It’s a topsy turvey life supporting CD Tenerife, but sometimes, when they are really good, it all becomes worthwhile. Yesterday was one of those days, at home to resurgent Primera giants Rayo Vallecano, CDT found themselves a player short after just 35 minutes when Manolo Martinez was sent off for a second yellow card. Were we bothered? strangely the answer is no.

Rayo looked quite a bit short of their reputation as promotion candidates and Tenerife responded well to the red card blow. Luna looked rock like at the heart of the defence and with Ricardo showing his best form in midfield, there was a confidence among the 12.025 crowd. Diame went close for Rayo after 41 minutes, their only decent chance, and Alfaro hit the post for Tenerife just before half time.

Into the second half, and normally the home faithfull would be worried about holding a 1-0 lead, let alone a 0-0 scoreline, but there seemed a determination about Tenerife that was to prove prophetic. Juanlu was making a good partnership with Nino (pic) and after 63 minutes, Alfaro fed the ball to Nino to set up Juanlu to blast the ball into the visitors net. There was better to come, Nino, now enjoying God like status in Santa Cruz, hit the bar late on but went one better after 88 minutes, scoring his 7th goal of the season after good work from Ricardo. Â

Cue the celebrations, and the opening of many Dorada bottles as the Armada Sur enjoyed a very happy trip back down south. My head wasn’t too impressed this morning, but Tenerife are back in 6th spot and all thoughts are starting to turn to the Canarian Derby against the Pios in Gran Canaria in 3 weeks.