It was a day of celebrations in Santa Cruz, the day of the cross, the anniversary homage to ex player Rommel Fernandez, and mothers day, but the only cards were two more suspension causing bookings as CD Tenerife snatched a late 1-1 draw with Lugo.

Scoring goals has become a problem, Tenerife created an avalanche of chances in the first half but were thwarted by a combination of good goalkeeping by Jose Juan, bad luck, and most of all, sloppy finishing. Lugo had the first pop at goal, Luis Fernandez tried a long looping shot that went out off the bar, then the spotlight fell on Diego Ifran in the home shirt. The ten goal top scorer fired three great chances straight at the keeper, the biggest waste was after a dainty lay off from Maxi. The bubble haired striker also fluffed his best moment when he was a tad slow and the goalie blocked the ball at his feet.

Lugo felt encouraged and launched a dipping free kick, thankfully Dani Hernandez took the sting out of it. Suso ensured the half ended goal less by trying to tuck his effort tight inside the keeper. The visitors had enough about them to cause problems, just after the break a fast raid down the left had to be cleared by Dani’s feet and their best forward Toni curled a long shot just wide. There was some frustration setting in to Tenerife’s play, home wins are a priority in their lowly position, Aitor Sanz cleared the bar from outside the box. Then came a bizarre let off for Tenerife, a loose ball near the goal line was half cleared by Moyano and bounced wide off the startled head of Toni.

Change was needed, Juan Carlos looked poor and made way for Cristo Martin and it briefly perked up the blanquiazuls. Diego did the hard work by chesting down the ball but again his shot ran true to the grateful keepers gloves. Raul Camara went off after a booking and with a view to his suspension next week, Hugo Alvarez came on and slotted into the centre of defence so Albizua could fill the left back role. Albizua has grown on me this season, he is a classy defender and showed his versatility with some strong interventions down the flank.

There was no faulting the 9,697 crowd, they didn’t wilt in the heat and kept up their noisy encouragement. Lugo had their own bizarre let off when a header down from Hector pinged around the goal mouth, clipping Ruiz and the goalie before running out of play. Aitor Sanz added another yellow card to his vast collection and booked his day off next week at Santander. With three minutes left a big Lugo clearance found Alvaro Pena and Ferreiro with just Vitolo to stop them bursting through, the Tenerife midfielders  attempt to halt them wasn’t enough and they played a one two beyond him to draw Dani  as Pena popped the ball in the net. To their credit Tenerife launched another attack and as Maxi went for the ball in the penalty area he was hooked over by Israel and Vitolo stroked home the spot kick for a relieved draw.

It’s all getting a bit tight with CD Tenerife just four points clear of the trap door and six games left, only two at home. I’m hoping for a few wins before we run out of time – and available players.