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Second Division - Day 13

Elche look like staying at the top of the table for another week at least, although their lead over the chasing pack has been cut further after they were held to a 0-0 draw by ten man Xerez in the last match on Saturday evening. Fran Escribá's side had lost their last two matches away from home, and they hardly created any chances until the half hour mark, when a cross from Fidel deflected off Iago Bouzón and appeared to cross the line before Raúl Cámara got it away. If Elche were unhappy with referee Sánchez Martínez for that though, the locals were even more upset when he sent off José Vega for a second booking after the ball hit him on the arm from close up just six minutes in to the second half. The visitors pushed forward after that, but Chema saved well from Coro, and Fidel had a strike ruled out for a previous foul on the keeper. A third game away from home without scoring for the leaders, and although their goal difference is still favourable, a win by Almería tomorrow could see the two sides level on points.

Girona are currently lying in second spot though, just two points behind Elche, after a 1-0 victory over Racing Santander. Acuña got the only goal of the game with an acrobatic shot from Jofre's chipped cross midway through the first half, taking the Catalans' tally at home to 19 points from seven games. However the visitors will feel that they missed out on at least a point, Bouazza heading against the post and Tébar turning a cross against his own crossbar before the break, and local keeper Dani Mallo having to make a string of saves, including one by Kaludjerovic from point blank range near the end.

Girona's neighbours Barcelona B stay in sixth spot after an incident packed 3-3 draw against Numancia. Lobato gave the youngsters a first half lead after a good run by Deulofeu, but Natalio volleyed home the equaliser soon after the restart, and a few minutes later Sergi Gómez was sent off for a foul on Cedric. With eight minutes to go substitute Del Pino put the visitors in front with a low shot, and although Luis Alberto made it all square again with a shot which went in off both post, Juanjo headed a third for the Soria based side a minute later. The locals were left with nine men when Rafinha was also shown a red card for bringing down Cedric, but with the game in the third minute of injury time referee López Acera awarded Eusebio's side a dubious penalty for a hand ball by Del Pino on the edge of the area, and Lombán stepped up to level the scores once again.

With Barcelona B ineligible for promotion, another of their neighbours Sabadell moved back in to the last play-off spot after a 1-0 win over Huesca. The only goal of the game came early on, Lanzarote converting a penalty after Llamas was sent off for bringing down Mexico's Ulises Dávila as he advanced on goal. Diogo headed against the post at the other end, but Dávila went close before the break, and Luis García had to be at his best to keep out Lanzarote and Collantes after the interval. A first win in six for the Catalans, but the Aragón based side have now gone eight without a victory, and they drop further down in to the relegation zone.

Guadalajara move off the bottom of the table though pending Hércules's match on Sunday after beating Sporting Gijón 2-1. Azkorra headed the first for the locals in the eighteenth minute from a corner by Nestor Susaeta, whose brother Markel has just been called up by Del Bosque for the first time. With just over half an hour gone, Juan Muñiz made it all square with an impressive free kick in to the top corner of the net, but four minutes later Susaeta restored the lead from the penalty spot after Gregory pulled back Azkorra in the area. Sandoval threw on all his fire power after the restart, but the Asturians couldn't prevent a first defeat under their new coach. (10.11.12)

Two matches kicked off on Sunday lunchtime, with Villarreal once again failing to make up any ground on the teams above them after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Murcia. Julio Velázquez's side dominated for much of the match, and they went ahead with a Marcos Senna penalty after Uche was fouled in the area at the start of the second half. However they failed to kill off their opponents, and with two minutes to go Saúl equalised with an impressive shot from outside of the area. Las Palmas are now only five points behind Villarreal after they beat Hércules 0-2, a fourth win in a row for Sergio Lobera's side. The Canary Islanders opened the scoring in the sixth minute after Momo intercepted a bad Cabrera clearance and set up Nauzet to fire an angled shot past Falcón, and Javi Guerrero made it two after the local keeper blocked a shot from Thievy. Falcón did save a Momo penalty early on in the second half, but the Alicante based side couldn't prevent a third defeat in a row which leaves them floundering at the foot of the table. (11.11.12)

Later in the day second placed Almería came in to their match against struggling Mirandés hoping to catch Elche at the top of the table, although in the end a 0-0 draw left them down in third spot, below Girona on goal difference. Despite their unbeaten record in their Mediterráneo stadium, Xavi Gracia's side didn't get going until a quarter of an hour from the end, when Garmendia cleared a header from Soriano off the line with keeper Goitia beaten, and Casquero hit the foot of the post. In the end honours were shared, and although local keeper Esteban has now gone over ten hours since letting in a goal, that was scant consolation for dropping two points at home. As a result, Alcorcón are now just two points below Almería after they won 2-1 against Lugo. Despite winning their last five matches in their Santo Domingo stadium, the Madrid based side actually went behind with an hour on the clock after substitute Rubén Durán got on the end of Tonetto's cross to beat Manu. But in the last quarter of an hour Babín headed in Abraham's corner to level the scores, and Dani Nieto won it with a long free kick just three minutes before the final whistle.

Córdoba stay four points behind Alcorcón, up to the last play-off spot pending Recreativo's game on Monday, after a high scoring 3-5 win at Ponferradina. Alberto Aguilar headed the Andalusians in to the lead from a corner on the quarter hour mark, and although Nano equalised with a well struck free kick, Rennella took advantage of some slack defending to put the visitors back in front. With five minutes to go to the break Aguilar headed his second of the afternoon from another corner, and a minute after the restart Caballero made it four on a quick breakaway. Rennella fired home a fifth midway through the second half, his second of the game, and only in the last ten minutes did the locals react, Yuri converting a penalty after he was brought down in the area, and Wellington Silva completing the scoring with an individualist effort just a couple of minutes before the final whistle. A fourth defeat in five games though for the Castilla-León based side, and they ended the day just a point outside of the relegation spots. (11.11.12)

Another Monday night game in the second division, with Recreativo back up in to the play-off spots after a 0-1 victory at Real Madrid Castilla. An over-zealous referee ruled out strikes by Brozek and Borja García in the first quarter of an hour, and Juanfran and Mateos went close for the locals before the break. Recre had the better of the second half however, Borja Granero shooting over the top with the goal at his mercy before young substitute Alexander picked up a pass from Jonathan Valle to fire a shot over keeper Jesús. A second away win in a row for the Huelva based side, and Spain's oldest club cannot be ruled out for a return to the top flight after an absence of four years. (12.11.12)