With nothing at stake, Zamora and Burgos brought their group B Castillian derby game forward to Saturday night. The home side took the lead in the seventh minute through Aiert, but Juanjo equalised a minute later. Zamora's keeper José Luis was sent off just before half time, but Pedro Pascual hit the winner after the restart for the final 2-1 scoreline.

The group D match between Pontevedra and Barakaldo was a real goal feast, with the visitors running out 5-6 winners on Saturday evening. Coming a week after a 3-4 result, these two teams have at least provided entertainment even though they had nothing to play for. By half time the home side were leading 4-1 and looking home and dry, but four goals from Alberto after the break turned the scoreline around. (28.06.03)

The promotion spots were finally settled on Sunday, with the sixth and final round of play-off games taking place. By coincidence all four promoted sides came from regional group IV, Southern Spain, with Cádiz, Málaga B and Ciudad de Murcia all joining Algeciras in the second division A next season.

In group A, Cádiz came back from behind to draw 1-1 at Universidad Las Palmas and stay a point above Barcelona B. The Southern port side had been waiting nine years since they dropped out of the big time, but once again they struggled as the Canary Islanders took the lead through Sesma following a quickly taken free kick. A few minutes later though Paz equalised from the penalty spot after David Medina brought down Pavoni, and after that they didn't look back. Some 15,000 fans watched the match on giant screens in the Ramón de Carranza stadium, and celebrations went on long into the night.

The result was a blow for Barcelona B, whose 3-1 victory over Logroñes was not enough in the end. David Sánchez gave the Blaugrana the lead with a well flighted lob in the first minute, and when news came through that Cádiz were losing the excitement grew. But their joy only lasted ten minutes, and although Nano and David Sánchez added two more after the break, the second after a great run by the midfielder, they will have to wait another year at least. So too will Logroñes, for whom Padrita scored a consolation goal just before Sánchez's second goal.

One B side did make it though, Málaga B beating Lanzarote 3-0 and taking advantage of a last minute equaliser by Gramanet at Real Unión to become the first reserve team to play in the second division A since the 1999-2000 season. Geijo gave the Andalucians the lead in the ninth minute from Merino's cross, and Adam added a second on the half hour mark from Calderón's free kick. When Juan Rodríguez scored number three from the penalty spot just before half time after Fali fouled Nacho it was just a question of waiting to see what happened in Irún. Strangely Málaga B were only playing in the second division B this season thanks to the bankruptcy of Granada, who they replaced at the last minute, and only five years ago their first team won promotion back to the second division A after their own bankruptcy.

Sad faces though in the group C game between Real Unión and Gramanet, where the 1-1 draw meant neither side went up. A win from either side would have given them promotion, and it looked as if the Basques were going to steal it after Puig turned a cross from the right past his own keeper midway through the first half. But with only two minutes to go Alvero beat Otermin to set up a frantic end to the match.

In group D, Ciudad de Murcia defeated their closest rivals Castellón 3-1 to go up, an amazing feat given that they were only formed four years ago in the regional divisions and have now won promotion three times in that period. The draw in Castellón the week before gave them a slight advantage going in to this game, but it was a close thing until Pepe Aguilar gave them the lead on the hour mark. Aguilar got a second a quarter of an hour later, and Sanlucar put the result beyond doubt before Abel got a consolation goal in the last minute. With Real Murcia being promoted to the first division and their basketball team going up as well, this has been a great year for the town.

The group B games were fairly academic as Algeciras had already won promotion the week before, but Athletic Bilbao B did at least restore some pride with a 2-1 win over their group champions. In fact Cortés's goal in the fifth minute was the first that the Andalucians had let in throughout the play-offs, and although Morante equalised before the break, an injury time goal by Cuevas gave manager Ernesto Valverde a good send off before he moves up to take over the first team. (29.06.03)