The Observer from London, Greater London, England • 44

44 THE OBSERVER, SUNDAY 10 MAY 1987 Slip-roads: Filbert Street and Maine Road Crossroads for Charlton, Sunderland and Wolves Turf Moor steers clear EAMONN McCABE GDtt dl roj THERE are those who will argue it was all stage-managed, but no one can deny that the imminent plays-offs made a memorable drama of yesterday's action. Starring role, unquestionably, went to those old-stagers Burnley. One of the League's 12 founder members, they made sure of staying there next season in their 100th year by beating Orient in front of 15,781 delirious faithful fans at Turf Moor. With Torquay managing a draw thanks to an injury-time goal it was curtains for Lincoln City, themselves League members for 95 years, who now take QPR with their first successful penalty in the top flight since 1956, and Garth Crooks added another goal in a 21 win which rendered academic all Leicester and Manchester City's efforts to avoid the drop to the Second Division. Elsewhere in the First Division, Ian Rush signed off with a goal and a booking in Liverpool's 33 draw at Chelsea, Spurs were beaten 10 in their FA Cup semifinal re-run against Watford, and Coventry saw their fullback Brian Borrows limp off in the 1 1 draw against Southampton with a leg injury; which may cause him GSwunralley survive to miss Wembley next week.

Charlton's opponents when the play-offs begin on Thursday are Ipswich, who hung on to fifth place in the Second Division despite a wobbly home draw against Reading. The teams who might have overhauled them lost, Crystal Palace going down to a Hull side who thus ensured their own safety, Plymouth being beaten 42 by Derby County, who clinched the Second Division championship with four goals in the last 20 minutes after being a goal down after five. Portsmouth, watched by their biggest crowd of the season, 28,000, had hopes of snatching the title when Mick Quinn put them ahead against Sheffield United, but the visitors spoiled the party with two late goals. Cue fans, who invaded the pitch ignored loudspeaker appeals from Portsmouth manager Alan Ball to budge. Drama too at the bottom of the Second Division, where Sunderland can still drop to the Third Division for the first time after losing a two-goal lead and succumbing 32 at home to Barnsley, Mark Procter missing a penalty for them when they were 21 up.

Now Bob Stokoe has to gee his men up for a meeting with Gillingham, who claimed the last Thrd Division play-off place at Bristol City's expense with a 1-0 win over Bolton, who must play off themselves to stay out of the Fourth. Other Second Division teams in danger did the clever thing and won, Hud-dersfield 30 against Millwall thanks partly to a Joey Jones goal, Shrewsbury 20 at Birmingham. Wolves were joined in the scramble to leave the Fourth Division by Colchester, beaten at Preston, and Alder-shot, who lost a breathless affair at Cardiff, where referee Alf Busch melted away at half-time with heat exhaustion. An exhausting day all round, in fact. Feeling chipper in the sunshine West Ham's Brady waltzes away from the stranded McNab's challenge.

the dead drop into the GM Vauxhall Conference to fill Scarborough's place. 'The thought of Non-League football is said Lincoln's manager Peter Daniel after his side's 20 defeat at Swansea. It's the worst day of my Piquantly, one of the Swansea goals -came from Tommy Hutchinson, a former Burnley player. When the music stopped in the First Division, Charlton were left sitting in the playoff place, just as their manager Lennie Lawrence had predicted. Colin Walsh gave them the lead against DEREK WALLIS Burnley 2 Orient 1 encountered before the match had sold out.

At his age it was hardly likely to have happened to him before, with people, not all of them intending to be spectators, buying fistfuls as potentially profitable mementoes should the worst have happened. Thousands more than usual, however, poured through the turnstiles, and the press box was crammed too, as Fleet Street and its Wapping suburb arrived to chronicle the most crucial match in Burnley's history. With hundreds more spectators queueing outside, the kick-off was delayed by 15 minutes, thus prolonging the anxiety for all concerned. Having survived Orient's initial attacks, in which Leebrook cleared from beneath the bar from Howard, Burnley, encouraged by such unaccustomed support, strode forward purposefully. But they ad to wait until a minute before half-time to score the first priceless goal.

Grewcock scored it, striking the ball unerringly beyond Cass after a run that took him wide City are sunk without a fight FRANK McGHEE West Ham 2 keeper McAlister's plunge to his right. The West Ham goal three minutes later was typical of this team in that it was built around their priceless basic principle of passing to each other. Full-back Potts started it by sending McAvennie up the left for a deep cross hit waspishly from outside the area by Ward and any chance that Nixon might have covered and saved it was prevented by a devlish close-range diversion by the scorer Cottee. City's defence was undoubtedly weakened by the absence of Solves bitting back escape through hand of fate at Upton Park Manchester City 0 McCarthy in the second half and this was exposed in both the buildup and the execution of West Mam's second goal in the 51st minute. McAvennie got through down the middle onto a Brady pass, then saw his shot half-blocked by.

Nixon and cleared by Wilson for a corner From this, the ball eventually reached Brady who, with a touch of pure class, waltzed past two men before his educated left foot directed it into the corner of the net. It was genius which made it look effortless. City's most aggressive action in the whole game was perhaps the LOUISE TAYLOR Wolves 4 Hartlepool 1 After all, the club has undergone a particularly cruel rebirth in fortunes since the days when the name Wolverhampton Wanderers was synonymous with success as Mullen and Hancock ran riot on the wing. Then the prospects of playing the Hart-lepools of this world would have been laughable. However, having collected 44 points out of the last possible 54, won ten of their previous 11' matches and not conceded a single goal in the last six games at Molineux Wolves were entitled to kick off in confident, not to say arrogant, fashion against their humble visitors.

But Hartlepool soon jolted the hosts out of any complacency when, inside the first minute, McKinnon caught the home defence flat-footed btjfore unleashing a testing shot which forced Kendall into a fine save. Wolves, mindful of the need to conserve energy and to avoid injury before the play-offs, started indifferently. Hartlepool, though, hadn't come with the intention of just enjoying a kick-about in the sunshine and their ALREADY assured of a playoff place but denied guaranteed promotion, Wolves gave an initially lethargic but ultimately convincing performance to beat Hartlepool 4 1 at Molineux A match which kicked off in a deceptively laconic fashion ended with Steve Bull completing his hat-trick the first scored for the club since John Richards achieved the feat in 1976 and a pitch invasion by Wolves' supporters which reduced the closing stages to chaos. However, the euphoria which at one stage threatened to see the match abandoned, may prove somewhat premature. Southend's Friday night success at Stockport entitles the Essex club to the last certain promotion place leaving Wolves and two other Fourth Division clubs to dispute the sole remaining and much coveted Third Division place with the team finishing twenty-first in that Division.

Having weathered relegation from Division I to Division IV in consecutive seasons and having been brought almost to the point of extinction by an alarming overdraft largely incurred during the building of a 2m white elephant of a new stand, the once mighty Wolves deserve some undiluted luck. of two half-hearted challenges, and the crowd responded with a roar that suggested it was more of a promotion-winner than a life-saver. The second half had barely started before Burnley scored again. To the crowd's delight Grewcock's cross from the right was met by made the most of a moment of freedom to leave Cass stranded. At the other end Neenan prevented Godfrey from scoring with an acrobatic save, but he was powerless in the fifty-fifth minute when the ball reached Comfort from Brooks on the right.

Comfort reacted with a shot of quality that reduced Burnley's lead and many in the crowd to near tears as the tension mounted yet again. Orient, whose own designs on a promotion play-off place were wrecked by the result, forced Burnley to live on their nerves towards the end, with Godfrey striking a post before the final whistle mercifully put an end to a dramtic afternoon. Burnley Necnan Leebrook, Hamplon, Rodaway, Gallagher, Deakm. Grewcock. Malley.

James, Devaney, Brillon. Sub Hoskin. Orient Cass Cunningham. Hales. Smalley, Howard, Cornwell, Hughion.

Brooks. Jones. Godfrey. Comforl. Sub Castle.

Referee Courtney (Spenny-moor). Bolder, who punted it into the opposing penalty area, where McDonald, in his haste to get back into position, fell over and was struck by the bouncing ball. The award of a penalty so infuriated Rangers that two more players, James and McGuire, were booked (to be followed into the referee's notes later by another two, Rosenior and Neill). Walsh took the kick, and drove it without any sign of nerves low to Seaman's right. As Lawrence said afterwards We have been short of a couple of breaks in either penalty area in the last couple of months, and today we had them at both ends But there was no hint of good fortune about Charlton's second goal, after 52 minutes.

Reid advanced down the left and cut inside before delivering a pass for Crooks, closing in at speed, to turn in one of his old quicksilver Tottenham specials. Melrose, clearly short of full DIVISION THREE Bournemouth (2). .2 Rotherham(O) 0 Ayloti. Richards 11.310 Brentford (1) 2 WiRan (I) 3 Simon. Blissctl Lowe.

Criblc (pen) (penl. Knowles 4.325 Bristol (I) 1 Swindon (0) I Morgan Coyne 19.201 Bury (2) 4 Blackpool (I) 1 Lee. Greenwood Madden 2.198 (2). Hoyland Carlisle (I) 3 Chesterfield Bishop, Posk'eit, 1.436 Baker Chester (I) I Port Vale (I) 2 Graham Earle. Beckford 3.013 DarlinRlon (0) 1 Walsall (I) 3 Roberts Kelly 2.

Shakespeare 1.114 Doncaslcr(O) 0 Middlcsbro 2 Hamilton, Ripley 4.500 Gillineham I I Bolton 0 0 Cascarino 5.561 Mansfield I I Fulham (0) I Kearney Davies 2.759 Newport (0) 0 Bristol (I) 1 Purnell 3.160 Vork(0) I Notts CIO) 1 Butler Young 3.760 Goals A Pis Bournemth 46 29 10 7 76 40 97 Middlcsbro 46 28 10 8 67 30 94 Swindon Wigan Gillingha 46 25 46 25 46 23 12 9 77 47 87 10 II 83 60 85 9 14 65 48 78 Bristol Notls Cty Walsall Blackpool Mansfield Brentford Port Vale Doncastcr' Rolherham Chester Bury Chcslerfld Fulham Bristol York 46 21 46 21 46 22 46 16 46 15 46 15 46 15 46 14 46 15 46 13 46 14 46 13 46 12 46 13 46 12 14 11 63 36 77 56 76 67 75 59 64 55 61 66 60 70 57 62 57 57 57 59 56 60 55 69 54 77 53 75 51 79 49 13 12 77 9 15 80 16 16 15 12 15 14 74 15 52 16 64 19 76 17 56 12 19 48 17 16 61 13 19 54 15 18 56 17 12 21 13 21 55 Boilon ii'io'iYii'is 58 45 Carlisle 46 10 28 39 78 38 Darlington 46 7 16 23 45 77 37 Newport 46 8 13 25 49 86 37 FA TROPHY Final Burton Albion Kidderminster After extra lime (at Wembley) Replay Tuesday at wesi Bromwich Irish League Cup-Final: Crusaders (0) I Linfield (I) 2 THE TENSION was unbearable and the atmosphere unbelievable at Turf Moor, which usually houses no more on the day when 155781 watched Burnley preserve their Football League status at the eleventh hour. It seemed as if the whole town had turned up, and the team responded with a stirring performance when it mattered most. Heart attacks were in order when Orient reduced a hard-won two-goal lead and threatened more than once to equalise, but Burnley, having removed both feet and at least one arm from the grave of Non-League football, refused to submit again and clung, at times precariously, to their precious lead, and with it their standing as a League club. At the final whistle hundreds ran on to the pitch, as much in relief as celebration, and refused to leave until the team returned to share the moment of dubious glory with them. Next Saturday's FA Cup Final may produce a match of greater quality, but it is questionable whether it will be more dramatic or emotional than this game.

The programme seller I Charlton WITH names like Bolder, Gritt and Peake in their line-up, Charlton should have had no worries against the sort of dispirited opposition being offered by Rangers these days. In the end they managed to make the play-off berth which keeps their First Division hopes flickering, but they will need to show more boldness and grit and peak at the right time, or they will still end up back in Division Two. As their manager, Lennie Lawrence, said At the end you get what you deserve, and we deserved to be fourth from the bottom. Not third, not fifth, but fourth. Lately we have shown a lot of character, and we got the reward for that Certainly Charlton were a livelier bunch than Rangers, who seemed shell-shocked and with good reason, after conceding 11 goals in their two previous THE TODAY LEAGUE DIVISION ONE Arsenal (0) 1 Norwich (1) 1 Merson Crook.

Putney 24.001 Charlton (1) 2 QPR (0) 1 Walsh (pen). Rosenoir 7,769 Crooks Chelsea (2) 3 Liverpool (1) 3 Durie. Rush. Bumstead, McMahon. Speedie Aldridgc 29,245 Coientry(l) I Southampton 1 Kilcline Lawrence 22,619 Everton(O) 3 Luton (I) I Steven 2 (2 Stein 44,092.

pens). Sharp Man Utd (0) 3 Aslon Villa 1 Blackhore, Birch 35.179 Duxbury, Robson 2 Newcastle I Foster. Pearce Gascoigne (pen) 17.786 Oxford Lid Leicester (0) 0 10.183 ShefT Wed (0) 0 Wimbledon 2 Sayer. Hodges 18,823 Watford (0) 1 Tottenhaoi (0) 0 Jacket! (pen) 20.024 West Ham (I) 2 (O) 0 Ward. Brady 18.413 Goals A Pts Everion 41 25 75 Jl Sj Liverpool 42 23 8 1 1 72 42 77 Tottenham 41 21 8 12 68 42 71 Arsenal 42 20 10 12 58 35 70 Norwich 42 17 17 8 53 51 68 Wimbledon 42 19 9 14 57 50 66 Luton 42 18 12 12 47 45 66 Nottra For 42 18 13 64 SI 65 Watford 42 18 9 15 67 54 63 Coventry 42 17 12 13 50 45 63 Man Utd 42 14 14 14 52 45 56 Soton 42 14 10 18 69 68 52 ShefrWed 42 13 13 16 58 59 52 Chelsea 42 13 13 16 53 64 52 West Ham 42 14 10 18 51 67 52 OPR 42 13 II 18 48 64 50 Newcastle 42 12 II 19 47 65 47 Oxford 42 11 13 18 44 69 46 Charlton 42 11 11 20 45 55 44 Leicester 42 1 1 9 22 54 76 42 ManCitv 42 8 15 19 36 57 39 Aston Villa 42 8 12 22 45 79 36 Spartan League Preni IJiv Bcckum 2 Barkingside Brinisdown Rvrs I Danson Souibcuic A)h 1 Ycadmg 1: Waltham Abbey ORcilhtll I.

Soulh-Kast Counties League Div I Portsmouth 3 Charlton I. Uiv II Oxford Utd 0 Tottenham 6: Reading I) Bristol Rovers Southend 4 Lurun 4. JACKPOT POSSIM.K Telephone claims required fur 23 and 24 points, suv the pools promoters. I here is a possible jackpot for 24 points with eight score draws and only one no score draw' on the counpons. FOOTBALL RESULTS I THE loyal army who travelled with City though chairman Field Marshal Peter Swales was a notable absentee hoped, if nothing else, to see their club go down fighting.

They were denied even that meagre consolation because the most brutal truth about a defeat which brought relegation for the second time in four years is that one of its main causes was lack of the teeth-gritted determination to survive. Against opponents without the heart to make it hard, West Ham are always inclined to flourish. They were encouraged to play the game that suits them best free-flowing, bright as. the afternoon itself, accurate and so much more effective in the most vital department of all, finishing. City may have felt aggrieved that the first-half tackle by Robson that was to cost them the second-half service of their skipper and centre-half McCarthy was late, over-vigorous and, though unpunished, blatantly illegal.

But they cannot deny that that one incident apart, there is no more appropriate place to test any club's right to compete with the best than Upton Park because West Ham by tradition gives everyone the chance to play football They also, of course, exercise their own right to do the same and yesterday did very much more of it. West Ham's superiority sprang primarily from the mid-field created by Brady's mind and Rob-son's muscle It left City's McNab and Langley hopelessly outgunned. Up front, Cottee and McAvennie were considerably too sharp for City's defence with Redmond, who started the season so encouragingly, particularly lax in allowing Cottee a succession of early chances. West Ham, in fact, could have had it finished when Ince hit the bar with a header and Brady uncharacteristically sidefooted a chance straight at keeper Nixon before City created their first danger. Then their most, indeed their only, accomplished forward, Stewart had one twenty-seventh minute header saved superbly by' the last elastic inch of West Ham FINE FARE SCOTTISH LEAGUE Premier Division Aberdeen (3) 3 Falkirk 0) I Clydebank (0) I Hibernian (0) 2 Dundee (4) 7 Hamilton A (2).

3 Hearts (I) 1 Celtic (0) ,0 Motherwell 1 Dundee Utd angers I) 1 St Mirren (0) 0 Goals A Pis 6 85 23 69 8 90 41 63 44 31 44 27 43 24 44 21 43 21 7 9 II 16 Rangers Cclnc Dundee Aberdeen Hearts Dundee St Mirren Motherwell Hibernian Falkirk 8 65 35 7 63 29 13 9 63 42 55 12 14 74 57 48 12 20 36 51 36 12 21 43 64 34 13 21 44 70 33 10 26 31 70 26 Clydebank 44 6 12 26 35 93 24 Hamilton 44 6 9 29 39 93 21 Division One Airdrie(O) I Murton (0) 0 Clyde (0) 2 Brechin (I) I Dumbarton (I). ...3 Queen of Sth Forfar Alh (0) I East Fife (1) 4 Kilmarnock I Partiek (0) 0 Montrose (1 I Dunfermline (0) I) Goals A Pts Morton 44 24 9 11 88 56 57 Dunfrmline 44 23 10 11 61 41 56 Dumbarton 44 33 East Fife 44 15 7 21 14 67 52 53 8 68 55 51 13 58 46 51 16 62 53 45 15 61 63 43 17 49 54 39 17 48 56 38 21 50 71 34 Airdnc Kilmrnock Forfar Partiek Clyde On of Sth 44 20 II 44 17 II 44 14 15 44 12 15 44 II 16 44 II Brechin Monirose 44 44 23 44 72 32 24 37 74 29 Division Two Albion (0) 0 Cowdenbeath Alloa (0) 0 Mcadowbank I Ayr United (0) 2 Stirling (2) 3 E'Stirllng (I) 2 Queen's Park (1). 1 Stenhsemuir Berwick (I) I Stranraer (1) 1 Rallh(l) 4 Gluiiccster League Brimscombe 2 Lydbrook 2: Cadbury Heath 2 Avon St Philips 0: CinUerford I Sconchousc 2: Harrow Hill Wolton 3. Somerset League Bishop Sutlon 5 Clevcdon Utd I. SW Counties Youth Championship Glos 4 Bucks Berks I.

Creal Milts Western League Cup finul Mungotsfield Utd 0 Silllash Utd 1. Building Kustem League Chatteris I blv 2: Siowmarket 0 Wisbech 0: Sudhury 3 Haverhill 0. Peter Bills Top ten Quins HARLEQUINS retained their Middlesex Sevens title at Twickenham yesterday, win nings the tournament for a tenth time and surviving the combined distractions of streakers, Mexican waves and oceans of alcohol. The London club were much the best of a generally poor collection of sides who offered the 58,000 crowd plenty of workrate and determination but little of the great craft and Sevens expertise with which this tournament was once synonymous. The great days of London Scottish, London Welsh and Loughborough seemed far distant as elementary errors proliferated and hospital passes were superseded by entries for the intensive care unit.

Harlequins beat Rosslyn Park's second string 22-6 in the final, their victory assured by superior speed, strength and expertise. They alone looked a quality sevens outfit through the cunning of Thompson and Dent, the combative qualities of akinner and the raw speed of Harriman and Hunter. Hunter scored two tries, in the final and converted thfee tries', including Cramb's-Stinner got the other. Park, wuo lost Offiah their flier in the second half of the final, levelled soon after half-time through Mantel's try, improved by Graves. But Harlequins' ability was enduring on a lovely warm sunlit evening.

Harlequins' hold on their title had been shaken but not severely stirred in a journey to the final which was always in their own hands. Blackheath surprised them, taking a 10-6 half-time lead before being swept imperiously aside as Quins scored 24 points without reply in the second half. Wakefield's illustration of immense Yorkshire determination, fuelled by the huge crowd's love for an underdog, pushed the holders even closer. Quins scored 16 points without reply by half-time and instantly declared. That offered Wakefield their chance, and a converted try, the last act of full-time, sent the semi-final into extra time.

But Harlequins again promptly proved they had something to spare. A long kick ahead eluded Harriman but Dent followed up to collect and dive over for the crucial score. Rosslyn Park's reserve side, pressed into action by the demise of the first seven in the preliminaries, had surprises in store all afternoon. London Scottish had ended Nottingham's quest for the title after two successive disappointments in the final, with a surprisingly easy 24-6 victory in the sixth round, but Park ended their aspirations by winning the quarter-final 24-10 before tackling Jedforest in the semi-final. Jedforest, the guest side, had put out Loughborough in a excellent sixth-round tie, but against Park they were simply too tired to cope.

The junior clubs faced their anticipated Armageddon with valour, Worthing, Old Gay-tonians and Askeans all failing in the sixth round and High Wycombe surviving with a 16-0 victory over the Kent Cup finalists. But Wakefield demonstrated the yawning gap between senior and junior class clubs with a 22-0 thumping of High Wycombe. RESULTS First round Nottingham London Scottish I 24: Lon Scois II 0 Rosslyn Pk 11 Saracens 22 Worthing Loughborough Students 1 Jedforest 18; Wakefield 10 Gayionians Askeans 0 High Wvcomhc 1A: Blackhcalh 10 Richmond II Richard 1 0 Harlequins 22. Quarter Finals London Scois I 10 "Rosslvn Pk II 24: Sareccits 10 Jedforcsl 14 Wakefield- 22 High Wycombe Blackheath 10 Harlequins JO Semifinals Kosslvti Pk II IS Jedforest 10; Wakefield Ifi Harlequins 20. final: Horleouius 22 Rosslvtl I'k II 6 comprehensive foul by full-back Wilson, now on his way to Chelsea, which flattened Ward.

True, Stewart did manage to hit an upright with one late shot, sent another soaring too high and forced a respectable save with a header. But this was at a stage when West Ham tolerance had become torper so much so that the mystery of the enthusiastic pitch invasion by Hammers' fans at the end of a mediocre season was explained only by a closer look into their main stand. The whole cast of East Enders were there. West Ham United McAlister Potls, Orr, Keen, Strodder, Brady, Ward, McAvennie. Robson, Cottee, lnce.

Sub Dolan. Manchester City Nixon Clements, Wilson, Redmond, McCarthy, Langley, May, McNab, Moulden. Stewart, Simpson. Sub While. Referee Stevens (Stonehouse).

mnre nositive armroach nearlv paid off when Smith's header hit the bar. On the hour Hartlepool secured a deserved equaliser after Clarke's ill-judged back header fell into the path of the unmarked Kevin Dixon who sieved his ninth goal of the season. Wolves' response' was prompt as Thompson re-established the lead three minutes later. Referee Cooper adjudged Smith to have tripped Mutch, who had just replaced Stoutt, and Thompson scoreu assuredly from the penalty spot. Subsequently matters degenerated into absolute mayhem as supporters ignored persistent Tannoy pleas to stay of the touch-line and with fans packing the perimeter a bemused Hartlepool could hardly be criticised for allowing Bull to complete his hat-trick with a well-taken solo goal in the last three minutes.

The match ended on an even more bizarre note when, in the course of a full-scale pitch invasion at the final whistle, fans stole one of Andy Thompson's boots. Wolves Kendall; Stoutt, Barnes. Sircete, Kelly, Clarke. Purdie, Fprman, Bull, Thompson. Holmes.

Mulch. Hartlepool Blackburn; Barratt, McKinnon, McLean, Smith, Nobbs, Poman, Shoulder. Dixon, Honour. Gibb. A Dixon.

Referee Cooper (Pontypridd). par for the 33 holes of his two matches. Sam Torrance, whose progress into the quarter-finals had not been totally convincing, finally found a putting touch to complement his strong long game, but had to give best to Jeff Hawkes of South Africa. Torrance went three up with five to play, and then Hawkes had three birdies in four holes to square the match, winning by one hole at the last after an extraordinary chip from tight against the out-of-bounds fence. The bottom half of the draw had initially looked to be the tougher, but the premature departure of all the seeds produced an unexpected cast for.

the decisive round. Mats Lanner of Sweden had a late flourish of birdies to beat Greg Turner of New Zealand three and two and put a gloss of respectability on what had been a high-scoring match. His opponent in the second semi-final will be Peter Senior of Australia, the last of the notable tournament professionals to judge his shots purely by eye. He became a convert to the yardage chart only three three weeks ago, and yesterday pulled back a three-hole deficit to beat a former matchplay champion, Hugh Baiocchi of South Africa, by one hole. RESULTS Garrido (Sp) 2 holes; II Baiocchi (S AO bt McNallJ (S AO 1 ho e.

Senior WiTC Torrance (OH) bi Morgan (GB) 1 hole: Hawkes (S AO bi Armour (USl 3 and 1 Turner INZ) bi Olazabal (Spl 2 and Quarter finals Uallesicros bt Pinero 3 amf 1- Hawkes bt Torrance one hole: L.inner bl Turner 3 and Senior bi Raiocchi 1 hole. Ballesferos pounces PETER DOBEREINER at Chepstow fitness after virus problems, was immediately withdrawn by Charlton, who still looked capable of hanging on comfortably until the 69th minute when, from a left-wing corner by Lee, Rosenior headed firmly home. It was a long time since I have seen players so affected by tension after that goal went said Lawrence As it transpired, even a draw would have been enough to get Charlton into the play-offs, but the home supporters were so anxious about the outcome that they were whistling for time five minutes early. Charlton Athletic Bolder: Gritt, Reid. Peake.

Thompson. Miller, Shipley, Stuart, Mctroe, Walsh. Crooks. Queen's Park Rangers Ncill, James, Chivers. McDonald.

McGuire, Lee, Peacock. Rosenior. Byrne. Fcreday. Rcrcree Miller (Harlow).

Viv Anderson has been ruled out of England's internationals against Brazil and Scotland. The Arsenal right back dislocated a cheekbone during the 2 1 defeat to Norwich at Highbury. DIVISION FOUR Aldtrshot (0) I Cardiff (1) 2 Barnes Gummer, Bartlett 3.680 Burnley (I) 2 Orient (0) I Grewcock. Comfort 15,781 Britlon Cambridge (2). .2 Hereford (0) 1 Rogers log).

Phillips 1.900 Smith Halifax (I) 1 Peterborough Holden 1.004 I Colchester (0) 0 Swann 8,757 Scunthorpe (I) 2 Rochdale (0) 0 Lister. Flounders 2.347 Swansea (I) 2 Lincoln ((I) (I Hutchison. 3,000 Williams Toro.uav(0) 2 Crewe (Z) 2 McNichol. Bodak. Plait Dobson 3.493 Wolves I) 4 Hartlepool (0) I Bull 3.

Dison 8.610 Thompson (pen) Wrexham (0) I Northampton (2). .3 Buxton Bunce, Mcrley 2 2.709 Goals A Pts Nthmpton 46 30 9 7 103 53 99 Preslon 46 26 12 8 72 47 90 Southend 46 25 5 16 68 55 80 Wolves 46 24 7 15 69 50 79 Colchester 46 21 7 18 64 56 70 Aldershol 46 20 10 16 64 57 70 Orient Scunthorpe Wrexham Peierboro Cambridge Swansea Cardiff Exeler Halifax Hereford Crewe Hartlepool Stockport Tranmere Rochdale Burnley Torquay 46 20 46 18 46 15 46 17 46 17 46 17 9 17 64 2 16 73 11 70 4 15 57 61 69 57 66 51 65 50 65 62 62 61 62 50 61 49 S6 74 55 61 53 72 53 65 51 69 51 72 50 73 50 74 49 72 48 8 60 II 18 56 16 15 48 23 12 53 10 21 59 11 21 60 14 19 70 18 17 44 12 21 40 17 18 54 17 18 54 13 21 53 18 18 56 46 15 46 II 46 15 46 14 46 13 46 11 46 13 46 I I 46 I I 46 12 46 10 Lincoln 46 12 12 22 45 65 48 PLAY-OFF DETAILS Semi-finals (first legs on Thursday, second legs May 17) Ipswich Charllon Leeds Oldham (Winners in two-leg final for First Division place May 22. 251 Gillinghum Sunderland Wigan Swindon (Winners in lwo-3eg final for Second Division place May 22, 25) Aldershot Bollon Colcheslcr Wolves (Winners in two-leg final for Third Division place May 22, 25) Football Combination Southampton 3 Arsenal Tottenham 2 Oxford Utd 1. 2 pl. Away Win 11 pl.

Homo Win 1 pi. RONALD ATKIN Charlton Athletic 2 Queen's Park Rangers 1 matches. Sammy Lee, carrying far too much weight these days, and the other veteran, Robbie James, were Rangers' best performers, with the addition of Rosenior, whose ability to win the ball in the air would have posed a bigger threat had he been offered any sort of support. However, the longer the first half dragged on the glummer were the faces on the terraces and the more anguished Charlton's players looked. They had a distinct let-off just before half-time, when Miller's handling offence in the area occurred on the blind side of the referee.

Then, seconds from the interval, McDonald came charging upfield and was booked for clattering into Miller. The free kick was quickly played back to DIVISION TWO Birmingham Shrews burs- 7.724 Robinson Leeds (0) I lidwards 8.139 Plvmouth (0) 2 Nelson 2 20.798 Brichton (0) 0 Derby (0) 4 Davison. Cullaghan. ieklewhilc. Greyorv Hudilersfield Jones.

Cork 2 Hull (I) 3 Dyer 2. Williams Ipswich T(0) I Wilson Oldham (0) 3 Ccccre 3 Portsmouth I Quinn Stoke (3) 5 Kelly. Talbot. Berry (pen). Saunders.

Ford Sunderland (2) 2 Bertschin. Grav WBA(1) 2 Robson, Goodman Millwall (0) 6.955 Crvstal 7.656 Reading (0) 1 Richardson 16.036 Blackburn (0) 0 7.504 Sheffield Withe. 28.001 Dcmpsey Grimsby (1) 1 McGarvey pen 6.406 Barnsley (I) 3 Dobbin. 19.059 WyJde. Thomas Bradford (0) 2 Futchcr, 8.367 Hendrie Goals A Pts 42 25 9 8 64 38 84 42 23 9 10 53 28 78 Derby Portsmouth Oldham Leeds Utd Ipswich 42 22 9 II 65 44 75 42 19 II 12 58 44 68 42 17 13 12 59 43 64 Crystal Plymouth Stoke Sheff Utd Bradford Barnsley Blackburn Reading Hull WBA Millwall Huddersfld Shrewsbury Brmniihm 42 19 42 16 42 16 42 15 42 15 42 14 42 15 42 14 42 13 42 13 42 14 42 13 42 15 42 II 5 18 51 53 62 13 13 62 57 6 10 13 10 16 63 53 58 14 50 49 58 17 62 62 55 13 15 49 52 55 10 17 45 55 55 II 14 7 52 59 53 41 55 53 15 17 5 49 51 9 19 39 45 51 12 17 54 61 51 6 21 41 5 3 1 17 14 47 59 50 12 IS" 49 59 48 Sunderland 42 Grimsby Hnghlon 42 10 14 18 39 59 44 42 9 12 21 37 54 39 Ksscv l.eauuc Knghlliiiitsca I Saw-brilleeworlh 3: Canvey Is 4 felon Manor l'urfleei 10 Slansled 0: Woodford 2 Maldon I.

Prem Uiv Aninit- don 4 Wantaue Morris Mtrs I Shorlwond 0. "Pegasus I Viking Sharpness I Siipcrmarine 2. Div 1 utocot -t rtiinonusnury Kintbiiryd: Kidlmgton 0 Clanfield 1. Chock lor LlttluwoDds. Vornon NO DISRESPECT intended, Omar, but you can keep your loaf of bread, your jug of wine and all that thou-beside-me malarkey.

Bliss for the golf enthusiast is that rare combination of a noble park of gigantic flowering chestnuts shimmering in brilliant sunshine and Severiano Ballesteros with the light of matchplay battle in his eyes. In short, the Epson Grand Prix at St Pierre, Chepstow. In prosaic truth there was a slightly early-morning quality about Ballesteros's opening holes in his third-round encounter with Philip Walton, whose brilliance as an Irish amateur international has lost a little something in translation into pro golf. Walton showed no visible signs of the stiff neck for which he has been receiving treatment, and par golf kept him on terms for nine holes. Ballesteros then began to click.

He claims that he treats a match as a strokeplay round, only adjusting his tactics if his opponent falls into error or virtuosity but it does not look like that. He looks like a predator, reacting to the other man's every move and forcing him into mistakes. Four birdies in five holes after the turn put Walton's scalp on his belt by three and two. Tony Jacklin took great satisfaction from this demolition job, because as Ryder Cup captain he wants the obvious players to make the team automatically by finishing in the top nine of the Order of Merit table so that he can exercise his expert judgement in selecting his three wild cards. The sponsors were delighted, because the Ballesteros factor could be guaranteed to put 10,000 on the last-day gate.

As to that prospect, Ballesteros had first to get past his compatriot Manual Pinero, one of the hardest matchplay nuts in golf, in the afternoon quarter-finals. Those Ryder Cup reflections apply with equal force to Pinero. This week's first prize of 50,000 will leave the winner almost sure of his place, barring unthinkable disasters, since the figure expected to make ninth place is around 80,000, possibly much less. These two have been hammering at each other for 15 years, ever since Ballesteros emerged as an uninhibited slugger in his mid -teens, and both have deep respect for the other's strengths. In Pinero's case these are mainly embodied in the boast of Napoleon's Old Guard that We know how to die but not how to surrender This match was therefore expected to be a dour struggle of wills, and the sunny disposition of Ballesteros's morning round was replaced by his mask of grim concentration.

Ballesteros took an early lead and just kept the intiative, with Pinero doggedly pulling the holes back to keep the issue open The turning point came at the sixteenth, where both put their approaches into the same bunker, Pinero closer but in a desperate position against the back lip. Ballesteros holed his recovery shot, and many opponents would have collapsed from such a blow, at such a time. Pinero came within inches of following him in Matches turn on inches, and Ballesteros was not to be denied, taking the decisiun by three and one with three birdies in his last four holes, finishing 10-under- OJTO'eWIONtOOlOr-CMOlW T-CMOIUllOtCO -f. in i.t -C taQBnvw i i i i i i i i im riTtanrnrlfWfwnaTnMMnTWllTTrTr and Zntleis. Scora Draw 3 pU.

No-eora Draw.