Second Division A - Day 14

Leaders Xerez were surprisingly held to a 1-1 draw at home by bottom club Poli Ejido on Saturday evening. Lucas Alcaraz's side totally dominated the first half, with Geijo in particular bringing two or three first class saves out of Kike. The keeper also stopped efforts from Camuñas and García Granero, and Geijo hit the foot of the post with another effort near to the break. The attacks continued in to the second half, and David De Coz finally put his side ahead after picking up a pass from Pedro Ríos. But after that they made the mistake of sitting back to defend their lead, and Poli took advantage to salvage a point when Calado fired a shot over Julio Iglesias twenty minutes from the end.

Tenerife could only draw 1-1 as well against struggling Eibar, and lost out on the chance to make up ground on the leaders. The Canary Islanders had not won in their last six games, and despite a change of manager they continued to impress, and fell behind when Iñigo headed home Manolo's free kick in only the third minute. It was not until ten minutes in to the second half that they levelled the scores, Cristian Alvarez's free kick beating Imanol Etxeberría. Antonio López's side could have gone ahead when the keeper kept out Maikel's header a few minutes later, but Eibar could also have taken the three points when Solabarrieta headed against the post later on.

Hércules meanwhile move up to fourth after a 3-0 win over local rivals Levante. Visiting coach Mané experimented with a five man defence, and for a few minutes his side were on top. But Moisés got on the end of Dani Navarrete's cross to head the Alicante based side into the lead, and just three minutes later Navarrete himself scored a second when referee Téllez Sánchez allowed play to go on after Moisés was fouled. Descarga hit the post just before the break as Levante fought back, and Téllez awarded the visitors a penalty in the second half but changed his mind at the insistence of his linesman, who had spotted a previous foul. The injured Descarga had to go off near the end though with all three changes made, and Hércules took advantage to add a third through Kike Mateo. (26.11.05)


Almería moved up into the promotion spots after a 2-0 win over Real Murcia on Sunday lunchtime, a result which extends their unbeaten run to seven games. Ortíz. The visitors had only taken one point from their last four games, and they fell behind with twenty minutes on the clock when Ortíz got on the end of Galca's long ball to head over Juanmi. Casuco's side were left with ten men when Acciari picked up a second yellow card on the hour mark, but they came close to equalising a couple of minutes later when José María hit the crossbar and Richi headed wide on the follow up. Soriano had a goal disallowed at the other end soon afterwards, but Ortíz picked up a pass from Lozano in injury time to lob the keeper and wrap things up.

Málaga B were dragged back into the relegation struggle after losing 1-2 to Gimnastic Tarragona. The Catalans took the lead in the first minute of the game, Bolo heading home Codina's wide free kick. And the ex Athletic and Rayo striker missed another easy chance before Codina set him up for a second goal midway through the first half. Local keeper Javi Muñoz stopped Diego Reyes and Bolo from increasing the lead later on, but Alvaro also had some work, keeping out Gonzales-Vigil and Diego Castro. With the game coming to an end Saúl pulled a goal back for the home side, but it was too late to change the result. (27.11.05)


Recreativo Huelva came back from two goals down to beat Lleida 3-2 later in the day and move to within three points of leaders Xerez. The visitors went two up within the first twenty minutes, Ros opening the scoring early on when he headed home a free kick, and Rubén adding the second with another header from a corner. Uche missed a chance to pull one back, but soon afterwards Rosu got on the end of a cross from Benítez to score for the locals. Gastón Casas levelled the scores after the restart with a shot into the top corner of the net, and with the game seemingly heading for a draw referee Arcas Piqueras awarded a controversial penalty after Uche fell under a challenge from Txema. Casas converted the kick, and Sergio Rodríguez was sent off as the game came to an end, with several of the Lleida players surrounding the referee as he left the field after the final whistle.

Valladolid drop out of the top three after drawing 1-1 against a depleted Sporting Gijón, who were missing top scorers Biagini and Pablo Alvarez through injury and suspension. Capdevila put the visitors ahead, cutting past several defenders before beating Roberto in the tenth minute. The Asturians could have levelled the scores when Juan hit the bar from a free kick a few minutes later, and Ramis replied firing another free kick against the post after the restart. A hotly disputed penalty after Sousa fouled Juan allowed Calandria to equalise for Sporting though, keeping up their unbeaten home record and taking their run without a loss to four games.

Ciudad Murcia are now only three points away from the promotion spots after a 1-0 win over neighbours Lorca. The visitors started well, but gradually lost steam and went behind shortly before half time when Mané controlled a cross from Falcón to beat Jauregui. And the newly promoted side were left with ten men on the stroke of half time when Fernando Vega was sent off for a foul on Kome as he advanced on goal. There were few chances after the restart, the best falling to Córdoba for the locals and Jorge Sánchez for Lorca, who ended the game with nine players after Velázquez was also shown a red card for bringing down Kome.

Castellón moved off the bottom of the table once again, although their 1-1 draw against Elche only took them above Poli Ejido on goal difference. Local keeper Raúl Jiménez had to be at his best to keep out Nino in the first half, but otherwise there was little action until just after the break, when Zamora headed the home side into the lead after Xavi Moré set him up. A minute later though Txiki picked up a loose ball on the edge of the area to equalise, and that's the way it stayed to the end. Elche ended the day in ninth spot, now four points off the top three.

The 1-1 scoreline was repeated five times this weekend, including in the match between Numancia and Racing Ferrol, a result which left the Galicians still in the drop zone and their hosts just two points above them. The Soria based side could have taken the lead in the second minute when Juan Carlos Moreno hit the post with a free kick, but Racing's Juan Carlos also went close with a free kick soon afterwards. Numancia were left with a man short when keeper Juan Pablo was sent off for bringing down Moisés outside of the area, and Jorge Rodríguez gave the visitors the lead after the resulting free kick was blocked. But with the home side facing a third home defeat in a row, Pineda got on the end of Azkorra's cross to head home the equaliser.

Albacete are only a point above Ferrol though after they were beaten 3-0 by Real Madrid Castilla. Rubén opened the scoring against his old side when he headed Felipe's free kick past Rubén Martín, and Adrián Martín added a second shortly before the interval. César Ferrando brought on Aranda for a defender after the restart, but soon afterwards his side were left with ten men when Mingo was sent off for a second bookable offence. After that the visitors gave up the ghost, and López Caro's side hit the woodwork a couple of times before De la Red headed the third in the final minute. (27.11.05)