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Second Division - Day 39

The first division has now finished, but the second division is still going on, with midweek fixtures as well over the next two weeks. Leaders Deportivo are only a game or two away from promotion after a 3-1 victory over Las Palmas on Wednesday night, the win keeping them seven points clear of their nearest rivals. It only took the Galicians fifteen minutes to go two up, Juan Domínguez picking up an assist from Bruno Gama before beating Barbosa, and Lassad heading in a Guardado corner. But Portillo volleyed one back before half time, and there were some nervous moments before substitute Riki wrapped things up just a minute after coming on.

Depor can't relax just yet however as the two teams immediately below them both won, Valladolid holding on to third place after coming from behind to beat Barcelona B 1-2. Both teams had chances before the break, but the locals took the lead ten minutes after the restart, Carmona firing a shot inside the post after Rodri laid the ball back. With ten minutes go though Alvaro Rubio set up Oscar to level the scores, and six minutes later Alberto Bueno got the winner following a corner. Barça B ended with ten men after substitute Jonathan Dos Santos was sent off for a hard tackle on Rubio, but despite the defeat they still ended the day safely in mid-table.

Second placed Celta meanwhile won 0-3 at Guadalajara in a game in which the last ten minutes had to be finished off on Wednesday morning after a floodlight failure halted proceedings on Tuesday night. With half an hour on the clock Toni opened the scoring for the Galicians after picking up a pass from Orellana, and a few minutes later Orellana wasted a chance to make it two when Saizar saved his penalty kick after the keeper had brought down the forward inside the area. A minute after the restart though Iago Aspas headed the second, and the forward scored again ten minutes later to keep his side ahead of Valladolid on goal difference.

The top three have opened up a nine point gap over fourth place, currently occupied by Alcorcón after they beat Elche 3-1. Quini got all three of the goals for the locals, the first two in the first quarter of the match, and the third with a shot from 40 metres out midway through the second half. Edu Albacar got the goal for the visitors from the penalty spot after Javi Hernández fouled Nicki Bille shortly before half time, but they ended the game with nine men after Flaño and Kike Mateo were sent off late on. Alcorcón move above Hércules, who surprisingly lost 1-3 at home to Numancia. The visitors had little to play for, but Díaz de Cerio gave them a first half lead, and Bedoya and Bonilla added two more in the middle of the second half before Michel converted a late penalty for the locals.

Córdoba moved to within a point of Hércules after a 0-1 victory against neighbours Recreativo. The Andalusians had not won away from home in their last five outings, but Patiño gave them the three points when he headed Dubarbier's cross past Alejandro with seven minutes to go. Paco Jémez's side are now six points clear of Almería, who were beaten 2-1 by Sabadell. Aarón Bueno headed in Lanzarote's cross to give the Catalans the lead in the eighteenth minute, and four minutes later Baha added a second after Bueno set him up. Early in the second half Ulloa got one back from the penalty spot after Toni Lao pulled back Soriano, his 26th goal of the season, but Sabadell held on for a win which virtually ensures them another season in the category.

Further down the table, Gimnàstic stay in bottom spot after they were held to a 1-1 draw by local rivals Girona. Only a win would have given Jorge D'Alessandro's side a chance of survival, and Mairata put them ahead from Morán's corner early on. But Juanlu equalised five minutes in to the second half to maintain the nine point gap over their hosts. Although Girona stay in nineteenth spot, they are out of the drop zone after Villarreal B were dumped out of the division following the relegation of their first team at the weekend. The youngsters are still putting up a brave fight however, and they ended the day in twelfth position after a 4-2 win against Huesca. Kiko cancelled out Roberto's third minute strike, and Pere and Truyols added two more early in the second half to give the locals the lead. And although Nuñez pulled another one back, Manu Trigueros completed the scoring in the last minute.

Alcoyano dropped five points below Girona after they lost 1-3 to Murcia. Pedro opened the scoring for the visitors on the half hour mark, but Gato made it all square before the break, and when Richi was sent off for a second bookable offence with twenty minutes to go the locals seemed to be on top. However Isaac and Borja scored twice for the visitors after that to move twelve points clear of their opponents in the table. Cartagena are now level with Alcoyano after they drew 0-0 against Xerez. There was little action until a quarter of an hour from the end, when Gaspar was sent off after giving away a penalty. Reina saved José María's spot kick though, but even so the East coast side are looking ever more likely to be going down together with Nàstic and Alcoyano. (16.05.12)