If you are not a member yet, you can sign up here

Second Division - Day 14

Celta were looking to take over second spot when they visited Ponferradina on Friday night, but in the end they remain a point short of Rayo Vallecano after the game ended in a 0-0 draw. The locals were on top in the first half, with Rubén Vega hitting the post as early as the first minute and Saizar going close a few minutes later. Local keeper Mackay had to be at his best after that though to save from De Lucas and Alex López before the break and Joan Tomás and Catalá later on, and David Rodríguez wasted a couple of chances to win it for the Galicians after the restart. (26.11.10)

The Saturday afternoon match between leaders Betis and fifth placed Barcelona Athletic was called off due to a waterlogged pitch following a heavy rainstorm in Sevilla, but even so the Andalusians hold on to top spot after second placed Rayo Vallecano were beaten 2-1 by Las Palmas. The Madrid based side actually went ahead in the twentieth minute, Armenteros converting a penalty after he was brought down by David García, who was lucky to be let off with a booking. And they could have scored again as they controlled the game for the rest of the first half and the beginning of the second. Cejudo hit the bar though and Armenteros got himself sent off as the Canary Islanders fought back, and in the last ten minutes two headed goals by Quiroga and Javi Guerrero from crosses by substitute Pedro Vega turned the scoreline around.

Las Palmas move up to the play-off spots pending Sunday's games, now three points behind Salamanca who were held to a 1-1 draw at Girona. Local keeper Santamaría made a first class save from Mario Rosas midway through the first half, but he could do nothing when Goikoetxea headed in a corner on the stroke of half time. Twenty minutes in to the second half though Moratón was sent off for a second bookable offence, and Chechu equalised from the resulting free kick. Both sides had chances after that, but numbers were evened up when Albert Serra also picked up a second yellow card, and in the end a draw was a fair result.

Xerez drop out of the play-off positions after drawing 1-1 at Albacete. The home side had the better of the play, but it was the Andalusians who took the lead when José Marí beat Kaylor Navas with a header just eight minutes after the restart. Tato headed the equaliser though later in the second half from Verza's cross, and the forward got the ball in the net a few minutes later only for the strike to be ruled out for a questionable offside decision. The Manchegans ended the day still in the bottom four, and they could end the weekend in bottom spot if results go against them tomorrow.

It was a day for draws though, with Huesca and Elche also sharing the points after their match ended 2-2. Palanca got on the end of Carpio's cross to put the visitors ahead on the quarter hour mark, and although Gilvan levelled the scores a minute later, Linares restored the lead a few minutes before half time. The two teams were left with ten men when Etxeita and then Helguera were sent off, but with the game in the last minute Camacho scrambled an equaliser to save a point for his side. Huesca have still not won at home however, and they ended the day just a point above the drop zone. (27.11.10)

The draws continued on Sunday, with both games which kicked off at mid-day ending all square. Granada drop down the table to tenth after a 1-1 draw with regional rivals Córdoba, who themselves are gradually edging clear of the relegation zone. Raúl Navas made an important save from Orellana midway through the first half, and almost immediately Oriol Riera headed the visitors in to the lead at the other end. After that though Lucas Alcaraz's side sat back to defend, and Navas had to make several more saves before he was finally beaten in the last minute by a low shot from Orellana.

Alcorcón and Gimnàstic also drew 1-1 on Sunday lunchtime, a result which kept the locals in mid-table and the Catalan side down in the bottom four. Rubén Navarro and Powel both wasted chances for the visitors before Quini put the home side ahead, scoring from close to goal shortly before half time after a shot from Angel Sánchez came back off the bar. The Madrid based side had Nino sent off though for a second bookable offence soon after the restart, and Powel equalised from the penalty spot a few minutes later after Sánchez brought down young substitute Alvaro Rey inside the area.

Later in the evening Cartagena beat Valladolid 0-1 to draw level with their opponents in the table. The locals had more of the ball, winning no less than twenty corners, but Javi Guerra in particular was unable to find the net. Toni Moral hit the post for the visitors though after the break, and a few minutes later he headed in Toché's cross for what was to prove the winner. Guerra hit the bar in the dying minutes and Moral got himself sent off for a second yellow card, but Cartagena held on for their first away win since the opening day. It was all too much for Valladolid president Carlos Suárez, who fired his coach Antonio Gómez not long after the match finished.

Victories on Sunday evening for the bottom two clubs Recreativo and Tenerife, results which left Albacete down at the foot of the table. Recreativo themselves climbed right of the relegation zone after beating Numancia 1-0, and the Huelva based side appear to be on the way to recovery after six games without a defeat. Chances were few and far between though until twenty minutes from the end, when Pablo Sánchez latched on to Dani's through ball to lob Edu Navarro and lead his team to a second home win in a row.

Tenerife moved up three places to nineteenth after a 0-2 win at Villarreal B. The two goals came at the ends of the first and second halves, Nino opening the scoring after some slack defending let him in just before the break. Local keeper Mariño had to make a couple of good saves after that, but with the home side pushing forward looking for an equaliser, Nino set up Natalio for the second goal in time added on. (28.11.10)

Betis and Barcelona Athletic drew 2-2 in a match which was postponed from a couple of weeks ago due to a waterlogged pitch. With Betis leading the table and the visitors missing five players who were drafted in to the first team for the Champions League fixture, the Andalusians were favourites. And they started well, Rubén Castro getting on the end of Salva Sevilla's pass to open the scoring in the seventh minute. Castro tested Masip a couple of times and Emaná fired two shots just wide before the break, and two minutes after the restart Roversio picked up a Miguel Lopes to make it two. The visitors came back late on though, Nolito steering a header past Goitia from Montaya's cross, and Oriol Romeu running on to Riverola's through ball to equalise with five minutes to go. (08.12.10)