Index: NearSpans.java
===================================================================
--- NearSpans.java	(revision 219750)
+++ NearSpans.java	(working copy)
@@ -314,12 +314,18 @@
   }
 
   private boolean matchIsOrdered() {
-    int lastStart = -1;
-    for (int i = 0; i < ordered.size(); i++) {
-      int start = ((SpansCell)ordered.get(i)).start();
-      if (!(start > lastStart))
-        return false;
+    SpansCell spansCell = (SpansCell) ordered.get(0);
+    int lastStart = spansCell.start(); // no need to compare doc nrs here.
+    int lastEnd = spansCell.end();
+    for (int i = 1; i < ordered.size(); i++) {
+      spansCell = (SpansCell) ordered.get(i);
+      int start = spansCell.start();
+      int end = spansCell.end();
+      if ((start < lastStart) || ((start == lastStart) && (end <= lastEnd))) {
+        return false; // also equal begin and end is not ordered.
+      }
       lastStart = start;
+      lastEnd = end;
     }
     return true;
   }