A shuffle of the young CD Marino pack brought an improved performance and plenty of spirit after the 7-0 defeat at Ibarra but they still ended on the wrong end of a 1-2 defeat at home to Lanzarote.
The visitors have built a strong, experienced squad over the last few seasons but were made to work all the way in an exciting game. There was an early warning as Javi pounced on a loose ball before shooting just wide of the post for Lanzarote. Sandro forced a free kick as he burst between two defenders down the left flank for Marino but Alberto missed the target. Coly started the game in midfield for the home side and what a terrier he looked with plenty of strength and determination in winning the ball and prompting some good Marino moves. Lanzarote were pinned down for much of the first half hour and were grateful to keeper Adrian for some timely saves.
The reds were full of danger and eager to shoot from distance but the home defence held firm and Cicovic cut out the hopeful high balls when they chanced their luck. The pace of full backs Bradley Mills and Connor allowed them to overlap and support the attack, Gaizka was struggling to shake off his markers and miss judged a tempting ball in from Sandro with the goal at his mercy. Sandro followed up with a stinging volley that the goalie did well to turn away one handed, at the other end it was Cicovic to the rescue as Vladimir cut in from the right but the home stopper was down to clear the shot away.
It needed something special to get the scoreboard moving, Coly had the perfect answer on the half hour, he used his strength to shrug off two defenders and create space for the opening goal. Marino fell for the sucker punch, straight from the kick off Lanzarote surged forward, switched the ball from right to left in front of goal and there was Javi to level. Both sides fancied their chances of taking a lead into the break, Kevin Castro unleashed a speculative shot that wasn’t far off the net and Lanzarote replied with their own long range effort that dipped just a little too late. It was a well balanced contest with plenty of promise for the second half.
Javi tested Cicovic within minutes of the restart, he snatched at his shot and the ball was met with a safe pair of hands. The blues keeper was at his best again a few minutes later with a two fisted punch clear when under pressure. Kevin Castro had recovered well from a knock to the head at the end of the first half and he blasted a shot just clear of the Lanzarote crossbar. It was still anyone’s game but Lanzarote were pushing forward, a ball into the box was partially cleared and fell to defender Miguel who smashed a long shot that flew over everyone’s heads and settled high in the net for a 1-2 lead.
Marino tried all their subs, Suso replaced Sandro and flew down the right wing before floating in a teasing cross that was just beyond the reach of Gaizka. The game was slipping away and Lanzarote sub Andrea missed two glorious chances, both hit across the face of the Marino goal. Marino had one last attempt in injury time when Cicovic became a roving goalie taking the ball up the field to Suso, his cross looked good but Mendy couldn’t keep his shot down and it cleared the bar as the referee blew the final whistle.