Ian Lane reports on the Rojillos final game of 2009. 2010 - so begins the fight back. Ian and all at UD Lanzarote wish you all a Merry Christmas, if you are on the island in 2010, go and visit them.REAL OVIEDO 2 LANZAROTE 0
21st December 2009
The Rojillos lose their final game of the year in a spirited display against ex Primera Liga side Real Oviedo.
The difference between the sides can easily be described as Samson versus Goliath. Stan Collymore´s old club spent 13 consecutive seasons in Spain’s Golden league and even played UEFA cup football. The clubs ground has a capacity to hold 30 thousand fans whereas the Lanzarote team have never ventured past the third tier of Spanish football and have an average home attendance of under 500 fans.
As expected the side from the top North of Spain applied the early pressure. From both flanks they attacked the defence of the Rojillos. The opening goal came in the 18th minute. Midfielder Xavi Moré fed striker Manu Bustos in the centre. The well travelled striker who has a liking of scoring against Lanzarote with his previous clubs beat the defender with his first touch and unleashed a fierce strike which whistled past keeper Miguel at his near post.
The Asturias side did not relent and were looking to put the game to bed before the half time whistle. In the 26th minute the home side thought they had doubled the score but to the relief of Lanzarote, the linesman was merrily flagging for offside. Two minutes later and a strike from 12 yards by Xavi Moré struck the left hand post and away to safety with Rojillos keeper Miguel well beaten.
Lanzarote offered little threat with the only strike in anger coming on the half hour by Jotha, however his long distance effort did not test the Oviedo keeper Aulestia. The Lanzarote defence stuck to their guns and even though the home side were dominant in possession the Rojillos held out and went into the break still in the game trailing by the solitary goal.
Lanzarote came out for the second half with a much more positive attitude. Winger Toñito began to run at his opposition and on one occasion following a brilliant jingling run fed striker Rosmen whose effort was brilliantly saved by the Oviedo keeper with Lanzarote a whisker away from leveling the match.
With the Rojillos now enjoying their best spell of the match the inevitable happened. Ten minutes after the restart and following good work from full back Rubén González, striker Manu Bustos fired in his second goal of the match putting a huge dent into the spirits of the Rojillos.
Manager Carmelo Hernández brought on Ian Robinson on the hour mark but the Barnsley boy was forced to defend to prevent another humiliation. A good overall defensive display, but again no points away from home leaves Lanzarote eight points adrift from safety. The next game will be at home against Gran Canarian side Vecindario on the third of January. Many new faces are expected for the fight for survival which undoubtedly lies ahead.
To make matters worse, the flight from Oviedo to Madrid was cancelled due to the airport in Madrid being covered in snow which in turn led to the team missing the connecting flight to Lanzarote. Long delays after a defeat and knowing you will be beginning the New Year propping up the league table at a cold miserable airport was not on any of the players Santa’s wish list this Christmas. Then again you don’t always get what you want.
The players finally returned to Lanzarote amidst the first real downpour of rain the island has received this winter. Never mind, the forecast for Christmas Day is sun.
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