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Match round-up - Second Division A Day 42

Xerez are this season's second division champions after Tenerife lost 1-2 to Castellón on Sunday evening. Nino gave the Canary Islanders the lead shortly before half time, his 29th of the season taking him above Ewerthon as the division's top goalscorer. But Arana equalised soon after the restart, and Omar put a damper on the fans' celebrations when he scored the winner in the last minute.

In the promotion play-offs, Real Unión won their final match against Alcorcón 3-1 to return to the second division after a 45 year absence. Goikoetxea scored twice in the first quarter of an hour and Juan Domínguez wrapped things up before Cristian's last minute consolation. The Irún based side were one of the ten founder members of the league some eighty years ago.

Villarreal B take the last promotion spot after they beat Jaén 1-2 in their second leg. The Andalusians were favourites after the score-less draw a week ago, and Esparza headed them in front in the first half. But Cristobal equalised before the interval, and Chando got the winner on the hour mark to disappoint the capacity crowd. Villarreal B are the only one of the four promoted teams who didn't win their regional group, although they led group III for most of the season and were only pipped right at the end by Alcoyano. (21.06.09)

With all promotion and relegation issues settled last week, the last weekend of the second division season was a relaxed affair. Most clubs decided not to prolong the agony any more, and ten of the eleven games were scheduled for Saturday night. One thing which had not yet been decided though was which of the three promoted teams would finish as second division champions, and Tenerife (who play tomorrow) are favourites after their two rivals could only draw. Xerez shared the points in a 1-1 draw at Celta, with David Rodríguez saving the day for the locals late on after Antoñito had given the Andalusians the lead with ten minutes to go. And Zaragoza were held 2-2 at Rayo Vallecano, with Generelo and Pavón twice putting the visitors ahead in the first half, and Albiol and Piti making it all square both times.

Fourth placed Hércules were resigned to their fate some time ago, but they ended the season with a flourish after beating Salamanca 1-5. Isaac Jové actually gave the hosts the lead, but Cámara set up Sendoa and then netted himself to turn the scoreline around. Sendoa got his second of the night from the penalty spot and Tuni made it four before half time, with Tote wrapping things up late on. The win takes the Alicante based side on to 78 points, a tally which would have made them second division champions last season. Real Sociedad finished two places behind them in sixth spot after a 1-2 victory at Elche, Elustondo getting the winner in the last minute after a header from Agirretxe early in the second half had cancelled out Santos's strike. The result came to late to save coach Lillo though, who leaves the club after failing to win promotion for the second time.

On paper one relegation spot had still to be mathematically confirmed, although Alavés had to score 16 goals in their match at Albacete to have any chance of getting ahead of Las Palmas. In the end though they couldn't even get one, losing 1-0 thanks to a goal early in the second half from Verza. The Vitoria based club now face an uncertain future after eighteen years in the top two divisions. Las Palmas themselves picked up a point in a 2-2 draw at Levante, a goal in each half from Iborra and Larrea appearing to have given the home side the victory before Marcos Márquez scored two penalties in the last ten minutes. Alavés's neighbours Eibar were relegated some time ago, but they at least finished with a 1-0 victory over Gimnàstic, with Codina scoring in the eleventh minute to give the Basque side their first win in sixteen games.

Two other of the relegated sides, Alicante and Sevilla Atlético, at least put on a show for the fans with a 3-3 draw. The youngsters took the lead three times, Carreño opening the scoring shortly before the break and Ricardo Cavas replying soon after the restart. Fali's goal was cancelled out by Cristian López, but Adrián appeared to have won it before Dani Sala was sent off for giving away a penalty which Pedro converted. Huesca and Girona were early season favourites for the drop, but both celebrated another year in the second division, with the Aragón based side beating their rivals 3-1. Jonan García got the first and Rubén Castro added two more either side of half time before Arnal's late consolation. Córdoba and Murcia had also flirted with relegation this season before late revivals, and the Andalusians ran out 2-1 winners in their last match. Pico put the visitors ahead before Carpintero equalised, and Pepe Díaz got the winner in injury time. (20.06.09)