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

Second Division - Day 33

Hércules moved back up to fourth in the table after beating Girona 4-2 in the Friday night game. The Alicante based side went behind twice though, Coro opening the scoring for the visitors in only the seventh minute. Urko Vera equalised ten minutes after the restart, but Coro headed the Catalans back in front before Vera levelled the scores once again on the hour mark. Mandiá turned to Felipe Sanchón after that however, and within three minutes the substitute got on the end of Sardinero's cross to give the locals the lead for the first time. And with the game coming to an end Sanchón got his second of the evening on a quick breakaway to give his side their first win in three games. It was a fitting tribute to Dubravko Pavlicic, the ex Hércules defender who tragically died last week. (06.04.12)

With Deportivo playing on Sunday, second placed Celta had a chance to close the four point gap behind the leaders when they kicked off against bottom club Cartagena on Saturday evening. However they were left frustrated as the match was suspended by referee Pino Zamorano on the hour mark after a linesman was hit by an object thrown from the crowd. The Galicians had taken the lead in only the second minute, Bermejo heading Toni's cross back over the head of Juanma. Toni Moral equalised though with a well struck free kick five minutes after the restart, and the locals were on the attack when the incident occurred. The disciplinary committee will now have to decide what to do, but it is likely that the remaining thirty minutes will have to be played out behind closed doors sometime in the near future.

Earlier in the afternoon third placed Valladolid put the pressure on Paco Herrera's side with a 0-4 victory over Xerez. The visitors had never won it eight previous outings to Jerez de la Frontera, but they took the lead with a hotly disputed Víctor Pérez penalty after the referee ruled that Robusté had handled in the area. With ten minutes to go to the break Oscar González scored a second after Javi Guerra headed the ball across, and Nauzet converted a second penalty on the hour mark for a foul by Robusté on Peña. And Javi Guerra finished things off five minutes later with a shot on the far post to take Djukic's side to within a point of Celta, pending the outcome of their game at Cartagena.

The top three are now seven points clear of the chasing pack after poor results for the teams below them. Almería's change of manager for example has yet to have it's effect, and they drop out of the play-off spots completely after losing 1-0 at Huesca. Omar Ramos got the only goal for the Aragón based team after a Nuñez cross fell to him early in the second half, a disappointment for new coach Esteban Vigo after he took over from Lucas Alcaraz midweek. Elche's nightmare continued with a 2-0 defeat at Villarreal B, and after only picking up one point from their last five games coach José Bordalás was given the sack soon after the match finished. Bordás got the first early on and Truyols wrapped things up near the end, and both teams ended with ten men after Albacar and Toribio both picked up two bookings.

All of that meant that Alcorcón are up to fifth pending Córdoba's game on Sunday after beating struggling Alcoyano 2-1. The visitors took the lead first though, Gato converting a penalty in the fourth minute of the second half after Abraham brought down Wellington Silva. However two goals from substitute Oriol Riera turned the scoreline around, the first from a Montañés assist, and the second a header from a corner. Las Palmas and Numancia started their match knowing that the winner would be back in the fight for the play-off spots. However a 1-1 draw meant that both remain a few points off the top six. The goals came late on, David González putting the locals ahead from the penalty spot with a quarter of an hour to go, and Jaio equalising near the end. It was a bad tempered game though, with red cards for Unai Expósito, Jonathan Viera, Sunny and visiting coach Pablo Machin.

Pending the outcome of the game at Cartagena, none of the bottom four picked up points this weekend. Gimnàstic's brief unbeaten run came to an end when they lost 1-0 to regional neighbours Sabadell, Aaron Bueno getting the only goal after Mingo could only head a corner back in to his path in the twentieth minute. Guadalajara therefore stay three points clear of the relegation zone despite a 4-2 defeat at Recreativo, although after only picking up one point from their last five games they must also be candidates for the drop. Berrocal scored two for the locals in the first half and completed a hat-trick soon after the restart, and although Cristian got one back, Pablo Sánchez made it four before Badía converted a late penalty for the visitors. (07.04.12)

Deportivo moved seven points clear at the top of the table after coming from behind to beat Murcia 3-1 on Sunday lunchtime. Emilio Sánchez opened the scoring for the visitors in the eighth minute, beating Aranzubia with a wide free kick, and the local keeper had some work to do before Valerón headed the equaliser from Guardado's cross. After the break though the Galicians dominated, Riki heading them in front from a Bruno Gama cross, and Lassad completing the scoring, also from a Bruno Gama assist. It was just the result that Depor needed going in to a difficult programme of four games against the leading sides, starting with a local derby against second placed Celta next weekend.

Córdoba's push for promotion took a set-back when they were beaten 2-0 by Barcelona B on Sunday evening. Deulofeu opened the scoring for the youngsters early on, beating Alberto with an angled shot, and although the Spanish youth international was stretchered off soon afterwards, his replacement Riverola made it two just before the break with a long shot which deflected in off Charles. It was only a second defeat in ten games for the Andalusians, and they ended the weekend in sixth spot. (08.04.12)

The last thirty minutes of the match between Cartagena and Celta were played out this evening, but there were no changes to the 1-1 scoreline. (08.05.12)