The fight for promotion from the second division B is very close this season, and with four days gone all four play-off groups are closely contested with most of the teams still in contention. Lleida were close to tying up group A though after they took the lead against Cultural Leonesa, Crusat getting the goal for the Ctalans eight minutes from the end. By then both sides were playing with ten men, local defender Negral picking up a second booking just before half time Rubén doing likewise just before the goal. But with the game coming to a close, Adriano struck the equaliser after a mistake by the defence to keep his side in the running. Nerves got too much at the end, with players fighting in the tunnel, and Crusat was shown a red card for insulting the referee.

A win though for Lleida against Celta B next week will still see them up. The Galicians did their next opponents a big favour with a 1-3 win at Playas Jandía, effectively taking the Canary Islanders out of the equation. Jonathan put the visitors ahead with less than a minute on the clock, and some poor defending around the half hour mark let in Nacho Franco twice in three minutes to give his side an unassailable lead. Atxabal got one back near the end, but it was way too late. With their first team relegated to the second division, Celta B cannot go up, but their players are giving it their best with an even bigger prize at stake, a place in the first team squad.

Pontevedra head up group B after a 0-1 victory at Mirandés, and a win at Lorca next weekend will give them a place in the second division. It was a physical game, with Cabrera getting the only goal with a quarter of an hour gone after Xaco set him up. After that the Galicians sat back to defend their lead until the final whistle. Iván Agustín was sent off for the locals in the last minute as tempers rose in the end.

Badajoz kept their slim hopes alive after beating Lorca 3-1, although they have to beat Mirandés twice and hope that Pontevedra slip up in their next two games to have any chance of promotion. The visitors took the lead early in the first half through Huegun, and held on despite losing Iñaki Bea to a second yellow card before half time. It wasn't until ten minutes from the end that the Extremadurans equalised, Josemi getting the goal, but Sergio Cruz and Ruano got two more after that to give their side a first victory in the play-offs.

Group C is the closest of the lot, with only two points separating the four sides after day four. Racing Ferrol hold on to top spot despite losing 0-1 to Sevilla B, the Galicians falling to a Jaio own goal twenty minutes from the end. The Andalucians had hit the woodwork twice before that and local keeper Bello Amigo saved the day more than once, but Racing could have scraped a point in the end if Sueiro had been able to finish off when alone in front of goal. Sevilla's Marcos Navas was sent off right at the end for a second bookable offence.

Atlético Madrid B and Castellón drew 0-0 in the other group C match, the fourth time in a row that the locals have shared the points. Despite the result both teams had their chances, particularly in the last five minutes when Juanjo wasted a good chance for the visitors and Oliva saved from substitute Alvaro Del Moral, David Rodríguez failing to turn in the rebound.

Gimnastic Tarragona moved to the top of group D after beating Lanzarote 1-0, Jonathan Torres poking in Lussareta's cross in the seventh minute for the only goal of the match. Codina, Jonathan and Serrano could have added to the lead had visiting keeper Marino not been on top form, but Raúl Salas and Maciot also had chances to level the scores for the Canary Islanders.

Real Madrid B are breathing down Nàstic's necks though after thrashing Ourense 2-5, and a slip up by the Catalans could let them through. The youngsters had lost to the Galicians earlier in the play-offs, but after sticking four past Nàstic last week they were on a high, and Jordi and Corrales put them two up with only twenty minutes gone. Nacho pulled one back a few minutes later, but two from Trashorras either side of half time, the first from the penalty spot, and another from Riki wrapped things up before Rubén Pérez scored a consolation goal.

In the relegation play-offs, Betis B will go down to the regional third division after losing their final match 1-0 to Peña Sport. The Andalucians were up against it after losing the first leg 1-2, and a goal by Diego Ruiz finished them off. (13.06.04)