Second Division - Day 37

Nàstic are up to second in the table pending Sunday’s games after a 1-2 victory at Almería on Saturday evening. Naranjo put the Catalans ahead some ten minutes before the interval, beating Casto from outside of the area, but Ximo Navarro headed the equalizer following Pozo’s dead-ball kick on the stroke of half time, the referee incorrectly over-ruling a linesman who was signalling offside. The game was held up for several minutes when Jean Luc was knocked unconscious (fortunately recovering in hospital later without serious repercussions), but with five minutes to go Xavi Molina headed the winner from another corner, and the locals ended with ten men when Fran Vélez picked up a second booking in injury time. Oviedo drop to sixth though after they lost 2-0 at Llagostera, the result keeping alive the Catalan side’s hopes of salvation. Natalio opened the scoring after Juanjo played on Pitu’s pass, but only a string of saves by local keeper René kept the home team ahead. And although Edu Bedía hit the bar with a free kick later on, Natalio wrapped things up after Pitu put him through with four minutes to go.

Osasuna move a point above Oviedo to fourth despite being held to a 0-0 draw by struggling Ponferradina. The Pamplona based side will be grateful for a point though after their goalkeeper Nauzet saved an Acorán penalty on the hour mark, awarded for a foul by David García on Djordjevic. The result leaves Ponfe still down in the bottom four, albeit now level on points with Almería, and four points still above Llagostera. Meanwhile Alcorcón are back in the promotion race after they won 1-2 at Lugo, and they end the day just a point below the top six. David Rodríguez opened the scoring early on, beating José Juan after his first shot came back off the post, but a few minutes later Joselu made it all square from the penalty spot after Natxo Insa fouled Jonathan Pereira in the area. However with the game seemingly heading for a draw, Rodríguez intercepted a Fernando Seoane back pass to round the keeper and score the winner. Only two point separate six teams between fourth and ninth though, Elche level with Alcorcón after they drew 1-1 at Tenerife. Both goals came after the interval, Nano giving the Canary Islanders the lead from a Suso Santana assist some twenty minutes in to the second half. The visitors were awarded a penalty however after Raúl Cámara brought down Alex Moreno with a quarter of an hour to go, and although Dani Hernández saved Sergio León’s spot kick, Noblejas knocked in the rebound to save a point for his team. (07.05.16)

Leganés stay in top spot for another week despite being held to a 2-2 draw by Numancia on Sunday evening. Alex Alegría gave the visitors the lead in the seventh minute, beating Serantes from the edge of the area, but Timor made it all square at the start of the second half with a direct free kick which took a deflection off the defensive wall. With a quarter of an hour to go local captain Mantovani was sent off for a second bookable offence, and just a minute or two later Pablo Valcarce ran through to put Arrasate’s side back in front. However four minutes after that Ruíz de Galarreta headed in Gabriel’s cross to save a point for his team. Alavés though are now only two points below the leaders after they won 2-1 against Valladolid in this Sunday’s mid-day match. The Vitoria based side had drawn their last five home games, and although they totally dominated the first forty-five minutes, they had to wait until midway through the second half for Juli to set up substitute Manu Barreiro to open the scoring. Four minutes later though Roger equalized following a good run by Mojica, and Fernando Pacheco had to make the save of the day from the visiting striker before Sergio Llamas headed in the winner from a Juli centre with six minutes to go.

The victory takes Alavés back above Nàstic, who had displaced them the day before, and Zaragoza are now a point behind the Catalans in fourth place after they beat bottom club Bilbao Athletic 2-0. Lanzarote gave the Maños the lead in the 24 th minute after combining with Javi Ros, but Manu Herrera had to make several saves before Diamanka got on the end of an Isaac cross to wrap things up with a quarter of an hour to go. Lluis Carreras’ side have now taken thirteen points from their last five games, and they seem to be hitting form at the right moment. Girona though saw their two-month unbeaten run come to an end after they lost 1-0 at Córdoba, and they finish the weekend still a point outside of the play-off spots. The Andalusians had only picked up one point from their last seven matches at home, and Razak had to keep out Borja García and Lejeune early on, However a half an hour in to the second half Pedro Ríos headed in a Florin cross to take José Luis Oltr’s team level with their opponents in the table.

Mirandés kept their slim hopes of a play-off place alive after they won 1-0 against Huesca, the result taking them to within five points of the top six. Ion Vélez headed the only goal from Kijera’s cross shortly before the break, and although Machís hit the woodwork twice in the second half, the visitors couldn’t prevent a defeat which leaves them just two points above the relegation spots. Only six points separate six teams though after next to bottom club Albacete beat fellow strugglers Mallorca 1-0, the result taking the Manchegans to within four points of their rivals, who themselves are level with Almería and Ponferradina (currently the side in 19 th place). The heavy rainfall made playing conditions difficult, but Rubén Cruz got on the end of a Fede Vico centre to score what was to prove the only goal with twenty minutes to go. (08.05.16)