Sol y Futbol: From time to time a Football Match broke out - still nice weather

Ian Lane reports from Arrecife on a drab local derby. UD Lanzarote earned a point but their lead at the top closes too. Still it was a nice warm night. Winter is upon us, Mr Lane is beginning to tell us about the fantastic weather on the island.  It is coming to a popular time to visit Lanzarote, remember, Ian's stalls can be found at the old Teguise market every Sunday.  If its an away game, Ian will even turn up. Tip, when visiting Mr Lane at the market, a Walnut Whip may just seal the deal.

MARÍTIMA 0 LANZAROTE 0


The game many local fans had been waiting for, the islands oldest club Orientación Marítima, versus the islands most successful club U.D. Lanzarote. The setting was perfect on a warm late October evening but the poor performance by both sides made this an evening that will not hang long in the memory of any fan.

With both sides sharing the pitch U.D. Lanzarote found themselves in the away dressing room and playing in their away colours of white and blue.

The home side got off to a better start with striker Miguel Yunes creating problems for the Rojillos back four. The only notable strike at goal in the entire first half came from this player. The Rojillos got caught on the break and a superb pass through the centre put Maritima´s star player away. From 10 yards the striker fired in a fierce drive which flew past the Lanzarote keeper but thundered off a rattled crossbar.

Lanzarote looked by far the more classier team in the second half but Marítima looked the more dangerous around the goal mouth. The Rojillos gradually began to force the play but it wasn’t until the final fifteen minutes that the fans began to edge towards the edge of their seats.

The best chance of the match for the Rojillos came in the 73rd minute. A ball hoisted deep into Marítima territory was not dealt with by the awkward looking centre back Aridane and Torres latched onto the mistake and from the edge of the box the Lanzarote marksman delightfully chipped the oncoming keeper and as the 800 or so crowd held their breathes the ball came back off the inside of the post and safely into the hands of the relieved goalkeeper.

Lanzarote then upped the tempo with midfielder Jotha orchestrating most of Lanzarote´s best moves. In the 76th minute the Rojinegros (red and blacks) startled the away side with a shot from Alex Yunes which came crashing off the left hand post.

With only six minutes remaining left winger Ito flew down the left flank turning his defender once and then as he turned him again to come inside both players collided on the edge of the box and Ito went down and every face in the crowd looked at the ref. To the shock of many the ref waved away the wingers good shout for a penalty.

The final five minutes at last looked like a derby match with tackles flying in from both sides but as the ref blew his whistle not many would argue a draw as a fair result.

Marítima like Lanzarote have only lost once this season but with 8 draws in 10 matches this solitary home point just pushes them out of relegation positions on goal difference.

Meanwhile Lanzarote have seen their lead at the top cut to just one point following a 2-1 victory by Las Palmas B over deadly rivals Tenerife B.

Lanzarote will be hosting another derby next week against Playas Jandia from Fuerteventura.