Everyone thinks their local derby is special but Canarian pride and passion takes some beating and it shone brightly as CD Tenerife fought back from a UD Las Palmas lead to send the Santa Cruz fans deliriously happy with a 2-1 home win.

There was more of an edge than ever with both sides fighting to avoid getting dragged into the relegation zone. A sea of blue and white greeted the teams but Las Palmas brought 1,500 across from Gran Canaria and turned a top corner of the stadium defiantly yellow. The visitors applied the early pressure and earned three quick corners, thankfully Dani Hernandez was in good form between the sticks to keep them at bay, especially from a Alvaro shot. Araujo was a menace on the left and the Tenerife were missing the calming authority of suspended centre back Jorge Saenz, but they warmed to their task and started to ask a few questions of their rivals. Alberto was doing a good job as Jorge´s replacement but Dos Santos alongside him was wild and unpredictable, his booking before the half hour didn´t help matters one bit. Pekhart had a clear chance for the yellows, Dani stood firm and blocked him but it was tense stuff. Deivid could have given Las Palmas a half time lead if his shot hadn´t have been so rushed and well wide. His team mates must have been concerned at the chances they wasted while Tenerife knew they could do better than in the first 45 minutes.

Malbasic powered through onto a Luis Milla long pass just after the restart, he shaped up for a shot as the ref blew for offside. Just six minutes into the half, coach Oltra brought 35 year old defender Carlos Ruiz on for Dos Santos, it was to be an inspired move. With six years service for Tenerife, Ruiz understood the importance of the derby match up and he produced a masterful performance. Las Palmas had their own wild card, Timor, he had already been booked for dangerous play and a second yellow saw him depart after 55 minutes. It seemed to make his fellow players dig deeper and they took the lead after Dani Hernandez parried a shot from Araujo that Cedres nipped in with a delicate tap.

Coach Oltra responded positively, he hooked off midfielder Undabarrena in favour of striker Naranjo and it prompted a wave of home pressure. Suso was another of the older brigade of home players who caught the mood and made good inroads into the yellow defence down the right. The breakthrough came when Suso and Milla combined to lay on a perfect set up for Carlos Ruiz to head into the back of the net to level the scores. Ruiz charged towards the Tenerife fans behind the goal and clutched proudly at the front of his shirt, there was no mistaking his pure joy. Las Palmas started to wilt, Tenerife had the confidence and spurred on by a huge roar from the blue and white fans, they went for the winner.

With just three minutes left, Suso worked his magic to put the ball across the goal where Naranjo ran in to place the ball past the goalie. What a finish to the game and what a party for the fans and players who have suffered all season. It was a memorable day for all concerned, the 18,760 crowd made it special with both sets of fans adding to the show piece game.There´s no room for complacency at either club, both still have to stave off the threat of relegation in the final five games. Tenerife are three points above the trap door, and Las Palmas just a further three points above. Reus may have gone bust a few months ago but they still complicate the picture as other relegation rivals have three points to come for an awarded game against the defunct team. It´s gonna be a nerve wracking finish, both Canarian teams need to beat the drop, the derby games belong in the highest division possible.

Greater need drove relegation haunted SD Tenisca to a 1-3 win at mid table CD Marino. The Tenerife hosts were left to regret not turning first half superiority into goals as the La Palma side tapped into their anger at refereeing decisions to drive a determined and deserved victory.

The action was switched from Marino´s normal home to the smaller Anexo Stadium across the road but a large contingent of Tenisca fans made their white shirted players feel at home. Marino favoured a series of long, deep balls in the early exchanges but they were often wild and were easily defended or ran on ahead of their chasing players. Ricardo floated in a well measured ball into the box for Tenisca and Maury chested it down well, Brandon in the home goal gathered it up safely. Tano also had a chance to spring an away lead, he robbed his marker but took the ball too wide to try a shot.

Tano thought he could do better with his next try, a run through the middle, this time Brandon made a fine save with his feet. Marino got sharper, Niky created an opening for Kevin Castro who couldn´t quite outwit the Tenisca defence. Mylan Carrasco powered down the left and screwed the ball back across the goal mouth but it beat his incoming team mates. It was a scorching early afternoon and the players were happy to take an unplanned water break as the ref had to get his in ear receiver repaired. Once back in communication with his linesmen, play was resumed.

A Tenisca corner was threatening until Brandon punched the ball away from danger. Tenisca were alert for quick breaks and were furious when the ref pulled back Maury for offisde as he raced towards the home goal. That could have been a turning point as Marino had their best spell for the final 15 minutes of the first half. Mylan curled in a dangerous shot that Pablo cleared well, Javi clawed back a ball that was heading out of play, and got a shot in that Pablo responded well to. Djavan was ready to test the keeper but Cardenas closed him down well and made him put the ball out of play. As the goal less half ended, the simmering discontent on the Tenisca bench boiled over into angry exchanges with the ref, he responded by sending off the coach Oscar Valle and the back up goalie Jesus.

The second half opened with Jony replacing Mylan for the home side, and coach Valle popping up on the dressing rooms roof to shout instructions to his players. The players responded well, within a minute Rivas had latched on to a neat pass from Sota and buried the ball in the bottom corner of the home net. Kevin Castro and Tenisca captain Jordan were testing each other with a series of close challenges as the away team grew in confidence. Sota went on a good raid for the whites, Brandon came out to meet him but mistimed it and the shot beat him and doubled the visitors lead. Home sub Samuel looked lively, his good build up couldn´t reduce the arrears as he blasted over the bar.

Kevin Castro was pushing forward more, he looked shielded from a shot on goal but struck his shot sweetly to put Marino back in with a chance after 73 minutes. Bamba got a strike in soon after, he drilled it hard and low, Pablo was down quickly for a safe take. The three points were vital to Tenisca and they were determined not to let the win slip away. Maury hit a soft shot straight at Brandon with five minutes left. It was close to the final whistle when a Marino back pass from Jony left Brandon stranded and the ball trickled slowly past him as his coach started dancing on the roof. Samuel chipped a shot over the Tenisca goal in injury time but the points were secure and the players celebrated with their travelling fans. The remaining three Tercera Division games will offer 18th placed Tenisca a chance to complete their escape from the drop, while 12th placed Marino have no such worries.

Are they a good team having a few bad days or a bad team that´s had a few good days? The pendulum swung in favour of the latter for CD Tenerife after a shambolic 1-3 home loss to Almeria. The previous weeks first away win for over a year should have been all the encouragement they needed to keep the improvement going. Upcoming home derby and relegation rivals La s Palmas had lost and other results aided the cause. Even the sun was shining in Santa Cruz when the tourist south moaned about Easter clouds. The scene couldn´t have been set any better.

At least it took five minutes this week to leak the first goal. Rioja cut in from the left after beating Luis Perez, slipped a cross in front of goal and Gimenez managed to hook the ball into the net. That wasn´t in the script and any confidence the home side brought into the game evaporated. Coach Oltra´s negativity didn´t help, Racic was brought back after a suspension but he and the other creative midielder, Luis Milla, were played deep and at times were getting in each others way. Racic has only shown flashes of his January loan debut form, it has been widely reported that several big teams including an English Premier League outfit, are set to offer parent club Valencia big money to buy him in the summer. The lack of creative ideas starved the home forwards, and neither Nano or Malbasic looked inclined to fight to win the ball.

Almeria´s goalie hardly broke sweat to come out and take the ball off hesitant Nano when a half chance did arise. Juan Carlos Real was released by Tenerife at the end of last season and returned in new colours to torment his old team mates, he let them off the hook by putting a shot wide. At the other end Luis Milla had a penalty shout when fouled in the box, the ref wasn´t keen though. It was distressing to watch as Almeria threatened more punishment, Owona should have ended a good move with better than a shot over the bar. Dos Santos looked shaky at the back for Tenerife, he´s all arms and legs, a booking waiting to happen, the ref was glad to oblige. Racic managed a set up for Borja just before the break, he blasted it and the visiting goalie pushed it away.

Nano looks a spent force in his second spell with his home island club, he has neither power, speed, or drive, he got sight of the Almeria just into the second half and was easily dispossessed by Owona. Centre back Jorge Saenz felt a little muscle pull and was taken off in favor of Alberto, another player whose fire has gone out. It was all in vain as Almeria increased their lead. Dani parried a shot from Saveljich but the player shaped up to net the rebound, Dani pulled him back by his foot and a penalty was awarded. Gimenez despatched it and a collective groan shook the 10,385 crowd. A couple of minutes later Rioja had an easy finish as the home defence backed off, Albert even slipped up as he tried to block the shot. So an hour gone and 0-3 down some fans started to filter out of the stadium.

Naranjo had taken over from Borja and slipped into his comfy groove on the left, and another striker, Coniglio, tried to pep up the attack as Racic left the pitch to a mixed reception. Captain Suso was having a quiet game by his busy standards but his pride drove him to push his mature legs a bit more. A neat cross from the right by the skipper found Naranjo for a tap in to reduce the deficit with 10 minutes left. That goal raised Naranjo up to top scorer on five goals for the season, that tells its own story. There was not to be any miracle recovery, just the final whistle and the realisation that relegation is a bigger threat than ever. Tenerife are 15th just three places above the trap door, with seven games to go, and Alberto and Suso will miss the vital next game at Extremadura after bookings earned them a game suspension.

The deeper the down, the higher the up. Those words would have sounded so hollow as CD Tenerife let in a first minute goal at Rayo Mahadahonda. Wind on 90 minutes and the stunning transformation was complete as Malbasic robbed the roving home goalie and cracked the ball into an open net for a 1-3 win, the first away victory in just over a year.
The pea in the refs whistle had barely stopped vibrating when Hector strolled past Tenerife full back Isma Lopez and launched the ball across the face of the away goal. It hit the far post and sat up invitingly for Carcelen to tap it into the net. The harmonicas were out and the away day blues were about to be played. Heads could have dropped but Tenerife reacted in the best fashion against a team just above them at the wrong end of the table. Suso set up Borja Lasso who was stopped by an offside call. Luis Milla sent a screaming shot over the join of bar and post. The team from the outskirts of Madrid were riding their luck but it was not going to last. A Milla corner got a touch on from Malbasic and Nano got a foot to the ball to poke it in the home goal for a 13th minute leveller.

Borja was buzzing, his rising shot wasn´t that far off the target, Del Toro curled a free kick at the other end and found goalie Dani Hernandez ready to receive it. Aitor caused concern when he fired wide after the Tenerife defence failed to shut him down. Milla hit a shot on the turn at the home keeper, Nano was offside but the moves encouraged Tenerife. The half ended with a couple of scares, Aitor dragged a shot wide, and a header was on course until Dani made a safe catch. As the game resumed, Tenerife went looking for the lead, a Milla pass found defender Jorge Saenz in a good position, he picked his spot and showed the instinct of a striker to fire the ball into the net to take the lead.

Holding onto an advantage hasn´t always worked out for Tenerife this season but Dani has been in inspired form for the last month, he showed his authority to marshal Aitor wide when he was looking to shoot. Home sub Manu offered no threat with a wild shot that pounded the tarpaulin that closed off that end of the ground. Tenerife´s first change was Naranjo for Nano, the forward put a square ball across that the defence cleared, and juggled the ball before testing the goalie with a shot. With 10 minutes left, defender Carlos Ruiz took over from Borja and it looked like Tenerife might try to sit on the lead. Varela beat Luiz Perez and let fly at Dani, his response was another accomplished save. A dipping shot could have been difficult to read, not for Dani, he added it to his tally of stops.

The icing on the unexpected cake was pure class from Serbian striker Malbasic. The home goalie ran out from his area to pick the ball up and completely miss read it, Malbasic raced inside him and was Mr Cool as he belted the ball into the unguarded net. There was just a couple of minutes left, Mahadahonda managed one last chance but Dani wasn´t about to show any generosity and made a point blank save. The joy of the team and coach was clear to see when the final whistle sounded, the players ran to the small wedge of travelling fans and they shared the moment. It´s a big barrier lifted on the road to salvation but other results kept the gap above the relegation zone to 4 points with 8 games remaining. The other big incentive is Tenerife are just three points behind plummeting Las Palmas and the home derby has been set for Sat 4 May at 7.30pm.

Local pride was at stake for the near neighbours in Tenerife South as UD Ibarra from El Fraile grabbed a 0-2 win at CD Marino in Playa de Las Americas after an opening onslaught. Both were playing out their season in mid table and sounded each other out in the opening minutes. Aday could find no takers to convert his swinging cross for the home blues, and Alexis was squeezed out by the Marino defence.

Ibarra looked the more menacing, they were powerful going forward with Balduino eager to score against his former team. After nine minutes, a long ball free kick from Ibarra was headed on to Muny to bury past goalie Brandon. Balduino had two strong charges halted by the home defence, and a hopeful lob from distance by Alonso cleared the crossbar. Coly set Jurgen free for another crack at the Marino goal but Brandon tidied up.

Pressure was building on Marino and Balduino was bearing down on goal when Saavedra stopped him in his tracks but gave away a penalty. The big striker placed his spot kick perfectly for a 20th minute 0-2 lead. It could have led to a complete collapse but Marino steadied the ship and found some better form. Javi Gonzalez gave Cicovic some work to do in the Ibarra goal as he made a speedy run. Niki raided from the right back slot and fed Javi, this time his shot teased before sneaking past the post. Marino tried again and forced a corner, Guti met it well with his head but the ball went a little too high. Ahmed was coming into the game more as he moved over to the right of the Marino attack, he beat two visiting defenders before delivering a soft shot that ran into the goalies hands.

Mylan Carrasco replaced Juanmi at half time and linked well with Sesma to produce plenty of threats down the left flank. Mendy had to make a sturdy headed clearance to stop Mylan from completing a well worked move with a goal. The first 20 minutes of the second half were the most promising for Marino and when Kevin Castro joined the action in place of injured Bamba they varied the play. Kevin was picking up the ball in a deep position and exposing gaps to support the forward line.The final touch was lacking, Mylan opened up the Ibarra defence out wide and slung the ball over but it was leapt on by Cicovic.

Alexis tested Brandon as Ibarra emerged from Marino´s dominant spell, Alexis was the player on the end of the breakaway move that the keeper contained. Balduino was hard to hold off a he brushed past two markers and headed the ball down for a shot but it didn´t quite fall right and he wasn´t able to get a clean strike. Carballo came on for Ibarra and was another forceful player up front, Niki did well to derail him as he moved in for a strike. Into the last 10 minutes and Mylan lashed a shot at the visitors goal, Cicovic dived to put the ball out with a great save. From the corner the keeper followed up with a determined punch that cleared a hanging ball. By injury time the victory was safe and Muny tried his luck with a cheeky lob from the half way line that Brandon tipped over with the last touch of the game. The teams are now 10th (CDM) and 11th (UDI) with five games left in the Tercera Division Group 12.

A few choice Serbian swear words must have punctured the night air of Santa Cruz as in form Sporting Gijon stole a 0-1 victory over CD Tenerife. They were cries of frustration for the home players, misfiring forward Malbasic, and booked midfielder Racic who topped up his tally for a one game suspension. For visiting striker Djurdjevic it was in joy and relief that his 37th minute hand ball goal went unpunished by the ref.

It was another Tenerife performance with much for the home supporters to cheer but the old curse of missed chances was evident again. Oltra rejigged the defence with Jorge Saenz retuning from his suspension, Alberto was dropped after a poor run of form, and Isma Lopez kept his place at left back. Lopez unlocked the Gijon defence with an early cross to Borja, his shot was true but keeper Mariño reacted well to push the ball away. Mariño was fortunate with a later attack when Malbasic used his strength to get into a good position but only delivered a weak shot. Suso was furious at himself for beating the away defence before finding the keeper with a low shot.

The home defence were doing well to repel Sporting´s best advances, Luis Perez saw off Garcia and Djurdjevic in the space of a few minutes. Shortly before half time, Dani got a hand to a low cross and did just enough to push it upwards, Dos Santos swung wildly at the ball and missed as Djurdjevic jumped up and redirected it into the net with his hand. It was a tough one for the ref as the Serbian strikers body shielded his illegal touch, and it came a season too soon for the introduction of VAR to the Segunda Division. It was a hammer blow but Tenerife came out for the second half with a positive attitude, Borja and Naranjo opened up the Gijon defence with a flowing move that had everything – except the finish.

Coach Oltra made a double change, withdrawing Borja and Naranjo and introducing strikers Coniglio and Nano. Neither of the new front men looked like scoring, Coniglio can jump but can´t head with direction or power, and Nano only showed a brief glimpse of hunger when he shook off his marker but couldn´t get a decent shot in. Another mazey dribble from Suso went agonisingly past the post Gijon had chances to increase their lead, Dani Hernandez denied Djurdjevic, and a free kick was sliced wide of the target. Traver turned Lopez inside out but could only muster a poor shot. Montañes was the final home sub as an attacking gamble in place of Luis Perez, the oncoming wide player is another destined to be culled in the summer and made no real impression. Dani Hernandez was steady as a rock when he showed his class again by turning a late shot wide.

The spectre of relegation still stalks the corridors of the Heliodoro, other results meant the gap from relegation is just four points with nine games to play, Tenerife have to sharpen up in front of goal. Oltra´s short term contract runs out at the end of the season and the clubs sporting director has indicated that there will be a big summer clear out. There´s plenty for the staff to play for, and another 10,000 plus crowd showed that they will do their bit to push the team over the line to safety.

Clear chances were at a premium in the 0-0 draw between CD Marino and CD Tenerife B but when danger did call, both keepers, David of Marino, and Otaño of Tenerife met it with a safe pair of hands. Both teams were occupying mid table after early season promise had slipped away. Aleman looked hesitant in the heart of the visitors defence and was beaten easily by Ahmed before Otaño tidied up. Tenerife had a chance at the other end from a corner, Tito couldn´t connect with the ball as it came across. Sesma spotted home team mate Mylan in a good position and made the pass but his shot went wide. Tenerife were relying too much on hopeful long balls up the field, Torres raced to catch one but David reacted quicker. There was a blow for the away team when Samu was injured in a tackle, he tried to run it off before having to give way to sub Javi.

Another speculative ball from Tenerife was heading to Josue, Brayan read it well and made a strong intervention. Neither side could really find any consistency, twice the visitors were awarded free kicks and hit the ball straight into the defending wall. Saavedra tried his luck with a high long ball into the Tenerife box, Otaño was safely under it with a clean catch. Tenerife left back Jeremi made a good run but his swinging cross was expertly covered by David in the home goal. Mylan had the last word for the half, he took the ball inside the away defence but the finish was just wide.

Marino opened the second half with their tails up. A free kick left the Tenerife defence scrambling and it was down to Otaño to deprieve Saavedra of a shot at close range. Both teams couldn´t make their free kicks count, Guti struck one straight at Otaño. The game should have swung in favour of Tenerife when Bamba got a second booking and was sent off for Marino. The blues reorganised, bringing on Alberto for Mylan and they saw off an increased spell of pressure from their opponents. Tenerife captain, Fede, led by example as he pushed up from right back to help his forwards, he got a couple of good crosses in, again the finishing touch was missing.

Borja Llarena and Adri entered the action as subs for Tenerife and both had a positive impact. Borja, who played for the Tenerife first team at the end of last season, showed much more awareness and got into some good positions, he came close to scoring with a bullet header. Adri was tough in the tackle and hard to shake off the ball. Marino tried to shake things up to, Djavan was added to the attack in place of Ahmed. It revived the blues attacking urges, Brayan was well placed for a header but Otaño plucked the ball off his head. Torres made a breakaway for Tenerife, David was alert and showed that he intended to match the other stopper.

It must have been quite daunting to the teams to come up against two goalies on top form, a curled free kick from Guti was snuffed out by Otaño, and Josue was out jumped at the other end by David. The final home sub, Jony, forced a couple of corners that Tenerife cleared, and deep in injury time Alberto couldn´t quite stretch to keep in an offside pass that evaded the refs whistle. It ended honours even, thanks in no small part, to the hard working keepers.

On the ropes with coach Jose Luis Oltra close to being counted out, CD Tenerife trailed 0-2 at half time to CA Osasuna. The score flattered the visiting league leaders, even with three key players missing, Tenerife had matched Osasuna in all but finishing. Home pride was still intact and a stirring second half fight back saw Tenerife claw their way back into the game and grab a late 3-2 winner.

Defence became the launch pad for attacking sharpness as January signings, Mauro Dos Santos and Isma Lopez showed what they could do given a full game. Jorge Saenz was on Spain Under 21 duty, Dos Santos hadn´t played regular games for 10 months and was a gamble as his replacement in the centre of defence. The Argentinian impressed from the start, he looked confident and assured as he denied Brandon an early shot at goal, he made nonsense of his newcomer role by cajoling and encouraging his new team mates. Lopez was another revelation, signed as a left sided midfielder, he filled the left back slot and combined alert defending with a natural urge to raid deep into the Osasuna half.

It was easy to see why Osasuna were topping the Second Division, they looked a class act, their game plan was to sit back and absorb pressure before unleashing fast breaks. Brandon led their line in the absence of last seasons Tenerife player Juan Villar, he continually tested Alberto, the weak point in the home defence. The cutting edge has been very blunt for Tenerife this season but despite missing the creativity of Racic, on Serbia Under 21 duty, and Nano serving a suspension, determination and passion prompted some good attacks. Lasso set up Coniglio whose shot was wayward. A hesitant back pass from Mericia to Osasuna goalie Herrera showed that the top team were not invincible.

A three minute spell of brilliance made the difference when the mainland team took a 26th minute lead after some neat passing across the home third that gave Ibanez an easy goal. There wasn’t time for Tenerife to regroup, another flowing move saw Brandon place the ball inside Dani at the post from an acute angle. Undabarrena blasted a long shot wide, and Montañes couldn´t make the most of a pass from Luis Perez, so Tenerife went off with a mountain to climb. It would need a barnstorming second half from Tenerife, and that´s just what they delivered. Lopez pushed forward and forced a save from Herrera and Dani Hernandez ensured the door stayed closed at the other end with a smart save from an Osasuna break.

Jose Naranjo was another gamble, replacing Borja Lasso after 55 minutes. The forward has done little to impress his new fans after arriving in the summer but he got stuck in and added to the forward momentum of the blanquiazul. Suso forced a Tenerife corner, it was only half cleared and Garcia jumped to clear a Coniglio header but put the ball in his own net. The tall home forward was inspired to use his head again, this time goalie Herrera grabbed the ball. With 20 minutes left, Oltra made a bold substitution, bringing on Serbian striker Malbasic for Montañes. The big man showed no ill effects from midweek flu, his touch in the box after a Naranjo run made an opening for Lopez to hit the equaliser.

With 10 minutes remaining Dani Hernandez made a vital save to hold out Osasuna, and Lopez grabbed the glory with a well taken goal to put Tenerife in front. Naranjo played a part again, this time he drove through the middle before touching the ball off to Lopez to finish. It was a nervous ending with three minutes of injury time added, especially with a last gasp Osasuna shot landing on the top of the home net. Fortune favours the brave, and this was a well deserved win against top opposition. Another five bookings threatens more disruption to the squad but the form of Lopez and Dos Santos gives the coach extra options for the remaining 11 games of the season. Tenerife fans have been cursing the unfair amount of late night Friday kick offs the league give them, this one will be savoured for many years by the 9,356 lucky enough to witness it at first hand.

Frustration was the name of the game for CD Marino as visitors UD Villa Santa Brigida took a 15th minute lead and then threw bodies behind the ball, and to the ground to try to hang on.The Gran Canaria team´s goal was under siege for most of the game but there was some justice when top scorer Ahmed ensured a 1-1 draw with a late penalty goal.
Santa Brigida were positive in the opening exchanges, they forced a corner that Marino´s Juanmi cleared up with a header back to goalie David. Jeremy floated in a free kick that Padilla put over the bar as the blues struggled to stake their home claim. The opening goal was a smooth move, Santi drifted across the box, laid the ball off to Ojeda, and he tucked it past David. That shook Marino into action, Guti picked out Gaizka with a well weighted chip but Brigida cleared the danger. Niki was making good ground from right back but his cross was headed high by Juanmi. Marino´s play was a little predictable down the right where big defenders Leandro and Juanyi made life tough for them. Once Bamba pushed up from midfield on the other flank, Brigida were stretched more and Marino tore into them.

There was little conviction in a free kick on the edge of Marino´s box and it was easily cleared. The blues penned Brigida back for the last 20 minutes of the first half. Bamba forced a save out of Ione, and Guti was almost glued to the corner flag as he sent in three corners in quick succession. Bamba blasted wide with the last shot of the half and it seemed that home goals would follow after the break. Marino came back out charged up, Gaizka ran the ball at the goalie, he stood firm to seize it. Samuel chested a falling ball under control before feeding Jony who was robbed by an alert defender. When Brigida broke to the other end, David make a fine sliding intervention to protect his goal, and a free kick faltered against a sturdy home wall.

Brigida players were starting to go down with annoying regularity but Marino kept their sights on levelling the game. Gaizkar tested the goalie again and two subs, Ahmed and Mylan added new threats to the forward line. Niki delivered another classy cross which Saavedra glanced wide with his head. When Niki found Gaizka again, his shot had a bit too much height on it. While chasing the game, Marino had to be careful not to leave themselves open, David made a great stop from a Brigida breakaway. Mylan caused plenty of problems on Marino´s left as the game became disjointed with the amount of Brigida players writhing on the ground reaching a ridiculous level.

Ahmed teased the visitors down the right, he had an eye for goal and his curled shot went just the wrong side of the post. Marino followed up with another incisive move, Brayan found Gaizka just inside the box and Angelo held him down to give away a clear penalty. Ahmed stepped up and stroked in his 13th goal of the season past the full stretch keeper. As the final four minutes ticked down, Mylan rounded the goalie to rob him of the ball but as he pulled away into a clearer shooting position, Trujillo won the ball back and his own breakaway was only stopped by Mylan´s pull. Marino had to settle for the draw and slipped to 9th in their Tercera Division group.

It was a 1-1 home draw with Numancia on the scoreboard, but for most of the 9,412 crowd it felt like a defeat, and a grim warning that CD Tenerife could still get pulled into the relegation mire. It was the Carnaval game but the mood was strangely subdued. The residents of Santa Cruz could be excused for feeling a little delicate after the previous days record breaking 400,000 revellers partied into the wee hours, but what was the players excuse for a pitiful performance.

Jorge Saenz was suspended from his centre back role, January signing Mauro Dos Santos was expected to make his much delayed debut, but coach Oltra opted for Carlos Ruiz instead. The veteran defender is always a reliable option but not even using Dos Santos as a late sub added to growing doubts over Oltra´s judgement. Numancia showed the greater hunger and determination for the game, a smooth build up from David Rodriguez saw an early shot covered comfortably by home keeper Dani Hernandez.

Numancia were looking to expose Tenerife, Luis Perez had to make a smart intervention to derail another raid from the visitors. Oyarzum sensed the lack of adventure in the home team and tried a long, looping shot that just cleared the bar. Tenerife were struggling to make any impact, Racic was playing deep again, a total waste of his talent, captain Suso was trying to lead from the right wing but when he opened up the Numancia rearguard he found his team mates were slow to support in front of goal. It took a moment of brilliance from Luis Milla to put Tenerife ahead. The midfielder launched a wonderfully flighted 23rd minute corner that curled and caught the opponents goalie completely stranded,

That should have been the spur for Tenerife to push on and bury the game. Coniglio, still looking to break his duck, managed to get up for a header but it lacked power and direction. Ganea was doing well down the Numancia left wing and dropped a teasing cross into the heart of the Tenerife box, Ruiz used his experience to intercept the ball with a well timed header. Dani Hernandez has been below par recently, he showed he is still a class keeper and put on a master class that included a reflex parry just before the half time whistle. Home form this season has seen Tenerife save their best for the second half, that trend was reversed as they emerged for the second half with no purpose or drive.

Even allowing for the usual sprinkler soaking of the pitch at half time, the home players had trouble keeping their footing. How can a striker as big as Malbasic become invisible? He wasn´t the only one, Borja Lasso was missing in action, Alberto continued to look uncomfortable in the centre of defence and had to be bailed out by Ruiz. It was up to Tenerife to push for a second goal to kill the game but they looked content to sit back, Racic tried to head a loose ball away, it fell to a Numancia forward and only a sprightly dive from Dani saved his team mates blushes. The resurgent keeper was the hero again with two saves from a corner, Numancia were well on top.

Subs are also a bone of contention for Tenerife fans, predictably the first swap came after 64 minutes, midfielder Isma Lopez on for consistently poor striker Coniglio. With 20 minutes left, Nano came on for Lasso, the striker doesn´t even look interested these days and his fitness level leaves a lot to be desired. The final swap was the most negative of all, the dour, defensive Undabarrena for Suso. Within a minute the equaliser arrived, as Higinio scored with a free header as a cluster of defenders looked on. It was now all about holding on for the last six minutes, Dani blocked a Ganea shot at his near post and made an injury time stop from a last gasp Numancia onslaught. The point keeps Tenerife in 16th place but the performance was more circus than Carnaval.