Cesena made sure they did not end 2010 at the bottom of Serie A as they beat Cagliari 1-0 at home on Saturday.

Luis Jimenez scored the decider in the 17th minute of the encounter which was played on a frozen pitch at the Stadio Dino Manuzzi.

Cagliari hit the woodwork once, but looked a shadow of the side which had won three of its last four matches since Roberto Donadoni took over as coach.

Heavy snow had fallen in Emilia-Romagna overnight, but fortunately the sun had shone all day over Cesena, melting the snow, but as the temperatures plummeted below zero again, the remaining surface water turned to ice.

The conditions were therefore not perfect for players like Andrea Cossu or Emanuele Giaccherini, who like to play with the ball at their feet, but Jimenez showed how close control was still a possibility as he put the home side in front.

He played a one-two with Giaccherini and dribbled past the last Cagliari defender on his way into the penalty area where his finish was as cool as the temperature with a side-footed shot past Michael Agazzi.