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

Second Division - Day 4

Hércules came in to the opening fixture of the weekend against Recreativo full of confidence after winning their first two matches. But although their opponents hadn't picked up a point themselves, in the end the Andalusians went away with the spoils after winning the game 0-1. Michel brought a good save out of Manu, and Tiago Gomes and Callejón went close as the locals had the better of the opening minutes. But Javi Alamo hit the post, and with a quarter of an hour substitutes Pablo Sánchez and Sergi Enrich combined for Enrich to score what was to prove the only goal of the game.

Sabadell top the table though pending Sunday's games after coming from behind to beat Cartagena 3-2. Florian headed against the post early on, but Iván Bolado beat De Navas to open the scoring midway through the first half. Aarón Bueno headed the equaliser from Lanzarote's cross two minutes before the break, and a minute later Cartagena were left with ten men when Alvaro Antón picked up a harsh second booking after Lanzarote's quick free kick hit him on the back. Bueno combined with Lanzarote to put the locals ahead soon after the restart, and although Bolado levelled the scores again after a Dimas mis-kick fell to him, the Catalans won it when a shot from Juvenal hit Arteaga and deflected in to the net.

Another of the newly promoted teams are currently in second place, Guadalajara moving on to seven points after beating Huesca 2-1. The locals went ahead in the seventeenth minute when Anibal got on the end of an Ernesto free kick to beat Bernardo, and Ernesto added the second a few minutes before the interval. Scotland's Ryan Harper came close to a third after the restart, but with three minutes to go Camacho got one back from the penalty spot after Antonio Moreno was sent off for a foul on Roberto.

Huesca and Cartagena have yet to pick up a point, and they currently foot the table together with Murcia, who lost 0-2 to Almería. Local keeper Alberto did well to turn an early effort from Ulloa round the post, but from the resulting corner Jakobsen gave the visitors the lead. Jorge and Pedro went close for the hosts either side of half time, but three minutes in to the second half Aleix Vidal got on the end of Ulloa's cross to make it two. Ulloa was red-carded near the end, but Almería held on for their first victory of the season.

Xerez stay a point ahead of Almería after a 0-1 win at Alcoyano, although the locals will feel hard done by not to come away with something after having three goals disallowed by the referee. David Porras's side were in control for most of the first half, with Paco Esteban having a penalty claim turned down and Batres getting the ball in the net only to see referee Bikandi Garrido rule out the strike. José Marí headed the Andalusians in to the lead though three minutes in to the second half, but the post kept out Batres minutes later, and the referee did the rest.

Córdoba won their first game of the season, beating Numancia 1-0 to move above their opponents in the table and away from the danger zone. The closest anyone came to scoring in the first half was when Natalio hit the post somewhat against the run of play. The locals should have scored early in the second half when Edu Navarro saved a Charles penalty after he had been fouled by Larrea, but the Brazilian striker made up for it with the only goal a few minutes later after connecting with a pass from Borja García.

Normally there are a lot of draws in the second division, but so far this weekend there has been only one, Alcorcón and Villarreal B sharing the points in a match which ended 1-1. The home side opened the scoring from the penalty spot with a quarter of an hour to go, Quini beating Diego Mariño with a soft kick after a defender had handled in the area. However local defender Javi Hernández was sent off a couple of minutes later after picking up a second booking, and with the game in injury time Airam saved a point for the visitors with a second penalty, again after Angel Sánchez handled the ball. (10.09.11)

Elche join Sabadell at the top of the second division after beating Celta 1-2 on Sunday afternoon. Both teams had won their opening two games, but the visitors got the advantage early on, Yoel pushing out a Nicki Billie header only to see Angel knock in the rebound. Billie had hit the post a few minutes earlier, but the Galicians bounced back, and David Rodríguez levelled the scores later in the first half after Iago Aspas set him up. De Lucas and Aspas wasted chances after the restart though, and with three minutes to go Pelegrín headed in a corner to take his side to the top of the pack. After just missing out on promotion in the play-offs last season, this year they mean to take the direct route.

Deportivo are one of the teams who are expected to stand in their way though, and after their disappointing defeat last week, the Galicians beat Barcelona B 2-3 to put themselves back in the hunt. Lassad came in to the game on form after scoring four in the cup midweek, and with half an hour on the clock he had already scored twice, the first a header from Valerón's long cross, and the second after good work by Guardado. A couple of minutes later Guardado got his name on the scoresheet as well with one of the goals of the season, catching Rubén Miño off his line with a shot from the half-way line. Rodri got one back before the break from Montoya's cross, and Rafinha closed the gap further with an individualist goal after the restart. But Depor came away with the three points, and next season they hope that their visits to Barcelona will be across the road in the Nou Camp, rather than in the Mini-Estadi.

Valladolid are another of the favourites to go up, but they dropped points for the first time this season after drawing 1-1 at Girona. The Catalans had only picked up one point from their first two matches, but they dominated the game early on, with Dani Nieto shooting over the top and Benja and Corominas bringing good saves out of Jaime. The visitors took the lead though against the run of play when Oscar scrambled the ball in to the net, but Migue equalised before half time following a corner. After the restart Girona were still in control, but Jandro, Juanlu and Ion Vélez all failed to convert chances.

Las Palmas may be one of the dark horses this season, and they are level with Valladolid on seven points after a comfortable 1-3 at Gimnàstic. With only five minutes gone the Canary Islanders were awarded a penalty when Mairata fouled Vitolo, and although Rubén Pérez saved Jonathan Viera's spot kick, the young forward made up for his mistake with the opening goal three minutes later. Barbosa had to save an Eloy header soon afterwards, but four minutes in to the second half Viera got his second after Sergio Suárez set him up, and a quarter of an hour later Javi Guerrera scored a third after picking up an assist from Viera. Powel did get a consolation goal for the locals after Longás put him thorugh, but by then many home fans had called it a day. Nàstic ended the weekend down in the bottom four. (11.09.11)