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Second Division - Day 7

Gimnàstic are having a bad start to the season, and they stay in next to bottom spot after losing 3-2 to Villarreal B in the Friday night game. Joselu opened the scoring for the locals just under the half hour mark, turning in Fofo's cross after a good team move. Diego Mariño did well soon afterwards to keep out Eloy's header, but he was beaten a couple of minutes later when Iriome headed a free kick in to his own net. Joselu restored the lead after the break though from the penalty spot after Ruz fouled Jaume Costa, and the striker went on to complete his hat-trick with twenty minutes to go following another quick breakaway. Seven minutes later though Pere was sent off after picking up a second booking for giving away a penalty, and Powel stepped up to shorten the gap to one goal once again. But although Peragón hit the post the Catalans could not get the goal they needed, and they ended the day with still only two points to their name after the first six games. (30.09.11)

Saturday started with a clash between the two Deportivos, the old guard from Deportivo La Coruña knocking the young pretenders Deportibvo Guadalajara off their pedestal with a 4-0 scoreline. The newly promoted side came in to the games as leaders, but within seven minutes they were behind when Guardado caught out Saizar with a long shot. Last weekend Depor were three down at Alcorcón within the first quarter of an hour, but this Saturday it was the other way round, the 36-year-young Valerón setting up Alex Bergantiños twice in a few minutes to put the result beyond the visitors' reach. Up to that point though Ryan Harper had headed against the post, and Carlos Terrazas's side felt they should have had a couple of penalties later in the first half. But with ten minutes to go Salomao ran through to make it four, taking the Gailicians above their opponents to first place pending the rest of the day's games.

A few hours later though Depor were back down to fifth, four sides winning by a single goal to move back above them in the rankings. Almería are now the new leaders, a point ahead of the rest after beating Recreativo 0-1. After Guadalajara's defeat, Lucas Alcaraz's side are the only ones to remain unbeaten, and Alexis Vidal, Ulloa and Corona could all have scored before Ulloa headed a Dani Bautista free kick past Manu midway through the first half. Either side of half time Javi Alamo and Juan Villar both hit the post in reply, but Almería could have increased their lead on the hour mark when Ulloa headed against the crossbar and Carlos García hit the post on the follow up.

It seems though that all three of last season's relegated teams are looking for an early return to the top flight, and Hércules are up to second after a 1-0 win over Alcorcón. The Alicante based side dominated the first half, Carlos Calvo eventually opening the scoring with half an hour on the clock after combining with Aguilar and Aganzo. Manu Herrera had to be at his best to keep out Sanchon, Rivas and Aguilar before the break, and Aganzo went close soon after the restart. And although the visitors had the better of things after that, local keeper Falcón was rarely troubled.

Sabadell's good start to the season continues, and they are now up to third after beating neighbours Barcelona B 0-1. Eusebio's side have been sliding down the table recently, and although Rafinha, Rodri and Tello could all have scored for the locals in the first half hour, they found themselves behind at the break after Juvenal beat Miño with a long shot. Tello just failed to get past De Navas a couple of times after the restart, but Aarón Bueno shot just wide for the visitors later on. Another defeat in their Mini-Estadi though, and Barça B ended the day down in the bottom four.

Córdoba were expected to struggle again this season, but they are currently in fourth position, level on points with Hércules and Sabadell, after a 0-1 victory at Huesca. It was a dull match though, and neither side really created any chances in the opening forty-five minutes. After the interval Charles fired a shot just wide of the post and then missed another easy chance in front of goal, but Patiño won it for the Andalusians in the end when he headed past Cabrero with ten minutes to go. Huesca ended the game with ten men after Rafael Sastre picked up a second booking, and the Aragón based side find themselves back in the relegation spots once again.

Alcoyano climb out of the drop zone though after a 1-2 win over fellow strugglers Cartagena. An early change of manager at the Cartagonova stadium has so far had little effect, and they are still to pick up a point after their first six matches. There was some improvement at least though, Toni Moral heading Javi López's side in to the lead in the seventh minute. However with ten minutes to go to half time Cañadas ran through to chip a shot over Juanma, and four minutes later Choco Lozano scored a second for the visitors, the referee turning down claims that the forward had controlled the ball with his hand in the play.

Cartagena's neighbours Murcia are doing better now after their bad start, and they are now three points clear of the relegation spots after a 1-1 draw at Las Palmas. The visitors went ahead ten minutes before the interval, Emilio Sánchez beating Barbosa with a well struck free kick. Javi Guerrero could have equalised when he hit the bar minutes later, but Vitolo did level the scores from the penalty spot after he was brought down by Oriol soon after the restart. The defender was sent off for the foul, but numbers were evened up a few minutes later when Juanpa picked up a second booking. (01.10.11) .

The big match on Sunday was at lunchtime between Valladolid and Elche, with the locals winning 2-1 to move above their opponents and in to the last of the play-off spots. At half time though it was the visitors who were in front, Pelegrín heading in a free kick on the stroke of half time. Before that Javi Guerra had hit the woodwork, and the locals had two penalty appeals waved away before Sisi made it all square with a shot from the edge of the area. And midway through the second half Marc Valiente got on the end of Nauzet's corner to head home the winner and give his side their first victory in four games.

Later in the day Celta beat Numancia 0-2 to stay within a point of the top six. The turning point of the game came five minutes before the break, when Sunny was sent off for hitting out in retaliation at Català inside the penalty area, De Lucas transforming the resulting spot kick. Del Pino headed just wide from a Julio Alvarez free kick early in the second half, but a few minutes later David Rodríguez got free of his marker to head in Roberto Lago's cross following a short corner, and it was all over. (02.10:11)

The long weekend in the second division finished with a 2-1 victory for Xerez against Girona on Monday night. The Andalusians had not won at home all season, but within seven minutes they were ahead, Capi heading a José Marí cross past Santamaría. Rueda and José Marí tried their luck a few minutes later, and with seven minutes to go to the break Pablo Redondo latched on to a loose ball on the edge of the area to make it two. When Tébar was sent off for a second booking just before half time the game appeared to be over, but twelve minutes in to the second half Coro got one back, and it was only when the Catalans were left with nine men after Ion Vélez was stretchered off after colliding with Doblas late on that they gave up the fight. (03.10.11)