It’s a real test of character watching CD Tenerife, you can’t relax for a moment, this 1-0 home win over Alcorcon was in doubt right until a shot over the Tenerife bar by the visitors in the third minute of injury time. Tenerife started so well and for the opening 25 minutes they looked to have found some style and rhythm but the old problems reared up again and it became a struggle.

With Luna suspended Melli returned to the centre of defence and thankfully Bertran camne through his injury scare, Nino had the first chance, flashing his shot across the Alcorcon goalmouth after 6 minutes. Natalio hit the post and Prieto failed to get a clean head to a hanging ball with the goal gaping in front of him.Alonso joined the near miss club with a glancing header and Ricardo missed a sitter from a corner.

This was good stuff, the passing was better and the purpose was evident but Tenerife eased off and let Alcorcon come into the game, they attacked in numbers and their big forwards led by David Sanz had the CDT defence on the run. The visitors were stronger physically and too often knocked Tenerife players off the ball, passing became sloppy again and Tenerife were also rans when it came to winning the ball. Borja tested Sergio who did well to smother his shot and half time arrived with worries growing among the 15,234 crowd.

Into the second half and Alcorcon clearly fancied their chances, Beranger is a liability at left back and he gifted the corner that had the home defence scrambling. The ball was driven across and beat Sergio, hit a post and teasingly rolled along the goal line before being cleared. It was anyone’s game at that point but Ricardo put a great ball into Nino who cut in behind the Alcorcon defence to make it 1-0 afer 54 minutes, a huge relief. The game was far from over, Sanchez skied a shot when he looked odds on to score, and Quini also managed to hit the post.

Hidalgo was brought on for Juanlu to give the attack more bite but a free kick threatened to undo Tenerife, Sergio although unsighted until the last second managed to pounce on the shot. Natalio made way for Kome as the game stretched on with Alcorcon determined to get a point for their efforts. The giant Sanz cloed down on the home goal but Sergio reacted well to puch the ball clear and Pablo Sicilia came on for the dying seconds and was as relieved as the rest of the stadium to see that last minute effort fly off target.

Winning is just the start, next week the poor away form gets another test at Villareal B who include for CDT reserve hotshot Airam in their side. Las Palma lost 4-2 at Salamanca on Saturday so jumping over them before they come calling in January should be a great incentive to put a run of results together.