Well it felt like a loss, Tenerife at home to a Las Palmas team rooted to the bottom of the league and unable to score goals away from home. but still CDT let the lead slip twice in a poor game between two poor looking sides.

Tenerife had the perfect start with a goal after 7 minutes, an Ayoze corner was helped on by Santos to Nino who grabbed his chance. that should have been the springboard for an all out assault on the Pios but it never came and they crept back in after 18 minutes with a goal from Darino. Neither side really took hold of the game and Tenerife seemed strangely lacking in hunger.

Into the second half and Ayoze set up another home goal from a corner, this time Culebras was on hand and the 17,693 crowd went wild. The killer touch was missing again and after 70 minutes the Pios tied it again, this time with an Adrian goal.

A big let down for the home fans, we seem to be in a bit of a rut at the moment and although we are on an unbeaten run, we can’t seem to win. There is already talk in the local papers of 2 new signings in the transfer window but hopefully the team can sort themselves out before then.

If it aint broke, break it, that seemed to be the thinking behind coach Oltra’s baffling decision to drop Arruabarrena (right) Â to the bench after he linked up so well with Nino last week, when they both hit 2 goals. A 1-1 away draw at Poli Ejido might sound ok but it should and could have been a win.

After seeing CDT labour their way to a 1-0 home win in the cup clash, Poli Ejido probably fancied their chances and fired a piledriver just wide after 16 seconds. That didnt ring any warning bells for CDT and a minute later Culebras made a right royal cock up and lost the ball on his right flank. Juli ran down the wing and cut inside as the Tenerife defenders stood still, and Juli planted the ball past Juan Pablo.

Basically that was all that a poor Ejido side offered all game but with Tenerife looking blunt again up front, they were rarely troubled. Blanco put in a good long shot after 25 minutes and N’Diaye, just outside the box, swung his foot at the ball after 37 minutes and was unlucky to see the shot go wide. The game was crying out for Arruabarrena, the Ejido keeper lost a high ball just before half time and was bailed out by a team mate and looked vulnerable when the second half began.

After 56 minutes the big number 9 was finally restored for Tenerife and at least they had a hope. It looked like being an embarrassing defeat but with barely five minutes left the ball came off a Ejido defender to Arruabarrena just in front of goal and he spared the teams blushes.

All thoughts now turn to next Saturdays home derby with Las Palmas, the Pio’s lost 1-0 at home to Granada 74 tonight and are still La Colista, the bottom team. Anything can happen in a derby game, one thing is for sure, Tenerife need to play a lot better. Â

After searching high and low for goals, CD Tenerife have found a new striking partnership. Arruabarrena, standing tall at 1.88 metres and Nino, a mere 1.69m, fitted together well and both scored twice in a 4-2 home win over Eibar.

It was a much better team display but defensive lapses gifted the visitors two goals and a better team would surely have punished CDT. The first 30 minutes was all Tenerife and Eibar goalie Cuellar had to make good saves from Santos and Nino. The opening goal came after 34 minutes as the keeper could only parry a shot into the path of Arruabarrena.

The second half started with three clear chances for Eibar as the Tenerife defence parted alarmingly, thankfully Pablo was in top form in goal. The introduction of Ricardo made the midfield start to tick and the second goal came after Santos was brought down in the box. Txiki was sent off and Nino duly dispatched the penalty.

Pablo made two great saves within a couple of minutes before Altuna scored with a free header to pull Eibar back into the game. Ricardo fed Nino to restore the two goal cushion but another free header for Yague kept the nerves jangling. Ricardo was involved again in the move that led to the clincher, he supplied Santos who was brought down for another penalty, this time Arruabarrena converted to ensure a much needed win. Just under 10,000 in the stadium, not bad as many were watching the Grand Prix climax.

Just two weeks to go until the derby against Las Palmas, the Pio’s drew 0-0 at Cadiz this weekend. The Armada Sur are running two coaches to the game, we still await confirmation of what day and time suits the TV companies.

Are you feeling energetic? Wanna do some high speed sight seeing? Then the Santa Cruz Half Marathon is for you.

It takes place on Sunday November 4 with a 9am start from the Recinto Ferial, opposite the hook nosed audotorium. It will cost you 12 euros to take part but you have to sign up by the end of October. Most council sports centres will enrol you but check the website above for more info.

There will be no glory this season in the Copa Del Rey for CD Tenerife after going out 2-1 at home to Malaga last night.

The visiting Division 2 leaders had racked up 8 straight wins but brought a weakened team with 5 reserve players. Tenerife shuffled their pack too with Raul Navas taking over in goal and a new front line of Cristo, Arruabarrena and Ayoze. It worked well in the first half with Tenerife creating plenty of chances and showing more ideas up front.

Ayoze set up a good chance after 12 minutes but Cristo couldn’t get on the end of his cross. Ricardo blazed over the goal and Arruabarrena fired the ball into the side netting. Finishing was again proving to be a problem and after 24 minutes Iriome failed to make his shot count but defender Silva stuck out a foot and put the ball in his own net to make it 1-0 to CDT.

Into the second half and Tenerife slipped back into bad ways with shoddy passing and basic errors as Malaga grew in confidence. Navas made 2 great saves from headers 5 minutes in but the Malaga pressure was bound to pay. As the Tenerife defence was drawn off the ball, Eliseu rounded them and hit an equaliser that definately had a hint of offside about it.

From there on it seemed inevitable that Malaga would take the game and with 20 minutes to go Javi Ramos hit the winner from just outside the penalty area. Once again Tenerife had suffered for not killing off a game when on top.

Another goal less draw for CD Tenerife, this week at home to Cordoba. Lots of good build up play but too often they just wanted to pass in front of goal instead of having a pop.

There could have been a perfect start, after 5 minutes, when Iriome went down in the box but the ref ignored the appeals for a penalty. Santos was again on of the most creative players for Tenerife but attacks either fizzled out or ended in high hopeful balls that Nino had no chance of getting. The first half closed with a good chance each, Martinez forced a good save from Julio Iglesias and another former Tenerife player, Arteaga failed to react at the near post with the goal at his mercy.

Into the second, Santos went close, Arteaga was denied by Juan Pablo in the home goal but the stalemate remained. Longas hit the side netting just before Cordoba had their best spell of the game after 75 minutes, Pablo stood firm to deny the visitors.

Omar came on for Iriome and looked lively but even with Cordoba reduced to 10 men after second yellow for Aurelio, it was clear it was gonna be another frustrating game. Omar hit the post at the death but it finished 0-0. Nice to see Sicilia come over to clap the Grada fans and throw his shirt into the crowd, top man.

Another good crowd, 11,000. Tenerife will need to be sharper on Wednesday night at home to unbeaten Malaga in the Copa del Rey, kick off 9pm. Should be a great game, contact the Armada Sur if you want to join in the party.Â

It wasn’t a classic, but 0-0 away at Alaves, you gotta be pleased with that. There was always a chance of red faces with last seasons players Bernardo, Toni Moral and Raul Sanchez lining up for Alaves, but the only red was Tenerife’s third choice shirts.

Raul had a good chance after 8 minutes, but thought he was back in Tenerife colours and missed, heading over. A few minutes later, a Nino header was saved by Bernardo, the only decent chance of the half for Tenerife. Casar headed wide and Raul headed another over late on to end the first half.

The Tenerife defence looked tight, Juan Pablo’s handling was clean and confident and Santos was the pick of the bunch going forward. Santos had a couple of chances and Nino put a free kick wide and was harshly booked for diving, after a half hearted penalty call.

Arruabarrena came on 16 minutes from the end but really needs a full game to sharpen him up, even if it is with the B team. The only worry was in time added on when Juanma made a well timed clearing tackle and was carried off holding his leg, hopefully it isn’t serious.

Bad news from Las Palmas where the Pio’s won 1-0 against Gimnastic. Cordoba at home next weekend, once the TV people decide what day. If you want to go, contact the Armada Sur for a great day out.

There’s bikes, and then there’s BIG bikes, and on Tenerife you can have both. Last Sunday, the annual bicycle fiesta took place in Santa Cruz, 8,000 cyclists gathered in Avenida Tres de Mayo and rode along the coast to San Andres and back again. Lots of fun and smiling faces all round, apart from anyone who leapt on their bike only to find the saddle was missing.

This Saturday, Sep 29, there’s a big motorbike rally down in the south organised by two of Spains biggest biker groups, Lobos del Asphalto and Moto Las Guadanas. They meet up at 10am at Cheers bar in Aldea Blanco for breakfast and then roar off to Los Menores and Taucho and set up camp. It’s a ticket only event and they will be sold out by now, but look out for the Wild Ones streaming down the road, and give them a wave, they’re a friendly bunch.

Am I a curse? I couldn’t get to the Tenerife home game tonight and they won 2-1 against Salamanca.

Thanks to the excellent CDT club website I was able to get the details soon after the game and will pass them on here in the hope that im not the only one who thinks the sun shines out of their dressing room.

A bad start with the visitors taking the lead after just 12 minutes from a Jurado header. An agonising first half as Juan Pablo denied Acuna after 40 minutes to keep Tenerife in touch. Then just before half time, the mini marksman, Nino, added to his growing tally with the equaliser to restore hope.

Juan Pablo again came to the rescue after 64 minutes with another strong save but still no break through at the other end. Aruabarrena came on after 73 minutes to add his height up front and it paid off 3 minutes from time as he fired in the winner. A much needed win and with the crowd holding well at 12,000, heads are high again.

And joy of joys, Las Palmas went down again, this time 2-0 at Celta Vigo.

Where do they get these referees from, another bungling official made it a terrible night for CD Tenerife as they lost 1-0 at home to Hercules, with a dodgy penalty and two stright reds leaving them with 9 players.

However the fury at referee Gomez, should not be allowed to hide the fact that this was another poor display by Tenerife. Hercules looked the better team throughout, well organised and tight in defence while Tenerife had few ideas, couldn’t win the ball and couldn’t pass to a team mate.

Juan Pablo looked more confident in goal this week and dealt comfortably with the few direct efforts Hercules had on goal. Nino again looked isolated up front and it was a frustrating first half.

It all happened in the second half, after 49 minutes Ricardo won the ball in the penalty box and was coming away with it when the ref blew, late, and awarded a penalty and sent Ricardo off. Farinos scored from the spot as a feeling of inevitability settled on the Tenerife players and crowd.

Coach Oltra tried to shake things up and gave Arruabarrena his debut after 60 minutes, and the big forward was able to give Nino some support at last. Iriome came on 10 minutes later and showed some of his form of last season, with his speed on the right.

After 75 minutes, the ref sent Bertran packing for a foul on Tote, he was the last defender and went to join Ricardo in the showers. Arruabarrena had Tenerife’s only decent chance of the game in the final minute but headed over.

Another great crowd, 11,705, but the coach has a lot of work to do, the team need to brush up on some of the basics if they are to make any impact this season.

The only bright spot of the weekend was Las Palmas losing 3-2 at home to Real Sociedad on Saturday-well done to Chris Coleman’s team.Â