Eddie's Final Whistle

2B Division, Group 3

With the top five sides all winning at the weekend, there is no change at the top of this group where the league leaders, Atletico Baleares, have a seven points lead (65 points) over both Villarreal B and Hercules CF, who are both on 58 points. UE Cornella and Lleida Esportiu are both on 54 points and fighting it out for the final promotion Play Off place on offer. At the other end of the table, it is looking dire for three of our local sides. Ontinyent are already relegated after being unable to fulfil their fixtures, so they will finish bottom of the group. CD Alcoyano are in 19th position – one place off the bottom of the league with 34 points. They are now two points behind Sabadell in 18th position and three points behind UB Conquense and CD Castellon and deep in the relegation mire as the bottom four are automatically relegated whilst the fifth bottom side go into a relegation Play Out to avoid being relegated. The relegation Play Out, as it is called here in Spain, takes the sides that finish in 16th place at the end of the season, from each of the four group. These four sides go into a hat and two home and away ties are played. The two winning sides after both ties stay up and the two losers are relegated.

Match day April 34 – 21 CD Alcoyano 1 – 1 UE Olot

CD Alcoyano wasted another chance as they try to climb away from the relegation places and could only manage another home draw which, at this stage of the season, id simply not good enough if they are to avoid the drop. It was the visitors who opened the scoring just a few minutes before the half time break and although Alcoyano equalised on 49 minutes, the point was not enough to stop them dropping down into 19th position and one place off the bottom of the table.

CD Castellon 1 – 0 SD Ejea

A much needed victory for CD Castellon as they continue their season long battle to escape the relegation places. The only goal of the game was scored by Ramos in the 15th minute for the home side although the visitors, who played most of the game with a player less having had defender Andriu red carded in the 27th minute, were rather unfortunate not to nick a point and even had a penalty saved by the home keeper. The win moves Castellon up one position into 18th place with 34 points. However, they are still 4 points outside the first safety place.

Hercules CF 2 – 0 CE Sabadell FC

A straight forward but very important home win for Hercules, a result which keeps them in joint second place, on the same points (58) as Villarreal “B” and four points above those clubs chasing them in the league table.

A goal in each half, both from forward Carlos Martinez, gave Hercules all three valuable points with four games left to play in the regular season.

Valencia CF Mestalla 1 – 0 FC Barcelona B

A goal ten minutes from time secured a much needed victory for the Valencia reserves and all but ended the hopes of the Barcelona B side of reaching the end of season Play Off matches. However, much more importantly for Valencia Mestalla, this win almost certainly guarantees their survival for another season at this level. Fran Navarro was the Valencia scorer on the day and although they had to hold on for all they were worth in the closing minutes, Valencia Mestalla took all three points from the game, a game which was played in driving rain and high winds at the Valencia CF sports complex in Paterna.

Atletico Levante UD 1 – 2 Atletico Baleares

Despite a spirited second half, Atletico Levante went down 12 at home against a very well organised Atletico Baleares side who, after this victory, are still at the top of the Group on 65 points, seven points ahead of their two nearest rivals and looking good to end the season as Champions.

It all started so well for the visitors who found themselves 0 – 2 ahead before 20 minutes had been played. Whatever the Levante manager said to his side at the break appeared to work as they scored early on, only for the referee to rule the goal our for an infringement. But Levante carried on pushing and were rewarded with a goal in the 55th minute from forward Cantero. Unfortunately, the visitors had enough about them to be able to close up the game and take all three points.

After this defeat, Atletico Levante are in 10th position with 45 points and although technically not safe yet, it would now take a terrible run of results elsewhere for them to be pulled back into the relegation fight.

UR Cornella 1 – 0 Ontinyent CF

As Ontinyent pulled out of the league some weeks ago, all their remaining matches, as in this case, will be awarded to their opponents with a 10 win. CD Teruel 0 – 2 Villarreal CF B This was a much needed win for the Villarreal reserve side who stay in second place after this win. Two goals in the first half were all that were needed although this match was certainly not an easy win for the visitors who despite having by far the better of the chances, were pegged back not so much by their opponents but by the terrible state of the playing surface due to the heavy rain we experienced at the weekend.

Non Valencia based clubs

CD Ebro 1 – 1 RCD Español B Lleida Esportiu 2 – 0 CF Peralada

CF Badalona 0 – 0 UB Conquense

Match day Abril 35 – 28

SD Ejea – CD Alcoyano CE Sabadell FC – CD Castellon CF Peralada – Hercules CF Atletico Baleares – Valencia CF Mestalla

Ontinyent CF – Atletico Levante UD

Villarreal CF B – UE Cornella RCD Español B – CD Teruel UE Olot – CD Ebro UB Conquense – Lleida Esportiu

FC Barcelona B – CF Badalona

3rd Division

Despite the heavy rain over the weekend, only one match fell foul to the weather. That was the game between Rayo Ibense and Olimpic Xativa which was called off before a ball was kicked in anger by the match officials as the pitch was flooded.

In the games that were played, Orihuela increased their lead at the top of the group to seven points after they managed a narrow home win against Paterna whilst second placed La Nucia were held to a 11 draw at home by CD Roda. Orihuela are top with 74 points and La Nucia are still second with 67 points. In third position are CD Olimpic Xativa who despite not playing their game, remain in third place with 60 points and one point ahead of fourth placed Atletico Saguntino who missed a great chance to overtake them in the table after they could only get a point from their 11 away draw at local rivals, CD Acero. Saguntino have 59 points but have played a game more than Olimpic Xativa. Crevillente Deportivo, in fifth position and the only other side that could mount a challenge to the top four sides, also missed a golden opportunity as they were held to a 11 draw away at Silla CF and are on 58 points and still in with a chance. Apart from the bottom side, Paiporta, who are already relegated, the other two places are very much still up for grabs. The FOUR sides above Paiporta – Torre Levante, Rayo Ibense, Elche Ilicitano and CD Acero – are all locked on 32 points, although Rayo Ibense do have a game in hand as their match was cancelled at the weekend, However, two from these four sides will also be relegated

Match day April 34 – 21

Orihuela CF 1 – 0 Paterna CF CF La Nucia 1 – 1 CD Roda Novelda CF 1 – 0 FC Jove Español

CD Acero 1 – 1 Atletico Saguntino

Silla CF 1 – 1 Crevillente Deportivo

CD Eldense 2 – 0 Atzeneta UE CF Torre Levante 1 – 1 Paiporta CF

Villarreal CF C 1 – 0 UD Alzira Elche Ilicitano CF 2 – 4 CF Vilamarxant

UD Rayo Ibense P–P CD Olimpic Xativa (Match not played due to flooded pitch)

Match day April 35 – 28

Crevillente Deportivo – Orihuela CF

Paterna CF – CF La Nucia CD Roda – Novelda CF

FC Jove Español – CD Acero Atzeneta UE – Silla CF CF Vilamarxant – CD Eldense CD Olimpic Xativa – CF Torre Levante

Paiporta CF – Villarreal CF C UD Alzira – Elche Ilicitano CF Atletico Saguntino – UD Rayo Ibense

Regional Preferente Groups

There were no matches played at this level or below last weekend in Spain. This was due to it being the Semana Santa (Easter weekend) Fiesta. Matches resume this weekend (28th of April).

Group 1 Match day April 31 – 28

Alqueries CF – UD Vall de Uxo CD Onda – CF Sant Jordi CF Rafalafena Castellon – UD Puzol

CF San Pedro – CD Cabanes CD Almazora – CF Nules CF Borriol – Club Almenara Atletic

CD Benicarlo – CD Castellon B CD LAlcora´ – CF Albuixech CF Huracan Moncada CF – CD Burriana

Match day May 32 – 5

CF Sant Jordi – Alqueries CF UD Puzol – Alqueries CF CF Rafalafena Castellon – CF Huracan Moncada

UD Vall de Uxo – CF San Pedro CD Cabanes – CD Almazora CD Castellon B – CF Borriol CF Albuixech – CD Benicarlo CF Nules – CD LAlcora´ Club Almenara Atletic – CD Burriana

Match day April 31 – 28 Group 2

CD Buñol – UD Aldaia CF CD San Marcelino – SC Requena

Burjassot CF – UD CastellarOliveral

CD Serranos – Alcasser CF Ribarroja CF – UD Juventud Barrio Cristo Rayo San Antonio CF – CD Utiel

CF Recambios Colon Catarroja – Atletico Vallbonense

UD Quart de Poblet – Mislata CF Torrent CF – DiscoboloLa

Torre AC

Match day May 32 – 5

SC Requena – CD Buñol UD CastellarOliveral – CD

San Marcelino Burjassot CF – Torrent CF UD Aldaia CF – CD Serranos Alcasser CF – Ribarroja CF Atletico Vallbonense – Rayo San Antonio CF Mislata CF – CF Recambios Colon Catarroja

UD Juventud Barrio Cristo – UD Quart de Poblet

CD Utiel – DiscoboloLa Torre

AC

Group 3 Match day April 31 – 28

CF Tous – UD Alginet

CF UE Gandia – CD Enguera CF UE Tavernes – UE LAlcu´ dia

CD Contestano – UD Beniganim

UD Castellonense – LOlleria´ CF

CD MonteSion – Muro CF CD Javea – UD Portuarios CD Denia – UD Carcaixent Pego CF – Racing Rafelcofer CF

Match day May 32 – 5

UE LAlcudia´ – CF UE Gandia UD Beniganim – CF UE Tavernes

CD Contestano – Pego CF CD Enguera – UD Castellonense

LOlleria´ CF – CD MonteSion UD Carcaixent – CD Javea UD Alginet – CD Denia Muro CF – CF Tous UD Portuarios – Racing Rafelcofer CF

Group 4 Match day April 31 – 28

CD Almoradi – Callosa Deportiva

CD Thader – CD Universidad Alicante

CD Torrevieja – CF Independiente Alicante

UD Horadada – Elda Industrial

Villajoyosa CF – Hercules CF B Benidorm CF – Benferri CF CF UD Ilicitana – Intercity San Juan

FB Redovan CF – Aspe UD Villena CF – Orihuela CF B

Match day May 32 – 5

CD Universidad Alicante – CD Almoradi

CF Independiente Alicante – CD Thader

CD Torrevieja – Villena CF Callosa Deportiva – UD Horadada

Elda Industrial CF – Villajoyosa CF

Intercity San Juan – Benidorm CD

Aspe UD – CF UD Ilicitana Hercules CF B – FB Redovan CF

Benferri CF – Orihuela CF B