Tenerife romped to a home 4-0 victory. Tenerife had goals in their eyes from the kick off. Victor Mollejo waded through a sea of defenders legs to p9ke in a 5th minute opener. Burgos looked poor but in the past so called easy opposition have often caught Tenerife on the hop.

A 10 minute twitch after conceeding was all the reds could offer, as the power, pace, and pressure of the home side pinned them down. Sam Shasoua fed Elady whose shot bounced off a defender, allowing time for the goalie to flick it aside. Alex Bermejo was having one of hiis most creative games, he spotted an opening and unleashed a fierce shot that cannoned back off the crossbar. The second goal follwed after 40 minutes from a crisp move by Bermejo, through Elady to Shashoua to drill into the back of the net.

Half time was just a short respite for Burgos, Bermejo got the goal his hard work deserved after 54 minutes with an angled strike as he ran in from the left. Mollejo tucked an effort just wide of the goal before coach Ramis made two subs, replacing Bermejo and Aitor Sanz with Michel, and Ruben Diaz. It didn´t stop the attacking flow, the squad all know there is something special brewing in Santa Cruz and they all want to play a part in it. Shashoua cracked a shot straight at the under siege goalie and two more swaps followed.

Sergio Gonzalez replaced Alexandre Correrdera but the most welcome change was the injury return of Enric Gallego for his outstanding understudy Elady. Tenerife were still hungry, defender Pomares struck a thundebolt shot that grazed the bar. Gallego showed he had retained his sharpness, when a well flighted ball came his way, the striker found space to stretch the keeper and put the ball wide of him to make it 4-0. Even a VAR referral couldn´t wipeout his precision. It was a comprehensive win to put CD Tenerife back to third place. Crowds are still growing, 12,163 had the pleasure of seeing this game as the club anthem soared from the terraces and bounced around the stadium

Mollejo was the only home player to relish the raft of changes made by CD Tenerife coach Ramis. The Atletico Madrid loanee was advanced from his usual midfield slot and got under the skin of the Eibar defence. Even so, he bowed out four minutes before the 0-1 finish after a rash tackle got him sent off.

Striker Elady was dropped to the bench and Gallego was still injured, that meant Sam Shashoua and Mollejo trying to form a goal alliance with some support from left back Pomares and midfielder Ruben Diaz. It was more clunky than creative and it took until the last five minutes of the opening half for Tenerife to show any teeth. Eibar were lucky to scramble a shot off the goal line and grateful that Ruben blasted high and wide.

Alexandre was short of his usual bursts of inspiration and along with Pablo Larrea was subbed at half time for Aitor Sanz and Michel, both more holding players than game changers. Eibar made their own double change and freed up defender Tejero to torment Tenerife with his inventive runs down the left. Home goalie Soriano punched away one of his crosses destined for an attackers head. Elady replaced the ineffective Bermejo on the hour and offered better options including a shot that fell kindly to the keeper after hitting a post. Mellot tried to screw a shot along the line and beyond the visiting stopper but the angle was too tight. Pomares had a clear target but shot into the crowd.

Eibar showed how it should be done as Tenerife pushed up, he lobbed a loose ball long and high into the home net to take a late lead. Coach Ramis reacted by replacing Pomares with fellow defender Alex Muñoz, an odd call for a team witht the game running away from them. A hard task became harder after Molledo was sent off, Michel added a booking in injury time, his 5th of the season, both players will sit out the next game. Bookings are a long term curse for Tenerife teams and very frustrating for the coach. After 11 of 42 games, Tenerife sit in 7th place and need to rewind to their early season form. Another bumper 9,348 crowd kept the vocal support loud and proud, they will be hoping Tenerife can exploit a run of games of lesser rated opposition.

Power up your magic marker and tick these off. Awkward lowly visitors, a suicidal home sending off, a brilliant in at the deep end degut from a local born youth player, and a CD Tenerife performance full of resilience and character. Newly promoted Amorebieta staged a late rally but found Tenerife in resolute form to seal a 2-1 home win in front of a 12, 572 crowd in Santa Cruz.

Coach Ramis again proved himself with the home line up. Jose Leon relieved Carlos Ruiz in the centre of defence and excelled while the old war horse rested his bruises and stitches. Enric Gallego was also rested after early injury retirements from the last two games. Alex Bermejo got a recall to support Elady and Sam Shashoua at the sharp end. Alexandre and Sam created early pressure but the green shirted visitors had their moments. A hanging cross could have been a problem if goalie Soriano hadnt raced across his goal mouth to claim the ball.

Elady was revelling in the main strikers role , he was shaep to tuck in a half chance after goalie Santamaria failed to prevent the opening goal as he fell awkwardly. The keeper had to be taken off and replaced by understudy Saizar. Tenerife were looking comfy until Mellot ripped the game open with a clumsy retaliation followed by plenty of verbals to earn a double yellow sending off. It meant a frantic seven minutes before the break. The French offenders natural replacement at right back, Shaq Moore was away on USA duty so Ramis gave a home debut to 21 year old David Rodriguez, he had a great game and made some timely tackles.

Nerves were still raw when a poor headed clearance from Sipcic opened the second half. A double change just before the hour saw Michel Herrero and Mollejo come on for Ruben Diaz and Elady. A wild high boot ftom an Amorebieta defender  led to a VAR penalty for Tenerife after 64 minutes. Sam was cooler than a Dorada from the fridge as he stroked the spot kick past the goalie. The breathing space was welcome but Amorebieta kept pressing and from a corner Etxaburi pulled one back for a tense final 20 minutes.

Alex Muñoz for Aitor Sanz and Sergio Gonzalez for Sam Shashoua rightened things up and it was Tenerife who had the best remaining chances. Mollejo streaked away down rhe right but launched his shot just over the bar. The depth of the home squad was yet another plus in a season that is promising so much. Still in 4th place, Tenerife will be looking for local derby bragging rights at Las Palmas next Saturday.

Carbon copy goals from Moreno snatched three points for visitors Mirandes, the final on the last gasp of injury time. Tenerife had looked to have done just enough thanks to a Michel Herrero penalty just before half time, but they needed a second half goal to keep the sparky visitors at bay.

Coach Ramis took some of the blame, bringing off the always dangerous Sam Shashoua to be replaced by extra defender Pomares with 10 minutes to go. A quick breakaway and Moreno sped down the left, rounded the home defence and slotted the ball past Soriano to set the nerves jangling, his late late encore followed a similar route and was the last touch of the game for a 1-2 Mirandes win. All this was played out against the background of the volcanic eruption on the neighbouring Canary Island of La Palma just prior to kick off. Home fans showed their solidarity with a minutes applause for the affected islanders.

Mirandes weren´t expected to be a tough test, they soon showed they were not just going to roll over. Hassan drove most of their early threats. Elady was sharp for Tenerife, his best first half chance was a shot that drifted away from the goal on the half hour. As the 9,957 crowd were settling for a 0-0 half time break, Michel Herrero was upended in the box and squeezed home a penalty that should have been the launch pad to victory.

Ramis was thinking ahead to two tough away games when he subbed right back Mellot in the break, the French defender had been booked so it was a wise move. Replacement Shaq Moore also gives more attacking options down the flank. Frustration built as the second half wore on and Mirandes discovered some ambition. Sam Shashoua hit the woodwork, and Soriano made a fine save for the home side. The leveller was a shock to Tenerife, and they failed to recover from it.

The ref added a generous portion of extra time and Moreno tried his luck and sneaked the winner just before the whistle blew. Tenerife were not at their recent best but still remain in 4th spot. It makes for added pressure in the next two consecutive away games that will be a test of character and bekief. Hopefully this loss will be taken as a hard but valuable lesson.

Confidence oozed through CD Tenerife as transfer window signings flicked the on switch for a convincing 2-0 home win over Segunda Division leaders Ponferradina.

Elady, and Enric Gallego were big and bustling up front sewing seeds of doubt in the visitors defence and providing clear targets for their team mates to pick out. Elady was denied twice in early play by the Ponferradina goalie and when the away side made it to the hosts end, goalie Soriano, another summer arrival,was in solid form to seize the ball. It wasn´t just about the new faces, Tenerife held on to last seasons gems despite envious eyes from other clubs, it made for an encouraging blend of the defensive discipline installed last season by coach Ramis, and a bold new belief.

Sam Shashoua laid off some tempting balls for the front two and full back Alex Muñoz used the left flank as his own personal playground. Veteran centre back Carlos Ruiz had a cheeky claim for a penalty when bundled over but the ref didn´t oblige. Ponferrasina faded fast and offered little, half time was reached with no goals but that looked sure to be temporary as Tenerife were calling the tune.

The arrival of deadline day recruit Mollejo, a 20 year old loanee from Atletico Madrid, added to the attacking vibe. Lively and hungry for the ball, the new boy showed creativity and within five minutes Elady had grabbed the lead, pouncing on a poor clearance before placing it wide of the goalies reach. Coach Ramis kept up the tempo by adding local striker Ethyan for Enric who departed to generous applause from the 6,940 Covid limited crowd. Masked fans were not deterred by the vlistering heat and belted out the much missed terrace anthems.

The best was yet to come. Defender Alex Muñoz doesn´t score many goals but they are usually spectacular. This time he latched onto a through ball, waltzed through three defenders and unleashed a fierce shot into the Ponferradina net. The clincher was watched from the visitors bench by Naranjo, subbed for being as ineffective as he was during two seasons with Tenerife. There is a lot more to come from the resurgent Tenerife squad, they played with a dash of style and plenty of heart. Tougher challenges lie ahead but the squad has lots of positional options and competiton for places in the starting eleven.

Four points from their first two league games, and some quality new signings. CD Tenerife welcomed back the fans after 530 days of Covid exile, and it felt so good to be home. The 0-0 Santa Cruz draw with Sporting Gijon spotlighted the need for a proven scorer but 34 year old French Tunisian Yoann Touzghar is expected to join within days, he signed off with a goal for Troyes in France´s top division after his 16 goals last season fired them to promotion.

Just 5,059 fans witnessed the Tenerife return, a big drop from the Covid restricted 9,000 reduced capacity (the Heliodoro holds 23,000). Some 2000 fans didnt take up the new season tickets in time but lean financial times and concerns over the Covid restrictions on standing, smoking, compulsory masks, and distancing in green spot seats all made an impact. Reality was much kinder on this big step towards normality. There was a light touch to stewarding, Armada Sur fan club from the south brought their usual two coach´s to our pre match plaza and bars. Our turnstile wait was no longer than usual and despite the hot sun, everyone was in a cool mood.

Sporting bossed the first half, probing down the flanks with left back Ktavets trying to open things up before running into new home defender Mellot, one of the pre season success stories. Alexandre Corredera was another who shone in pre season games but couldn´t quite live up to his superb goal to clinch the 1-2 win at Fuenlabrada on opening day of the regular season. Recruited goalie Soriano kept the gloves to start and had another solid game. It wasn´t just about admiring the new guns, recently retired Suso Santana was honoured with a minutes ovation at the tenth minute mark. A well deserved tribute to the man who gave ten seasons of passion to Tenerife. The applause helped to loosen up the crowd a little and assure fans that they could cheer again for their favourites.

Tenerife grew in stature in the second half, Alexandre forced a low save from Diego Marino and Brit Sam Shashoua clipped the post after shaking off his markers. Coach Ramis was ready to shuffle the pack, adding Nono for Sergio Gonzalez in midfield and bringing on 19 year old local goal prospect Ethyan from Cruz Santa. The young striker has rattled in goals at youth and B team level, he worked hard and every senior minute he gets now will boost him as a player. Gijon dug in for the point after Tenerife surged forward fuelled by the return of passionate voices from the crowd. A draw was a fair result against a side that are expected to challenge for promotion. As for the match day experience, it was like slipping back into a comfortable routine. The bond between fans and the team was renewed in our Heliodoro home.

Just a sight and a touch of the Heliodoro Stadium in Santa Cruz brought memories flooding back. It was 15 months since fans were allowed in to worship CD Tenerife, and for the final game of the 2020-2021 season, a small group of Armada Sur members popped up to make a couple of pre match presentations.We had hoped at least some fans would be let in the ground for the final game but that hope was dashed.

Captain Suso Santana was the focus of much speculation and attention in what could be his final game wearing the shirt with boundless pride. The 36 year old local born forwards contract expires in June 2021 and no news of a years extension has come from the club. Either way we wanted to mark his superb service, Suso is loved by the fans and plays his heart out for CD Tenerife. The commemorative plaque summed it up. “Heroes are never forgotten and legends never die.” Over 100 fans turned up outside the teams pre game hotel, across from the ground, to praise and support Suso – and to give a gentle nudge to the club management. There was also the Armada Sur player of the season award to bestow on USA international Shaq Moore. The right sided player from Powder Springs, Georgia has made a big impact in defence and supporting the attack from the wing.

Real Oviedo were the visitors, neither side had anything to play for, guaranteed a safe mid table position. The ref decided he would be the star of the game by showcasing the weaknesses of VAR. Oviedo took a 6th minute lead after a Dani Hernandez punch out wasnt cleared away, leaving Sanchez to score. The second half opened with Vada being floored by an Oviedo player, it took the ref an age to consult VAR and give the blatantly obvious penalty that Fran Sol finished with ease.

The script writer, or rather coach Ramis, set up a dream scenario when Suso came off the subs bench just after the hour. Just 15 minutes later English forward, Samuel Shashoua was pushed to the floor and there was only one man who could take the penalty on such a day. Suso looked as cool as ever to beat thr goalie and give Tenerife the lead.In the current climate, dreams dont always´thrive, with six minutes of time added on, Oviedo pushed forward and Blanco bundled in the leveller for a 2-2 draw.

Coach Ramis is another CD Tenerife employee who´s contract is about to expire, there´s a lot of discussions ahead for the club. At least we got a glimpse of the future, Jorge Padilla came on as a late sub, and Felix, another young gem got a few minutes towards the end. Whatever happens, the fans will be ready to return next season and will once again pump passion and emotion into the grand old stadium.