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Match round-up - Second Division A, Day 1 (rescheduled)

Only one match on Thursday evening, with Cartagena beating Deportivo 2-1 to move to the brink of escaping the drop zone. The East coast side only won for the first time this season last weekend, but they went two up with goals either side of half time by Collantes and Alvaro Anton, the first a shot from outside of the area, and the second a well struck free kick. Riki headed one back from Lassad's cross on the hour mark, but the locals held on to hand Oltra's side their fourth defeat of the season. Depor are still only a point away from the play-off spots, but getting back up to the top flight is not as easy as they thought it would be three months ago. (27.10.11)

Sabadell hold on to second spot, although they lost ground on leaders Hércules after they drew 2-2 at Xerez. The Catalans were grateful that they picked up a point though after they went two down in the first half hour, Capi setting up Tato to open the scoring in the sixth minute and Robusté heading in a Capi corner a few minutes later. Lanza got one back soon afterwards with a long shot which ballooned off Robusté over the head of keeper Toni Doblas, and Juvenal made it all square from the penalty spot after Lombán brought down Florian with twenty minutes to go. Even so visiting keeper De Navas had to make three or four important saves to ensure a point for his team.

Almería moved up to fourth, level with Valladolid and just a point behind Sabadell, after a 3-1 victory over bottom club Gimnàstic. Lucas Alcaraz's side took the lead in the twelfth minute, Ulloa converting a penalty after Rodri handled in the area. Fernando Morán levelled the scores with an impressive shot midway through the first half, but a mistake by Rodri allowed Soriano's cross through for Ulloa to restore the lead. Morán hit the bar before the break, but soon after the restart a hurried clearance by Rubén Pérez fell to Ulloa, who passed on for Soriano to make it three.

Córdoba are having one of their best seasons in a long time, and they are in fifth spot after a last minute 0-1 win at Elche. After a dull first half the locals came out strongly, Angel having a goal ruled out for a questionable offside, Palanca hitting the bar and Linares and Perico also failing to convert chances. But with the game coming to an end Borja García latched on to a loose ball in the area to beat Juan Carlos with a shot on the turn, virtually his side's first shot at goal all match. The Andalusians had Cerra sent off near the end for a second bookable offence, but it came too late to change the result.

Guadalajara drop out of the play-off spots though after they were beaten 4-0 by Numancia. The match was over by half time, Natalio heading the first midway through the first half, and Juanjo heading in a Julio Alvarez corner before Natalio set up Nano for the third, also with a header, ten minutes before the break. Ernesto hit the bar with a free kick immediately after the restart, but Nieto got on the end of another Alvarez corner with ten minutes to go to wrap things up with a fourth headed goal.

Las Palmas are the latest side to join the fight for the play-off spots, and they are now a point off the top six after a 2-0 victory over Alcorcón. Both goals came in the first half, with Quiroga picking up a pass from Vitolo to beat Manu Herrera with just under half an hour on the clock, and Laguardia sending Portillo through with a long pass for the striker to score the second a couple of minutes before the break. Mora and Babín did try their luck for the visitors after the break, but to no avail.

Murcia's bad start to the season is now behind them, and they moved up to the top half of the table after beating Recreativo 0-2, their seventh game without defeat. With a strong wind behind them, the visitors went ahead in the sixth minute when Jorge picked up a rebound to beat Manu. Juan Villar hit the bar after the restart, but Murcia could have increased their lead when Manu saved a Pedro penalty after Peinado brought down Jorge. Ruso made sure of the three points though with a last minute strike from a Rubén Parraga assist.

Recre have not won now in six games, and they ended the day just a point above the relegation spots. Huesca stay in the bottom four though after they lost 0-1 to Barcelona B, who themselves move four points clear of the danger zone. Both sides failed to convert several chances, but the goal when it came was a soft one, local keeper Cabrero letting Riverola's speculative shot through his hands four minutes in to the second half. (26.10.11)

An unscheduled round of matches in the second division midweek, with the "day one" fixtures which were postponed from August taking place from Tuesday to Thursday. Leaders Hércules were one of the first to kick off on Tuesday evening, and they moved six points clear of the pack after a last minute 0-1 win at Villarreal B. It was a dull match though, particularly in the first half when the only shot at goal came from Villarreal's Juanlu. Sardinero and Tiago Gomes tried their luck for the visitors after the restart, but it was not until the second minute of injury time that substitute Urko Vera latched on to a loose ball in the area to give his side their fifth win in a row.

Valladolid are another of the favourites for promotion this season, and they are now in second spot after beating Alcoyano 2-0, their second victory in three days. Djukic's side dominated the game throughout, Marquitos bringing a couple of good saves out of Maestro and Javi Guerra rattling the woodwork before Sis set up Oscar for the opener eight minutes before the break. Sisi got the second himself three minutes later after Maestro's attempted clearance hit a defender and fell to him, and the visitors ended with ten men after Pina was sent off for a second bookable offence near the end.

Celta are also starting to get their act together, and they are currently fourth after a 2-0 win over Girona. The visitors have dropped in to the relegation spots recently after four games without a victory, but they began well, with Corominas in particular bringing a good save out of Yoel and having a strike ruled out for offside. The locals were limited to long shots in the first half, but ten minutes after the restart they took the lead when David Rodríguez turned the ball in to the empty net after Santamaría could only push out a cross from the left wing. And with the game coming to an end Iago Aspas got ahead of his marker to slide in a cross from Orellana and make it two home wins in a row. (25.10.11)