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Second Division - Day 35

Valladolid consolidate second spot with a 0-1 win at Villarreal B on Friday evening, taking them five points clear of Celta pending their game later this weekend. Miroslav Djukic's side dominated from start to finish, and they took the lead shortly before half time when Javi Guerra beat Diego Mariño following a Nauzet corner. Up to that point Mariño had kept his team in the match with saves from Guerra, Oscar and Nauzet, and after the restart the local keeper was called upon again a number of times to save the day. Other than a couple of half chances for Porcar and Trigueros the locals were no threat though for Jaime, and after five wins in a row Valladolid are looking good for a return to the top flight after an absence of two years. (20.04.12)

Celta's challenge for the automatic promotion spots took another blow this Saturday when they were defeated 1-0 by Hércules. After losing last weekend to Deportivo, and with one match still in hand, the Galicians ended the weekend five points behind second placed Valladolid and just two above their hosts in the table. The locals had the better of the first half, with Michel, Aguilar and Sardinero going close. Falcón had to save from Iago Aspas and Orellana as the visitors came back after the break, but with a quarter of an hour to go Michel got what was to prove a controversial winner, running on to shoot past Sergio with the Celta defenders asking for the ball to be put out of play as Peña and Català were lying injured on the ground.

A third win in a row keeps Hércules in fourth place, a point ahead of Alcorcón, who beat fellow play-off candidates Córdoba 2-0. The Madrid based side had won their last four games, but only a good performance by their goalkeeper Manu Herrera kept the scores level at the break. Twelve minutes after the restart however Nagore got on the end of a corner to head the locals in to the lead, and a few minutes later Paco Montañés wrapped things up when he ran on past Alberto to score the second. The victory takes José Antonio Anquela's side five points clear of the Andalusians in the table.

Almería are back up to sixth after they picked up a point in a 1-1 draw at Cartagena, although it was a disappointing result for new coach Esteban Vigo, who has yet to see his side take the three points after taking over three weeks ago. Both sides had not in fact won since mid-February, and once again they had to make do with a point, Braulio converting a last minute penalty for the home side after Aleix Vidal had given the visitors the lead early in the second half. Cartagena do move off the bottom of the table though, now a point above Gimnàstic, who are looking ever closer to going down after a 1-0 defeat at Guadalajara. Javi Soría headed in Ernesto's free kick on the hour mark to take the locals six points clear of the drop zone.

Huesca stay level in the table with Guadalajara after a 2-1 win over Numancia. David Vázquez opened the scoring for the Aragón based directly from a corner, and Roberto added a second before the break. Díaz de Cerio got one back for the visitors, but even though Huesca's Llamas was sent off with ten minutes to go they couldn't find the equaliser. Numancia are now six points away from the play-off spots, but they stay two points clear of Las Palmas, who were beaten 2-0 by Xerez. With the Canary Islanders already down to ten men after Ruyman was given a second booking before the interval, Herner put through his own goal a quarter of an hour in to the second half, and Mendoza got the second goal later on to take the Andalusians safely up to mid-table.

Alcoyano kept their hopes of salvation alive with a 1-3 victory at Recreativo, although the wins for Guadalajara and Huesca meant they were unable to close the gap on the teams above them. Gato set up Rojas for the opener in the tenth minute, and although Javi Alamo made it all square before the break, Gato beat Dorronsoro and then made another goal for Paco Esteban to wrap things up. Luis César's side stay two points clear of Girona, who beat local rivals Sabadell 2-3. Acuña gave the visitors a first half lead, and Luso headed a second before Luna got one back. Moha made it three with an individualist effort, but Juvenal scored again from a free kick to set up a nerve-racking finish. (21.04.12)

Deportivo are already looking like a first division side again, and a 4-3 victory against Elche on Sunday lunchtime coupled with Celta's defeat the day before meant they are now thirteen points clear of third place. Valerón gave the Galicians an early lead, and although Angel equalised soon afterwards, Bruno Gama put the locals back in front soon after the restart. Angel equalised again with a soft header which Aranzubia let through his legs, and Gama's second of the day was cancelled out by an Albacar free kick. With the game coming to an end though Colotto scrambled home the winner from Guardado's corner to take his side eight points clear of Valladolid in the table. Later in the evening Barcelona B beat Murcia 1-0 to move up to eighth place. The visitors put out a defensive line up, and they held on until Oriol was sent off with six minutes to go. However just a minute later young substitute Dongou fired home the winner to leave Iñaki Alonso's side six points above the relegation spots. (22.04.12)