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Second Division - Day 8

Salamanca moved up to third in the table pending the rest of the weekend's games after beating struggling Recreativo 0-2 on Friday night. The locals were still looking for their first win, but although they had the better of the first half visiting keeper Biel Ribas was hardly troubled. Pablo Alfaro brought on Acuña and Aarón midway through the second half to try and revitalize his attack, but a couple of minutes later Sarmiento slipped a pass through for Marcos Márquez to score. Recre pushed forward after that, but with the game in injury time Lamas was sent off for bringing down Quique Martín in the area, and the veteran midfielder stepped up to convert the resulting spot kick himself. A fourth away win out of four for Oscar Cano's side, leaving the Andalusians (who are just going in to legal administration) with an uncertain future. Alfaro may be the first to pay for their lack of success. (15.10.10)

Betis are determined to go up this season, and they are back at the top of the table after coming from a goal down to beat Girona 2-1 in the first match on Saturday evening. With several players injured, coach Pepe Mel drafted in five youngsters from the B team. However they fell behind shortly before the break when Moha picked up a lofted pass from Jandro to cut in and shoot past Goitia. But Miki Roqué headed in Beñat's corner to equalise ten minutes in to the second half, and a few minutes later Dorado scrambled home the second following another Beñat corner to ensure another three points for the Andalusians.

Betis move ahead of Celta, who were held to a 2-2 draw by Villarreal B later in the evening. Iago Falqué put the home side ahead after a quick passing move with Nicki Bille four minutes before half time. Paco Herrera (returning to the side he coached last season) brought on Iago Aspas after the break though, and he equalised with a clever back-heel from Roberto Lago's cross with a quarter of an hour to go. Five minutes later Hugo Mallo appeared to have won it for the Galicians, but the locals were awarded a late penalty when Falcón brought down Airam, and Coria stepped up to drill home the spot kick.

Barcelona Athletic stay in fifth spot after they took a point off local rivals Gimnàstic in a 1-1 draw. Nolito opened the scoring for Luis Enrique's side with a shot from outside of the area on the quarter hour mark. But Alex Cruz hit the post for the locals before winning a penalty which Gerardo fired against the foot of the upright. Eloi had a goal disallowed for a borderline offside minutes later, band the young striker finally beat Rubén Miño after pulling down a Xisco Campos cross before blasting the ball in to the net. That was it though, and Nàstic stay down in the bottom four of the table.

Alcorcón are up to sixth after a 3-1 victory over Xerez, their sixth home win in a row in all competitions this season. With just over half an hour gone they were already three up, Rubén Sanz starting things off midway through the first half, and top scorer Quini headed the second following Samuel's corner four minutes later. Local defender Rueda was lucky to be let off a penalty when he handled in the area, but almost immediately he was awarded a penalty at the other end after Redondo brought him down. Quini converted the kick for his second of the night, and Capdevila's goal late in the second half was scant consolation for the Andalusians.

Further down the table, Ponferradina moved off next-to-bottom spot after beating Albacete 0-1, their first win since returning to the second division A this summer. The Manchegans had not lost at home all season, and a dull goal-less draw seemed on the cards until Toni handled Del Olmo's cross in the area with ten minutes to go. Rubén Vega converted the resulting penalty, and after that things livened up, Alfredo just failing to equalise when he headed wide soon afterwards, and Vega almost scoring a second near the end.

Ponferradina are now just behind Huesca, who stay out of the bottom four thanks to a 0-0 draw with Cartagena. The Aragón based side had the better chances, with visiting keeper Casilla in particular saving well from Luis Helguera midway through the second half, but they were unable to clock their first win in their El Alcoraz stadium this season. (16.10.10)

Rayo Vallecano had to settle for third spot, albeit in a three way tie with leaders Betis and Celta, after they could only draw 1-1 at Granada on Sunday lunchtime. The Andalusians started strongly, Abel Gómez opening the scoring in the fourth minute after Cobeño could only push out an effort from Geijo, and Geijo going close a couple of times after that. However Aganzo equalised with his side's first shot at goal later in the first half, and after that the locals lost steam. Even so Cobeño had to save from Geijo again after the restart, and Rayo held on despite having Casado sent off for a hard tackle on Collantes near the end.

Valladolid moved back up to sixth in the table after a 3-0 win over Las Palmas on Sunday evening, their first victory in five games. The Canary Islanders came in to the match unbeaten though, and they had the better of things before Aythami gave away a penalty on Guilherme in the twentieth minute, Jorge Alonso converting the spot kick to put the locals in front. Two minutes before the break César Arzo headed a second following an Alonso corner, and the third came midway through the second half when David García turned Nauzet's cross in to his own net trying to clear.

Eight games in to the season, and Tenerife are still without a win after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Numancia. David Prieto did hit the bar for the Canary Islanders with half an hour gone, but a couple of minutes later Iñigo Vélez set up Javi Flaño to put the visitors ahead. Numancia continued to attack after that, but with eight minutes to go Mikel Alonso latched on to a David Prieto pass to equalise. Any hopes of a win though were scotched when Julio Alvarez picked up a second booking near the end, and Tenerife stay bottom, two points behind Recreativo, who sacked manager Pablo Alfaro this morning.

Elsewhere Córdoba and Elche inched away from the drop zone after they shared the points in a 0-0 draw. The Andalusians had the better chances, with visiting keeper Caballero having to make two or three good saves, and Pepe Díaz having a goal disallowed. However they were lucky not to be awarded a penalty after Agus picked up the ball in the area after hearing a whistle from the crowd. Luckily the linesman heard it as well, and the defender was not penalised. (17.10.10)