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Match round-up - Second Division A, Day 4

Betis moved ahead of Valladolid to the top of the table after beating Antonio Gómez's side 2-1 on Sunday lunchtime. Both sides had won all three of their opening games, and Caffa hit the post for the locals after a vibrant start before Marc Valiente got on the end of Nauzet's corner to give the visitors the lead shortly before half time. Two minutes after the restart though Rubén Castro got on the end of a cross from the left to equalise, and substitute Israel headed the winner a few minutes later after Miguel Gomes led a quick counter-attack. Valladolid didn't give up until late on however, when Guilherme picked up his second red card of the season for a second bookable offence.

Later in the evening Rayo Vallecano joined Betis at the top of the table after a 0-1 win against Gimnàstic. Rubén Navarro went close a couple of times for the locals before leaving the pitch with an injury, but Trejo ran through to score for the visitors in their first attack of the match. Armenteros shot just wide soon afterwards, but otherwise the Catalans were on top. But even with Rayo down to ten men for the last half hour after Antonio Amaya picked up a second booking they were unable to find the net, youngster Eloy in particular missing a couple of easy chances late on.

The other two matches on Sunday evening involved clubs down in the lower reaches of the table, with Granada climbing out of the bottom four after beating Ponferradina 2-0. Chances were few and far between before Nyom opened the scoring midway through the first half, picking up a bad clearance from Mackay and firing a long shot back in to the net. The goal was not without controversy as a visiting player was lying injured at the time. Mensah cleared off the line from Mayor as the visitors pushed for the equaliser, but Geijo wrapped things up after Dani Benítez set him up ten minutes after the break. De Paula did head against the bar in the last minute, but by then it was all over.

Ponferradina ended the weekend in next to bottom spot, just above Tenerife and level with Recreativo, who picked up their first point of the season in a 0-0 draw with Albacete. The visitors were left with ten men when Tarantino was sent off for a hard tackle on Kepa midway through the first half, and only a couple of good saves by Keylor Navas from Pablo Sánchez kept the scorelines level at the break. Numbers were evened up though when Juan Villar was also sent off soon after the restart, and in the end both teams settled for a point. (19.09.10)

With last weekend's three leaders due to play on Sunday, Salamanca joined Las Palmas at the top of the table thanks to a 0-1 victory at Huesca on Saturday evening. The home side had the better of the first half, with Roberto and Molinero going close. But with an hour on the clock Perico beat Cabrero with a shot from outside of the area, and when Echaide was sent off for a second bookable offence near the end there was no way back for the locals.

Celta are now fourth, just a point behind the top two, after a 0-2 win at Tenerife. Trashorras opened the scoring for the Galicians from the penalty spot early on after Pablo Sicilia fouled Alex López, and Català headed the second from a De Lucas cross midway through the first half. The Canary Islanders should have got one back after the restart when Kome fired a second penalty against the bar, but in the end they fell to a fourth defeat in a row. Coach Gonzalo Arconada may soon be on his way out.

Barcelona Athletic are also on nine points after they beat Elche 2-0 in the first match on Saturday afternoon. Jonathan Soriano got the first shortly before half time without knowing too much about it, Nolito's long shot hitting the side of his head and deflecting in to the net. Visiting keeper Willy Caballero prevented the scoreline from increasing after that until Nolito got on the end of Montoya's cross to steer a first time volley inside the far post with ten minutes to go.

Alcorcón are up in to the top half of the table after coming from a goal down to beat Girona 3-1. Peragón gave the Catalans the lead in the first minute when he ran through to lob Manu Herrera. But a quarter of an hour later Quini equalised from the penalty spot after Rueda was pushed following a corner, and ten minutes before the break Girona were left with ten men after Peragón picked up a second booking. After the restart the locals capitalized on the numerical advantage, Quini scoring twice in the last quarter of an hour to complete his hat-trick.

Xerez have got their campaign back on track after their opening two defeats, a 0-2 victory at neighbours Córdoba making it two wins in a row for the Andalusians. Vicente Moreno headed the first from Redondo's corner ten minutes before the break, and Redondo himself made it two with a few minutes to go, rounding keeper Raúl Navas to score. The defeat left Córdoba just a place above the bottom four, having only picked up one point to date.

Numancia picked up their first points of the season after beating Cartagena 2-0. Both goals came in the second half, Nagore diving to head home the first twenty minutes after the restart, and Barkero scoring the second with a shot from outside of the area just eight minutes later. It was all to much for new manager Juan Carlos Unzué and his staff, the boss was booked and two of his assistants were shown red cards by referee Pino Zamorano! (18.09.10)

Las Palmas beat Villarreal 0-3 in the Friday night match to move to the top of the second division pending the rest of the weekend's games. Josico headed the visitors in to the lead against his old club with twenty minutes on the clock, and ten minutes after the restart Guayre made it two, beating Diego Mariño with a well struck free kick. And just three minutes later Jonathan Viera completed the scoring on a quick counter-attack to take the Canary Islanders to the top of the pack with ten points from their first four games. (17.09.10)