LANZAROTE 3 CD LAGUNA 1

LANZAROTE   3   CD LAGUNA   1, 14th December 2014

A super team performance along with an exceptional display of talent from two goal hero Louis Kennedy improves the Rojillos incredible home form, seven wins and one draw in their eight home matches maintains Lanzarote´s second place standing in the league table.

The Conejeros (locals) who were suffering from a long injury and suspension list knew that this was going to be no excuse for the local fans not to celebrate yet another home win especially as it was against the leagues bottom club.

The Rojillos instantly took the game to the Tenerife side. The first concrete opportunity was to be a sign for the rest of the match. 21 year old Louis Kennedy danced through the heart of the visitors defence only to see his shot at the near post saved by the Tenerife keeper.

Lanzarote were totally dominant, a great pass from the ever improving Fellani lookalike, Kilian; set up Toñito, the winger delicately chipped the ball over the keeper but unfortunately the ball had a little too much weight on it and missed the bar by inches.

The quickly settled in Italian Andrea forced a good low save from the Laguna keeper with a shot from just inside the box and Rosmen was forcing his side closer as his effort narrowly missed the target.

The visitors had to crack with the amount of pressure that they were soaking up and midway through the first half Lanzarote forced the goal. A free kick whipped in by one winger Toñito was neatly flicked off the head by fellow winger Kennedy and into the far post giving the locals a 1-0 lead.

In the 32nd minute a corner floated in by Toñito was met with a great jump by Andrea, the Italian powered his looping header into the keepers top right hand corner to make the score 2-0.

The visitors had offered very little in the opening 45 minutes and were glad to hear the Ref blow his whistle for half time.

The game still remained exciting in the second half. The Tenerife side finally had a strike at goal from midfielder Siverio but the Lanzarote keeper Agoney made a comfortable save.

The British boy Kennedy came within a whisker of netting the third when he struck the crossbar with an effort from the edge of the box. A few minutes later and a header from Rosmen was well saved by the Laguna goalkeeper.

As the visitors pushed a little forward to try and rescue something from the game this enabled Lanzarote to counter attack. In the 84th minute a great pass from Kilian set Kennedy on his way, with the form this British boy is in at the moment the outcome was inevitable. Kennedy shrugged off his defender and from the right, shot the ball across wide of the keeper into the far corner to guarantee all three points for his side with a 3-0 lead.

Kennedy who has only just returned from injury looked shattered and was then subbed giving way to a 16 year old Dutch lad Roy Siebelder to make his debut. The junior player had been brought into the squad by manager Adolfo Pérez due to the amount of injuries and suspensions. Of his 8 minutes on the pitch the youngster seemed to be involved in everything.

His first touch however was to be from the kick off as the Tenerife side scored a consolation goal from a super free kick which went over the wall and sharply dipped into the bottom corner leaving the Lanzarote keeper no chance.

Returning to the Roy show, the Dutch boy certainly couldn’t be missed as his pure white hair and his young features make him instantly recognizable. He showed no nerves as he flew past a defender down the left flank which delighted the home crowd.

Moments later his first time pass set fellow sub Yaco off on a one on one with the keeper but the Lanzarote striker’s effort was saved by the feet of the goalkeeper.

In the closing moments Yaco returned the favour with a superb low cross for the teenager but with the goal at his mercy his contact was poor and the chance went begging. Nevertheless there is no doubt that the crowd will want to see more of this breath of fresh air. The crowd gave the players a standing ovation at full time and Lanzarote´s manager told me that he loved the atmosphere the crowd produced.

A few weeks ago when I saw Roy he looked so young and physically so small that I thought he was the ball boy. An incredible few minutes this lad played with a confidence and love of the game that was a joy to watch. He certainly proved to his manager that he is up and ready for this level of football.

The Rojillos keep in second place just a point behind league leaders CD Marino. This Thursday 18th December at 5.45pm Lanzarote have another opportunity to improve on their home form when they face fifth placed side Villa Sta Brígida. This match was postponed a couple of weeks ago due to a storm so will be played this Thursday.

GOALS

1-0   min 23 Kennedy

2-0   min 32 Andrea

3-0   min 84 Kennedy

3-1 min 86 Airam