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Second Division - Day 12

Córdoba and Barcelona B drew 1-1 in the Friday night game, a result which left the home side still just outside of the play-off spots and their opponents four points behind them in the table. Eusebio's side took the lead in the sixth minute, Deulofeu beating Alberto with an angled shot, but Patiño, Borja and Charles all wasted chances to level the scores before the break. With twenty minute to go though Borja equalised after Oier could only push out an effort from Charles, and although either side could have scored after that, in the end they settled for a point apiece. (04.11.11)

Leaders Hércules lost 1-0 at Girona on Saturday evening, a result which ended their run of six wins in a row. Heavy rain made conditions difficult, and the only real chance in the first half came when Corominas fired a shot just over the bar following a quick passing move by the locals. The Catalans were on top for most of the game without causing too many problems for Falcón, who had only let in four goals all season. Finally though the pressure paid off when Girona were awarded a rigorous penalty after Corominas fell under a challenge from Piña, the ex Espanyol midfielder converting the spot kick himself. After that Hércules woke up, but it was too late to prevent Raúl Agné's side from taking the three points for only the second time this season.

Hércules remain clear leaders, although the gap at the top has been cut to three points after Almería beat Huesca 2-1. Ulloa gave the locals the lead on the quarter hour mark after Aleix Vidal set him up, and although Tariq missed a chance to equalise almost immediately, Verza could have added to the score when he hit the post and then brought a good save out of Cabrero either side of half time. Twenty minutes in to the second half Ulloa got his second of the evening from the penalty spot after Aarón was fouled in the area, and although Camacho got one back with a second penalty after Jakobsen brought down Tariq, the locals held on for a third win in a row.

Celta are up to third in the table, just two points behind Almería, after a 1-0 victory over Cartagena. The only goal came just before half time when Abraham Paz deflected a cross from De Lucas on to the bar. Iago Aspas ran in to finish off, although the ball appeared to have already crossed the line (the referee further confusing matters by reporting an own goal by Chus Herrero!). After the restart Roberto Lago and Iago Aspas could have added to the lead, although in the end it took a couple of fist class saves by Yoel from Chamorro and Paz to ensure the three points.

Valladolid consolidated their position in the play-off spots, and they are now fourth after a 2-1 victory over Xerez earlier in the afternoon. The Andalusians put out a defensive line up to try and end a run of five games without a win, and chances were few and far between until Oscar found Sisi with a long pass shortly before half time, the winger lobbing Doblas to open the scoring. José Manuel Rueda equalised from the penalty spot with twenty minutes to go after his namesake Jesús Rueda brought down José Marí, but five minutes later substitute Nauzet won himself another penalty which he himself converted for a fourth home win in a row.

Elche are back in the promotion race as well, and they are currently in the last play-off spot after a 3-0 win over Villarreal B. The men who did the damage though were both on loan Villarreal players, keeper Juan Carlos, who pulled off a string of saves, and striker Nicki Bille, who opened the scoring in the ninth minute following a corner. The Danish striker missed a couple of chances before heading in another Edu Albacar corner ten minutes in to the second half, and with the game coming to an end Rúper rounded things off, beating Diego Mariño with a shot from the edge of the area.

Las Palmas drop out of the top six though after a 3-2 defeat at Numancia. Natalio and Julio Alvarez both went close for the locals before Natalio set up Juanjo to put the Soria based side in front with just under half an hour on the clock. However Vitolo equalised just two minutes later after good work by Jonathan Viera, and Viera himself gave the Canary Islanders the lead just two minutes after the restart with a shot in to the top corner of the net. Two minutes after that though Nano headed in an Alvarez corner to equalise, and with four minutes to go Alvarez got the winner from the penalty spot after Javi Guerrero was sent off for stopping a lob by Nagore with his hand.

Guadalajara also lost ground on the promotion spots after they were beaten 0-2 by Recreativo, and although they are still only three points behind Elche, they ended the day in twelfth place. The visitors were looking to distance themselves from the relegation spots, and they took the lead when Javi Soria turned a cross from Sergi Enrich in to his own net midway through the first half. Enrich came up against Saizar a couple of times either side of half time, and Pablo Sánchez got the ball in the net only for the referee to rule that the ball had gone out of play in the build up. The locals were left with ten men though when Antonio Moreno was sent off for kicking Sánchez from behind, and a few minutes later substitute Fidel wrapped things up with his side's second goal.

Elsewhere Alcoyano and Alcorcón shared the points in a 0-0 draw, a result which kept the locals just above the drop zone, and took the visitors to within two points of the play-off positions. Despite the scoreline there were a lot of chances, with Fernando Sales in particular shooting wide a coupe of times when free on goal and then coming up against local keeper Maestro shortly before half time. Miki and Marcillo both tested Manu Herrera at the other end with free kicks either side of half time, and Alvaro had a penalty claim turned down early in the second half. The visitors should have won it though when Miguélez shot wide with the goal at his mercy near the end. (05.11.11)

Gimnàstic's new coach Jorge D'Alessandro couldn't have had a better start to his latest challenge, the Catalans beating high-flying neighbours Sabadell 5-0 to clock up their first win and move off the foot of the table. D'Alessandro took over this week after Juan Carlos Oliva was fired, and he saw Fernando Morán give his team the lead after De Navas saved from Arzu in the eighteenth minute. Just ten minutes later Powel ran on to a Longás through ball to make it two, and the Dutch striker scored his second of the day early in the second half, beating the keeper with a shot from inside the area. Three minutes after that Powel set up Tuni for the fourth, and Luna came on to complete the rout with a fifth goal after Longás set him up near the end. (06.11.11)

One match this weekend on Monday evening, with Murcia and Deportivo cancelling each other out in a 0-0 draw. The locals came in to the game unbeaten in eight, and Aranzubia had to be at his best to keep out Cerrajería and Cristian García before the break. Depor's only real chance was an effort from Riki after the interval, and Aranzubia had to come to the rescue again to save from Molinero in the dying minutes. The result left Depor just outside of the play-off spots, below Elche on goal difference, with their hosts still a point behind them in the table. (07.11.11)