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Match round-up - Second Division A, Day 8

Sabadell are back up to second, just behind leaders Hércules on goal difference, after a 1-0 victory over Recreativo on Monday evening. Eneko went close for the Catalans early on, but Javi Alamo and Manu Martínez both had efforts blocked at the other end before Puigdollers got on the end of an Oscar Ramírez pass to score what was to prove the only goal of the game. Toni Lao came close to increasing the lead before the break, but after the restart local keeper De Navas had to make a couple of important saves, in particular from Sergi Enrich, to ensure the three points for his side. (10.10.11).

With Sabadell playing on Monday, Hércules are currently sitting at the top of the table after a 1-2 victory at Guadalajara on Sunday lunchtime. Carlos Calvo took advantage of a bad clearance by keeper Saizar to open the scoring ten minutes before the break. And the Alicante based side kept their opponents under control until two minutes before the end, when Arbilla picked up a return pass from Adrián Sardinero to make it two. Gago did get one back before the final whistle following a corner, but the goal came too late to prevent a first home defeat of the season for Carlos Terrazas's team.

Last week's leaders Almería had to settle for second spot after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Valladolid later in the day. Lucas Alcaraz put out a defensive line up against a direct rival for promotion, but his side took the lead when Corona beat Jaime with a well struck free kick shortly before half time. After the break the visitors kept up the attack, with Javi Guerra in particular failing to convert a couple of chances. But with all seemingly lost, the striker headed Balenziaga's cross past Esteban to save a valuable point for his team.

Córdoba could have joined Hércules had they beaten Villarreal B in the last match on the evening, but they too could only draw 1-1. Despite having won their last four games, the Andalusians found themselves behind when Joselu beat the offside trap to round Alberto and score, his sixth goal of the season. Patiño got on the end of a Fuentes cross to level the scores three minutes before the interval, and Charles could have put the locals in front when he headed against the bar after the restart. However in the end they were happy to share the points after Kike López hit the post for the visitors late on.

Yet another draw as well between the bottom two clubs Gimnàstic and Cartagena, their match ending without goals. It was an important game for the two coaches, the visitors' new boss Javi López looking for his side's first point of the season, and the local manager Juan Carlos Oliva under threat after only picking up two points to date. Neither keeper was particularly troubled in the first half, but after the break Powel and Luna both rattled the woodwork for the hosts. With the game coming to an end though it took the save of the night from Nàstic keeper Rubén Pérez to prevent Goiria from winning it for Cartagena. (09.10.11)

Deportivo were the only one of the top six to kick off on Saturday night, but they failed to take advantage, falling to a surprise 2-0 defeat at newly promoted Alcoyano. With only three minutes gone, a long shot from Miki hit the bar and bounced down over the line. However neither the referee nor his linesman saw it go in, and the strike was disallowed. Four minutes later though the locals did go ahead when Ayoze played a speculative cross back towards his own goal, his back-pass catching Aranzubia out of position and rolling in to the empty net. After that Depor had the best of the play, but Maestro made a string of good saves, and Lassad, Riki and others all failed to find the target. And with four minutes to go Alcoyano scored a second on a quick counter-attack, Alvaro playing the ball across for substitute Gato to slide the ball past Aranzubia. A set-back for Deportivo, but there is still a long way to go.

The only other team to win on Saturday were Las Palmas, who beat Celta 1-2 thanks to a much protested late goal. The Galicians have yet to win at home, but David Rodríguez hit the bar before Portillo put the visitors in front after Vicente headed over a corner. Rodríguez got behind the defence to connect with a Joan Tomás cross and equalise on the half hour mark, but the Canary Islanders should have been ahead at the break after Vicente had a goal disallowed for a dubious offside. Vitolo missed another chance later in the second half, but with two minutes to go Joel punched away a corner. With the keeper on the ground claiming a foul, the ball hit the referee and fell kindly to Ruyman, who played it back in to the empty net. The Celta players surrounded the referee, but this time the goal stood and Las Palmas had the three points

The other four games on Saturday ended all square, with Alcorcón moving up in to the play-off spots after drawing 2-2 against Barcelona B. Montañés headed the locals in to the lead from a Fernando Sales cross midway through the first half, but Tello had a goal ruled out for a previous foul before setting up Isaac Cuenca to level the scores shortly before half time. Deulofeu tested keeper Manu Herrera after the restart, and with a quarter of an hour to go Rafinha picked up a Cuenca pass to put the visitors ahead. Oriol Riera headed against the bar though late on, and with the game in the last minute Quini got free of his marker to head a Carlos Martínez cross over Miño.

A 2-2 draw as well between Elche and Numancia later in the evening, a result which left the home side still a point away from the play-off spots and the visitors just a point above the drop zone. Angel chested a Luque cross past Edu Navarro to open the scoring midway through the first half, but Juanjo equalised for the Soria based side twenty minutes after the interval after Juan Carlos could only push out a cross from the wing. Linares chipped Navarro though a few minutes later to restore the lead, and with Ripa sent off for a second bookable offence it appeared to be all over. But with ten minutes to go Del Pino turned the ball in on the far post after Nagore flicked over a corner, and although the visitors were reduced to nine after Juanjo also was sent off, they held on for a valuable point.

Girona and Huesca started the weekend in the lower reaches of the table, and they did nothing really to improve their positions after drawing 1-1 in the Montivili stadium. Benja opened the scoring for the Catalans seven minutes before the break, running on to a long ball out of defence to beat Bernardo. The keeper did well to save from Corominas minutes later, but before the half time whistle the visitors made it all square, Corona beating Santamaría on the follow up after the keeper saved from Rivas. Either side could have won it after the restart, Bernardo pulling out a great save from Jandro and Camacho having a second goal ruled out for what the referee considered a previous foul, but in the end they settled for a point apiece.

No goals at all however in the match between Murcia and Xerez, a dull game in which the only efforts in the first half were long shots from Pedro and Israel. Robusté headed straight at local keeper Alberto soon after the interval, and José Marí and Capi both had efforts blocked. The hosts responded with Cristian García, Emilio and Chando all testing Doblas, but in the end it was an easy night for the two keepers. Both sides ended the day fairly safe in mid-table. (08.10.11)