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Match round-up - Second Division A, Day 13

Hércules hold on to top spot for another week at least after second placed Almería were beaten 2-1 by Villarreal B on Sunday. The visitors went ahead with just over a quarter of an hour gone, Ulloa turning the ball in from close up after a good run by Aleix Vidal. However twelve minutes in to the second half Joselu (returning from first team duty) got on the end of Pere's cross to beat Esteban and level the scores. And with the game in injury time the second division top scorer got his second of the afternoon from the penalty spot after Bernadello fouled Lucas Porcar in the area. The win brought to an end a run of four defeats in a row, and took Molina's side three points clear of the drop zone.

Celta came in to their big derby game at Deportivo later in the evening knowing that a win would take them above Almería to second, but in the end they stay in third spot after they were beaten 2-1 by their Galician rivals. Things went against them early on when Jonathan Vila deflected a back-heel flick from Riki past his own keeper in the fourth minute. Keepers Aranzubia and Yoel were called in to action several times after that as the game swung from end to end, but there were no more goals until ten minutes from the end, when Orellana picked up a pass from De Lucas and went past Laure to equalise. Just three minutes later though Lassad beat Yoel with a shot from outside of the area to ensure three points which takes Depor level with their opponents in the table.

Only two points now separate seven teams between third and ninth spots, and it could have been eight if Las Palmas had not lost 4-2 to Recreativo. The Andalusians had only won once at home all season, but within twelve minutes Javi Alamo had put them two up, the first from a cross by Fidel and the second from a Pablo Sánchez centre. Sergio Suárez got one back soon afterwards thanks to a mistake by keeper Manu, but Borda restored the two goal cushion on the half hour mark following a corner. Half time substitute Quiroga reduced the gap again though midway through the second half from Portillo's cross, and there were some nervous moments for the local fans before Aitor wrapped things up in injury time.

The first game on Sunday was between Guadalajara and Alcoyano, who had to be content with a point apiece after the game ended 1-1. Both sides needed a good result, the locals after three defeats in a row and the visitors after only picking up two points from their last four games, but it was the home team who took an early lead when Javi Soria headed in Ernesto's corner in the second minute. However Guille Roldán levelled the scores against his old side on the stroke of half time, heading past Saizar after the keeper failed to hold on to Gato's shot. And after local substitute Jorge was sent off for a second bookable offence with ten minutes to go, Alvaro came close to winning it for the away side. (13.11.11)

Leaders Hércules were beaten 0-1 by Murcia on Saturday evening, a second defeat in a row for Juan Carlos Mandiá's side. It was a hard fought contest, the only chances in the first half a couple of efforts by Urko Vera and Sanchón for the locals, and free kick by Callejón for the visitors. Visiting keeper Alberto did well to save from Tiago Gomes and then tip an acrobatic shot from Vera over the bar after the restart, but with four minutes to go Jorge got above the defence on the near post to head Pedro's corner past Falcón. Murcia (who ended with ten men after Aguilera was sent off in injury time) are now unbeaten in ten games, and the win takes them up in to the play-off spots pending Sunday's games.

None of the teams who played on Saturday were able to take full advantage of Hércules's slip up though, Valladolid staying in fourth place after drawing 2-2 at bottom club Huesca earlier in the afternoon. Djukic's side seemed to be on the way to an easy victory when Oscar headed past new keeper Luis García with only two minutes on the clock. And when Javi Guerra made it two after good work by Sisi fifteen minutes in to the second half it looked like game over. However just five minutes later Peña gave away a penalty on Oscar Vega which Camacho converted, and four minutes after that David Bauzá got the equaliser with a shot which deflected in off a defender.

Sabadell have lost momentum after their good start to the season, and they are now out of the play-off spots after losing 0-3 to Córdoba in the last match on Saturday evening. The Catalans had not lost at home since being promoted in the summer, but they went behind in the twelfth minute when Patiño headed in a Fuentes cross on the far post. Twelve minutes in to the second half Charles picked up a pass from López Garai to beat De Navas for the second, and López Silva rounded things off with twenty minutes to go, latching on to the rebound after a shot from Fuentes came back off his own player inside the area.

The win takes Córdoba above their opponents in to the play-off spots, a point as well above Elche, who could only draw 1-1 at Cartagena. Mantecón and Pelegrín both missed chances to put the visitors ahead, but with the first half coming to a close Collantes beat Juan Carlos to open the scoring for the locals. Alvaro Anton and Collantes could both have added to the scoreline after the break, but Xumetra took advantage of a hesitant defence to make it all square with a quarter of an hour to go.

Numancia are now just three points off the play-off spots after a 1-2 victory at Xerez, who themselves drop in to the lower ranks of the table after a seventh match without a win. All the goals came after the break, Natalio picking up a long clearance out of defence to open the scoring for the Soria based side. Juan Merino brought on ex Numancia striker Iñigo Vélez who headed against the bar before scoring the equaliser with a low shot past Edu Navarro. But with the game already in injury time and a draw seemingly on the cards, Nano latched on to a loose ball on the edge of the area to fire home the winner.

Numancia move a point above Alcorcón, who drop in to the lower half of the table after a 0-1 defeat against Gimnàstic. The Catalans had won their first game of the season the week before under their new coach Jorge D'Alessandro, and their new-found confidence showed as Fernando Morán forced Manu Herrera in to a good save early on. Fernando Sales and Ángel Sánchez tried their luck for the locals either side of half time, but with just over an hour gone powel picked up a long ball and ran through to score what was to prove the only goal of the game.

Nàstic are still a point away from escaping the drop zone, just behind neighbours Girona, who came from two down to draw 2-2 at Barcelona B. Eusebio's entire back four were on duty with Spain's under 21 squad, but his side went ahead early on when Rodri ran on to a rebound to beat Santamaría, and Rodri scored a second on the half hour mark after Deulofeu set him up. Benja got one back though against his old side after winning the ball off Sergi Gómez and shooting under Oier, and Corominas saved a point with a second goal after Nieto's shot was blocked. (12.11.11)