Getting to the top of the table is only half the battle. CD Marino are a prized scalp now for every opponent and sometimes they will have to grind out results if they want to win the big prize. A sixth minute penalty goal conceded showed that second from bottom AU Guimar hadn´t travelled down the Tenerife motorway just to be the supporting act. Discipline, hard work, and character were the ingredients that enabled the blues to reel in the points to remain three points clear of the chasing pack.
Samuel´s rash tackle on Esau was converted by Pablo and Guimar were fired up. Andy was popping up all across the front line, he fed the ball to Ethan, David made sure he gathered the shot. Marino took a breath and built from the back, Nami got into his stride and coasted past Pablo, his cross was met by incoming Zeben whose offside shot went straight at goalie Hernandez. Zeben had locked onto his target now, even a shot on the turn after being knocked to the ground, was only just wide. Alberto from the left stung Hernandez hands, he made it safe with the second grab. Kike and Nata were formidable in the centre of the Guimar defence but Juanito was struggling to cope with the pace of Nami who left him chasing shadows time and time again.
Zeben timed his bursts through the middle expertly, Guimar could sense him coming but couldn´t stop him. Diego showed he had his shooting boots on too, a rocket shot from deep only veered off the target at the last moment. Just after the half hour the breakthrough came. It was the Nami, Zeben combination again, the finish from Zeben gave Hernandez no chance. Jaime tried to follow up to take the lead, he was through on the right before a Kike challenge denied him a shot. Half time was fast approaching when home captain Saavedra ran onto a though ball and buried it with a powerful header. The blues looked mightily relieved to go off with their noses in front.
Credit to Guimar, they came back out with positive intentions, a Kike free kick kept David alert in goal and the arrival of sub Jesua added to the physical side of their game. Marino pressed forward, Zeben saw his shot heading for goal before Hernandez made a fine one handed save. Jesua was strong in the air, it took a well timed headed clearance from Nikki to to prevent him getting a clear aim. Nami tried to catch Hernandez unaware with a low drive, the keeper got his body behind it for a safe block. It was still a wide open game and two penalty claims added to the drama. Roy was a constant threat to Guimar, as he ran through a cluster of defenders, Pablo closed in and made a lunging tackle in the box. The ref waved away the Marino penalty claims. At the other end the Guimar defenders were supporting the attack, Juanito came in on the left and went down tackled by Nikki. The Guimar bench rose in protest but the ref still wasn’t tempted to give another spot kick.
It was a nervous finish to the game, Jaime tried to chip Hernandez and just cleared the bar, and when Nami had a clear sight of goal for Marino, his strike was wild and high. The final minutes ticked away and the final whistle was a welcome sound for Marino.