Sol y Futbol: Lanzarote lead at the top cut to a single point.

Ian Lane reports from La Palma, as the end of season run in gets tense.

S.D. TENISCA 1 LANZAROTE 0


Lanzarote now only have a slender one point lead at the top following defeat against bogey side Tenisca. The La Palma side has a terrific home record against the Rojillos only losing once in the last 17 meetings and are the only team in the league this season to win both home and away against the league leaders.

Both sides began the match patiently with most of the play in midfield and with the two teams more concerned about conceding rather than scoring. Out of the blue and with the home side on a counter attack the La Palma outfit finished off a good move with a player who has scored many times against Lanzarote, front man Memo.

The Rojillos then started to dominate possession but lacked ideas in the final third whereas the home team defended well and had two chances on the break to extend their lead. The Rojillos finished the first half thankful to be just a single goal down.

As in many games this season Lanzarote put in a much better performance in the second half of a match. After only three minutes in the second period Ayoze struck the bar from a long range effort and Toñito hit a post only a few minutes later.

As time ticked by Lanzarote seemed frustrated by a well organized midfield and defence from the home team and did not pose a threat to the La Palma goalkeeper. Midway through the half and striker Dani López found himself alone in the box with just the Lanzarote keeper Ruymán to beat. The Lanzarote goalkeeper produced a good save tipping the ball away for a corner and keeping his sides chances alive.

In the closing minutes the Rojillos believed they had earned a penalty when defender Ángel Gil went down in the box but the Ref waved away the appeals and the Rojillos suffered only their second away defeat since November.

In the last four matches the Rojillos have only picked up four points, however, all those points have been against the two other sides that are battling for the league title.

Las Palmas B and Tenerife B both won at the weekend but with three games remaining the Rojillos are still in pole position albeit by the narrowest of margins.

Next week Lanzarote will host another tough La Palma side U.D. Tijarafe. These teams met just prior to Christmas and the game ended in a goalless draw. Kick off time for this match has just been confirmed and will be at 12.30pm.

GOALS

1-0 min 17 Memo