With nothing to play for the pressure was off for CD Tenerife, time to emerge from the shadow of six straight 1-0 defeats. Time to repay the fans for their unstinting loyalty while the club became a laughing stock following a mid season of quality and promise. What did we get though, a half hearted 0-3 surrender at Sporting Gijon, the players looked like they had just emerged from Tuesdays Mahou brewery visit. Key players like Edgar and Ricardo were suspended and Ayoze didn’t even bother to travel this week as his move to Newcastle has been rubber stamped.

The fringe players should have grabbed their chance to impress but in the first minute goalie Diego Divas dropped a high ball under pressure and was lucky to get a second chance. Then the normally reliable Carlos Ruiz was slow and timid to let Lekic waltz round him and fire a second minute touch in to make it 1-0. When the second goal went in after 15 minutes, this time from Carmona, I suppose it was a change from single goal deficits but it still depressed me.
Tenerife managed a mini revival, a Loro free kick just cleared the bar, and Aridane spurned the best chance when he headed the ball down and wide in front of goal. Just after the half hour Ruiz confirmed his worst display for the team as he gave up the ball to Carmona who set up Scepovic to make it 3-0. We were watching amid several TVs in The Phoenix in Los Abrigos and by this point Britain’s Got Talent was actually starting to look appealing.

Half time swaps of Alberto for Ruiz, and Ayoze Diaz for Camara made little difference, Sporting were toying with us, a cheeky long shot went oh so close and if Sporting hadn’t relaxed the total would have risen. Borja came on for Cristo after 63 minutes, surely his farewell run, Aridane proved too slow to convert a good pass into a shot, and the juggling dog on the other TV was showing more control. The final whistle put us out of our misery, seven games without a win, and 641 minutes without a goal, whichever way you slice it, that is a dismal epitaph to the season.

It was like CSI Candelaria as we all donned our white paper suits for a tour of the Mahou brewery. Your average super star footballer would have been straight on the phone to his agent, all hurt and unloved at being forced to wear anything without a designer label. CD Tenerife players are a bit more down to earth and arrived from morning training in a mix of cut off shorts and laid back t-shirts, a few arrived in their sponsored cars but most were on a team bus.

The visit was a thank you acknowledgement to the brewery sponsors of the pre season Mahou Cup, usually played over two legs against the Pios from Las Palmas. It was a double mission for myself and The General as it seemed the perfect time and place to present Suso Santana with his Armada Sur player of the season award. Here’s a weather flash, summer is in full flow and it was damm hot as we drove around the industrial estate trying to find the brewery, I knew we were close when my tongue started salivating.

Once everyone was assembled at the visitors lounge we fanned out in the hall to hear a speech from the brewery officials as all us media folks snapped and filmed. The first call was the storage yard where mountains of bottles and barrels towered above us as a fork lift shifted further supplies around. Cue a big squad line up complete with Mahou officials before they were split into two groups for a pre tour introduction talk. At this point we seized the moment and posed Suso for a snap with The General handing him the trophy.

Then it was dressing up time in the oversize tissue suits and we were led through part of the factory. We had both done the Dorada tour but this was a smaller operation, although they produce Reina as well. None of the machinery was in action but it was stifling hot inside as we were up close and in amongst the machinery, they don’t do public tours, quite a few safety measures would be needed for regular visitors. By a stroke of luck I had researched my subject at the Gastro Canarias food fair a few weeks before when I had sampled all their bottled range and even rung out the barmaids apron for good measure.

The tour took about 30 minutes before we could dump our disposable Alec Guiness suits (ask your Gran) at the visitors centre. With Ayoze Perez due to make a 2 million euro move to Newcastle we did contemplate salvaging the suits to sell to Geordies on Ebay but thought better of it. Most of the club officials joined us in the tasting room, President Concepcion was a notable absentee on the day. We held back as of course CD Tenerife were the main focus of attention but once they were served, several had sin alcohol, we were invited to partake. The sweet irony of the visit amused me, at the weekend three pio players were fined 6,000 euros each for a curfew breaking drinking session after their defeat in Mallorca. Their guilt was proven on social media posts but here were CDT free to enjoy beer as they pleased, I hope they sent phone pics to those pesky pios to rub it in.

At first there were nuts and nibbles on the tables but then I noticed a magic window behind the bar, the waitress was pulling in trays of ever bigger offerings through small cakes, samosas, and then burgers. I’m sure after we left they would have got onto pheasants and swans. After a few final pics and thanks to our hosts, The General and myself made our exit and headed back south. Saturday is the final league game and the last chance to end the dismal losing streak, then the grim reality of new contracts or the dreaded release will focus minds before a busy summer of squad strengthening.

To cheer your team off the field after a sixth straight 1-0 defeat shows great loyalty and belief. To slink off the pitch after an awful display, with only three players acknowledging the fans shows contempt and ingratitude. That gulf in response was as wide as the gap in ability between a weakened CD Tenerife and the visitors Real Murcia who were hardly troubled after their first minute goal.
Hopes of making the play offs hung by a slender thread, especially with Camara and Suso suspended and Newcastle bound Ayoze Perez conveniently injured. The home defence were caught cold as Saul threaded in a pass to Kike Garcia after 30 seconds and he took full advantage to hit his 22nd goal of the season. Tenerife had nothing to lose after that and should have thrown everything at Murcia but they didn’t seem up for the fight, Edgar did quite well trying to imitate Suso down the right flank and after 14 minutes his cross landed perfectly for Nano but he popped his chance over the bar. Aridane managed a header that flashed by the post and Bruno saw his header clip the bar although he had already been whistled for offside.

Murcia have a strong claim to a play off place and showed plenty of hunger, the home defence tightened up with Bruno in awesome form to shackle Garcia. Roberto looked sound in goal when the visitors breached the defence but again the midfield couldn’t create enough openings to threaten their confident opponents. Tenerife faded even more in the second half, Aday came on for Nano and patrolled the left wing with limited success, it might have been wiser to switch Edgar to his preferred left side. It would have helped if the ref had awarded a penalty just after the break, Molino clearly handled the ball in the box but we have come to expect little joy with these calls.

There was a big feeling of anti climax, we didn’t expect much against such a good side but it would have been encouraging to equalise and set up a storming finish. Several Tenerife players will have put question marks over their usefulness to the squad for next season. Rivero replaced Ricardo and again looked very ordinary, Juanjo came on for Cristo and was another lightweight. Everything seemed half pace, even the scoreboard wasn’t bothering to show the time elapsed or the scores from other games. It’s a good job the 7,825 crowd kept up a good tempo, thanks were due for a better than expected season. Murcia’s celebrations at the final whistle showed how much they want promotion, Bruno hurdled the boards to swap his shirt for a fans scarf but there wasn’t even a hint of a team response and Ayoze couldn’t be bothered to say goodbye. Next Saturday it all wraps up at Sporting without the suspended Ricardo and Edgar.

Faint promotion play off hopes drifted away in a 1-0 defeat at Sabadell, the fifth on the trot but this was a better performance with Ayoze Perez putting in a all action gutsy display that will have had his new Geordie owners fretting as he was flattened twice by scary pio goalie Nauzet.

Now is the time to look to next season to see who should stay and who should be released, the out of contract players Bruno and Suso had storming games but bit part striker Juanjo was awful and goalie Roberto had a couple of big wobbles that wont help his chances of holding on to the first choice gloves. Alberto had a rare start in midfield, he nearly left in January but injuries got him a reprieve, this performance showed he hasn’t improved on his early promise. Raul Camara struggled in the left back slot and even Carlos Ruiz was below par.
Tenerife had to survive an early siege, Collantes was always a threat from his first chip over the bar, and former blanquiazul Hidalgo put a long range shot just wide. Sanz and Ricardo were comfortable in midfield and a pass to Ayoze put him through but his footwork let him down as Suso waited for the lay off. Juanjo looked weak, he clashed with Nauzet and cowered on the floor as the monster showered him with abuse, not a good sign. A defensive slip on the half hour let Ayoze in but Nauzet floored him on the edge of the box, the ref gave nothing.

At the other end Roberto rushed out to clear and missed thee ball completely, Bruno cleared that one up, but a few minutes later a Collantes corner was nudged on by Longas, another ex CDT man, and Roberto and Ruiz got in each others way as the ball went in off Ruiz for the ominous 1-0 scoreline. Just before the break Ayoze was bearing down on goal and Nauzet ran outside his area and pole axed him again, this time the ref saw it and gave a free kick but only booked the keeper. Ricardo could only put the kick over the bar.

Ayoze and Suso tried to demolish the home defence in the second half, Suso just rounded their defenders at will but too often there was not a pink shirt to convert the ball. Ayoze showed his skills when dragging the ball back in front of three defenders and passing to Suso but his shot missed the target. Tenerife started to fade, even a double sub with Rivero and Cristo coming on for Alberto and Ricardo didn’t holt the slide. Roberto made a couple of good stops and the arrival of Aridane for Juanjo gave brief hope, he powered through for a goal chance but Cristian cleared the danger. Ayoze managed a couple more half chances but Sabadell didn’t have any real worries, the final whistle made it 461 minutes without a Tenerife goal, that’s not promotion form.

Stop Press – I was just thinking at least we have got through the season without any internal bust ups. Just heard that Quique Medina the Director of Football is leaving the club with coach Alvaaro Cervera taking on his role, that is more of an over manager dealing with signings etc. Not sure how that leaves things for the last home game against Murcia.

Even without the 1-0 away promotion play off loss CD Marino were second best to San Sebastian de Los Reyes in a 0-2 home defeat. In the end a gap in experience and limited depth of quality told but there are so many pluses to be taken from a winning season with a totally rebuilt squad.

A band was playing in the stands, an arch of blue and white balloons greeted the teams, and a bumper crowd of 500 came to hope for a dream ending but reality was cruel. The visitors were strong and confident and to their credit came to attack rather than sit on their home leg lead. On the left side full back Lluch and forward Vicente interchanged to cause havoc. Aaron Darias was the key for Marino, he was getting around the visiting defence on the right flank and forced an early corner that the defence half cleared before Josito fired in a long range shot that the goalie gathered.

The break through came down Sanse’s favourite channel with a speedy break that caught out Pulido and Lluch was able to slip the ball past Alberto. Marino fought back, Murci did well to control a chest high ball and hook a shot in but the keeper was ready for it. Sanse picked their moments to break, Mendy came to the rescue with a sturdy blocking tackle and Alberto made an important save from Vicente. It was a big blow when Aaron had to go off injured after 30 minutes, Fran came on and has shown glimpses of class this season but he found it hard going with the pressure on. Balduino dropped a little deeper to help create a few openings but that left the attack a bit short.

Coach Sosa Espinel made a bold half time swap by adding Juanmi in place of Pulido and he put a shot just wide of the Reyes post. A long ball to Fran was too ambitious even for his young legs and the frustration began to tell. Murci thought he was in only to see the keeper claim the ball, the last throw of the dice was Sergio on for Josito. Reyes made sure of their next play off round, this time down the right leaving Carlos stranded and Vicente to make it 0-2. Murci and Balduino both saw their shots whiz past the post but when a glancing header from Murci flew by it was all but over. Marino were drained and couldn’t claw their way back but they can be proud of a campaign that has seen them camped in the top four right from the start.

Being a tight so and so I always give the sauce bottle a good slapping to get all the sauce out but eventually I have to admit it’s drained. Unless CD Tenerife coach Alvaro Cervera can add some late season vinegar the promotion play off hopes are in the same situation after a fourth straight 0-1 defeat, this time at home to Cordoba.
The jolt of pain from the defeat at Las Palmas should have fired up the engines again but it was a poor performance, sloppy and slow to cover in defence, blunt up front, and a midfield engine room desperate for the return of Cristo Martin. Cordoba looked sharp, former Newcastle player Xisco put an early chance wide from a Davila pass and thought he might have another pop after beating Ruiz but was offside. Davila’s control let him down when another chance came calling but he pounced after 17 minutes when Silva had plenty of time to set him up for the goal.

Xisco was at it again just clearing the bar with his shot and although Suso was testing the visitors defence Aridane was grazing again and Ayoze looked off the pace. Davila was gifted another shot just before the break but did the decent thing and popped it wide. The signs were worrying despite Suso opening the second half with a typically determined raid down the line, he squeezed it across but the keeper just managed to scramble it away. Ayoze was getting heavy marking, Bernardo and Cruz pressed him in a sandwich and even when he made some room and bore down on the keeper his shot rebounded away off the post. Like all our recent opponents, Cordoba had done their homework and enforced their plan cynically, holding player Garai took over from forward Davila as they looked to keep their lead. Aridane finally got a sniff but fired into the side netting. Nano replaced Loro and again looked promising but was isolated out on the left.

Suso was still squeezing his bottle, he turned a defender but was thwarted by the goalie and then took out two defenders with a clever lob but there was no one waiting to finish it off. Juanjo couldn’t spark a late fight back when replacing full back Moyano and late efforts from Ayoze and Aridane came to nothing. The 13,702 crowd didn’t show dissent at the final whistle, their support had been intense all through the game but most of us felt resigned to reluctantly letting the dream go. There are three more games to end with a flourish but realistically we should be grateful for an uplifting season that should be a springboard for a more solid assault on promotion next season.

Full marks for originality to referee Lopez, we thought we had seen every aspect of bad officiating in Santa Cruz but he sunk even lower. A phantom penalty at the start of the second half handed a 0-1 victory to Girona and it wasn’t even his finest moment. CD Tenerife were again below par, giving a rare start to Aday was intended to warm up an extra player with the hoped for play off campaign ahead but he was a passenger and with Rigo in for the suspended Bruno there were big cracks to be exploited.

Rock bottom Girona deserved their win for sheer determination, it was ugly and disturbing to watch but how we would have loved that spirit when we dropped two divisions. The referee should have kept their worst qualities in check but he was at best not up to the job, maybe he got stung by a jellyfish on a former Tenerife holiday, now he was stinging us.

Juanlu on his return to Santa Cruz gave Roberto an early tickle with a slow curling shot but Isaac eclipsed him in the other goal by turning aside an Ayoze strike after he had controlled the ball and turned to fire. Timor went down easily after a tackle in the home box, after some hesitation the ref booked him for the dive. It had the makings of a decent game, Timor had another go, this time from the edge of the box, it brought another assured gather from Roberto.

The 13,035 crowd were pumped up after arriving early, and singing homage to former hero Rommel Fernandez after nine minutes to match his old shirt number. Aridane had his controls set to snooze leaving Ayoze to work extra hard and Suso was well marked and kept under control. On the half hour Ayoze Perez took the ball deep and with a determined run beat the defence only to shoot wide. Girona were a strong side but couldn’t resist the urge to hit the deck anytime a Tenerife player was near them, the ref seemed blind to this. Maybe a rethink was needed at half time in the home dressing room, Tato could have burst through if not for the excellent work of Ayoze Diaz and Timor tried again but even with a crowd of players part shielding his shot, Roberto was there to greet it.

The scorching seats had only just been re-filled when the ref produced his trump card. Juanlu fired in a cross from the left byline and the ref pointed to the spot claiming a deliberate hand ball by Moyano. The touch if any was slight and Moyano was unable to avoid it, Jandro scored and that’s when Girona’s tactics got really ugly. A routine tackle by Carlos Ruiz on Tato saw the Girona player squirming on the ground  and calling for a stretcher, it arrived, he got up, and Ruiz got booked. From then on that became the norm, I saw the stretcher so many times I thought I was watching Casualty, and of course every time the stretcher went back unused. After the first few times I thought the ref would warn them but the farce just continued.

Changes were needed to try to get some home rhythm going, Juanjo replaced Aday and Rivero took over from Sanz but it didn’t work, only Ricardo was doing any good in midfield. Rivero did manage a low shot that hardly troubled the Girona keeper but the cutting edge wasn’t there especially after the ref booked Ayoze. Richy got close to Ayoze and took the dive, out came the yellow card and the distraught striker was in disbelief as he realized he would miss the Las Palmas game for totting up a fifth card. It could have got quite nasty, Suso was getting more and more frustrated, he hit out at a corner flag after his goal was ruled out for offside, and then squared up to Richy when he turned his attention to the flying winger. 

Edgar was the last throw of the dice, replacing Ayoze Diaz but he couldn’t turn the game around. Suso sent a late shot just past the post as we braced ourselves for a long period of injury time from the stretcher parade. Somehow the ref could only find four minutes of extra time and even cut that a little short. With Las Palmas winning at Zaragoza it turns next Saturday’s derby game on its head. Maybe a second appeal will get Ayoze’s booking cancelled but it’s going to be a tough 9pm game in Pio land.  

There was a bit of an end of term feel to CD Marino’s 1-0 home win over Estrella CF, the visitors couldn’t improve on their fifth place and Marino, secure in the top four play off spots, experimented with their line up. There was even a change of command, Lorenzo Morales was calling the shots from the bench with coach Sosa Espinel suspended for two games.

For a team playing down the days Estrella looked well organized and fired up, their early raids tested the new centre back pairing of Richard and Eslava with Richard looking the more comfortable. Murci has found goals harder to come by in the last few months, he was through after seven minutes but Acoidan hooked the ball back from under his nose.

Pedro was sniffing for goals at the other end and it took a strong intervention from Richard to deny him. Marino were adjusting to their team changes, Pulido was coming more into the game on the left wing and Lamine started to push up more. Balduino made a good opening from the right but shot wide, and Murci went one on one with the visiting keeper who spread himself well to snuff out the danger.

Pulido set the Estrella defence flapping, Murci got in among them and tried a back header flick that went just wide. Just before half time Marino took off Lamine for the fast emerging Valiente, he was soon hustling for loose balls and getting into good attacking positions. An onslaught after the break brought the reward, Baldunio opened up the defence for a Pablo tap in but it went the wrong side of the post. The next wave brought better, Balduino again made the space and Aaron Darias was on hand to crack in the goal.

Maybe it didn’t open the floodgates but it did dampen the enthusiasm of Estrella. There was another near miss from Balduino, this one a header that landed on the top netting, closely followed by a Murci head over from a free kick. The play offs could be long and drawn out so it was wise to give fringe players a run out, Sergio came on for Murci just after the visiting goalie had parried a fierce shot from Pablo. That was Pablo’s final contribution, he made way for Josito amid a little shuffle round for Marino.

Estrella were still a danger on the break, Jordi cut loose and should have done better than a high and wide blast. Alberto got a bit of the action, racing out to defuse a break with a strong block from his boot. Mendy did the hard work of dribbling through the away defence but his shot wasn’t of the same quality. The victory means Marino must win at Yaiza Sur in Lanzarote and hope that section leaders Granadilla drop points in their final game. No matter what happens they can go into the play offs with confidence and fearing no team.

The Dorada was flowing, the barbecue was sizzling and our host Antonio of Suters Bar even got a 50^th birthday mention on TV Canarias football coverage. CD Tenerife joined in the party mood with a bright start at Real Jaen but a dramatic last minute penalty gave the home side a 1-0 win to dent Tenerife’s automatic promotion hopes.

Diego Rivas finally made his debut in goal and had a solid game until the last minute when he came out to close down Jozabed, he made the slightest touch, but a touch none the less, and the Jaen player hit the floor and won a penalty. It wasn’t the best of performances by Tenerife, they made plenty of chances in the first half but couldn’t convert them and in the second half they seemed content to accept a draw. Former Santa Cruz favorite Kitoko looked out of place at left back for Jaen as he had in the early season match up, the injured Suso could have ripped him apart.

Ayoze posed plenty of threats, he beat the defence only to be squeezed aside for a corner and later skinned Kitoko to set up Rivero but his shot went wide. Aitor Sanz had the clearest chance but his fierce shot was turned aside by the home keeper. Edgar was having a quiet game although his rising shot came close to sneaking in the top corner of the goal. Jaen started to come into the game forcing Rivas to make some decisive interventions, the best from Jona who spurned a headed chance just before the break.

It was a slightly subdued Tenerife that came out for the second half, Real Jaen pushed up and made Rivas work hard between the sticks, another former CDT player Oscar Rico was looking lively, he tested Rivas with a curling strike just before Ros came on for Ricardo. Chechu replaced Edgar and nearly made the breakthrough with his shot cum cross but still the home threat persisted, Jona’s header looked dangerous and needed a good high take from Rivas to stop it. The last gamble by Tenerife was to introduce Loro for Rivero but it didn’t produce the spark needed.   

A draw was starting to look like a fine result as the game fizzled out but the ref blew straight away when Jozabed went down and pointed to the spot. Jona could have done the decent thing and missed but his aim was true and nicked the points. At least the damage was minimal due to rivals results but the booking situation is still prickly, Bruno got a yellow and misses the Girona home game and Ricardo joined Ayoze Perez, and Edgar one booking away from a suspension. The big prize is still up for grabs with six league games to go.

Maybe someone thought CD Tenerife would take the hint, 1-2 down at home with 11 minutes left, midfielder Cristo stretchered off early, and a ref and linesman desperately in need of their guide dogs. But when your hot your hot and the blanquiazul are scorching these days, they turned the score around in six minutes to claim a third straight win, 3-2 against Numancia, and jumped over Las Palmas into fourth spot, not a bad afternoons work.

You can call it stubbornness, determination, or an unshakeable self belief, promotion is now the target and it could even be achieved without the need for play offs. The 18^th minute loss of Cristo was a big blow, he could be out for a month depending on how bad his left ankle injury is, Juanjo replaced him and was to prove to be a key player. Moyano joined the charge for goal with a thunderbolt that clipped the joint of the post and crossbar, Suso gave Ayoze a header but it was soft at the keeper. Numancia have a good away record and flexed their muscles with a free kick near miss from Ripa and Julio Alvarez, one of the two lazy boys from our relegation to Segunda B, put another set piece strike wide.

Ayoze was a late fitness pass but showed his skills to red carpet a pass by two defenders to find Aridane, he dispatched it perfectly, he’s creeping up on nine goals now. Roberto ended the half with two good saves and a nice Aridane chip ended just short of the advancing Ayoze. All well and plenty for the 13,815 crowd to enthuse about. Tenerife’s defence were like a string vest for the Numancia equalizer after 54 minutes, Sergei side stepped his markers and popped the ball in the net.

Numancia stepped up a gear, Roberto made a good stop from a drifting shot but the big test came when Juanma grabbed a lead with a header from an Alvarez free kick. What spirit and character we witnessed, it took just two minutes for Juanjo to chest control a Moyano ball with his back to goal before turning and making it 2-2. A surge of energy from the crowd lifted the players, Suso took the ball to the goal line, Juanjo kept it in with a back header and sub Rivero was waiting on the edge of the box to drill the winner home.

You know when CD Tenerife are doing well, there are people on the rooftops above the far end goal, next home game it will be like a suicides convention – or a colony of lemmings!