The Daily Telegraph from London, Greater London, England • 19

Ecstasy Sammy. Lee (centre) and Phil Neal congratulate Avi Cohen for scoring Liverpool's second goal. Cohen had earlier suffered the agony of deflecting the ball into his own net. DILLON'S VITAL GOAL By TREVOR WILLIAMSON Birmingham 3, Notts Co. 3 THE way to do anything worthwhile is in a blaze of glory; Birmingham fell a little short of that yardstick in regaining their First Division status but did produce some thrilling entertainment at sunsplashed St Andrew's.

Gleaning the one point they needed to rebound to the top echelon not without their, biggest achieved, season suffering acute anxieties Notts Countv punished lapses in the City defence. Indeed Birmingham let slip a two-goal lead given them by Bertschin, with an 18th minute header, and Curbishley (23) with a tremendous 25 yard free-kick gained impetus from the swirling wind. Their defensive work was found wanting when County hit back with two goals in five minutes. Mair side-footed home a centre by Hunt and the former exploited a slip by Broadhurst to send Christie for the break after Gallagher. equaliser five peanutes from However, Dillon, who responded well to the promptings of Curbishley and Gemmill, scored at crucial time- two minutes from the break--to send Birmingham in still ahead.

Dillon, operating more as an orthodox left winger than midfield man, often had the visiting defence in a tangle, but had trouble measuring his centre for the lively Bertschin and Givens, recalled for his first game since last November. Timely switch Jimmy Sirrell, the Notts County chief, made a timely substitution by sending on Hooks with 18 minutes to go. The player responded by forcing a tip away by Wealands which led to the equaliser, when Kilcline slotted home from a corner by Masson, who still can play the ball about the field accurately. and intelligently. So Birmingham had to hang on and in the final 10 minutes, before the jubilant crowd spilled onto the pitch clamouring for players and officials, regained the driving seat.

Certainly both sides, made it a great game to with plenty of good football to complement the thrills. Birmingham City. Wealands: Broadhurst. Lees, Curbishley, Gallagher, Todd, Ainscow, Givens, Bertschin, Gemmill, Dillon. Notts -Avramovic; Richards, Brien, Benjamin.

Stubbs, Kilcline, McCulloch. Masson, Christie, Hunt (Hooks 72), Mair. CHELSEA JUST HAVE TO WAIT By A Special Correspondent Chelsea 3, Oldham Chelsea kept their promotion hopes ticking over with style, but all they can do now is wait and hope. For Sunderland need just a point from their final home match against West Ham week, two days after the Londoners appear in the FA Cup final. Fillery scored with a fifthminute deflected free kick and Chelsea settled down to a fine display of relaxed football rewarded by' Walker scoring splendid 1 goals in the 37th and 77th minutes.

But the afternoon belonged ultimately to Ron Harris in nis 295th and last match for the club. He was presented with a gold sword by Wilkinson's and said: "I may not have been the greatest of footballers but I have given good service, and done better financially than players who have continuously moved clubs." Chelsea: Barota: Chivers, Rofe. Bumstead (Droy 64), Pates, Nutton, Britton, Fillery. Langley, Walker, Harris. Oldham: McDonnell; Hoolickin, Holt, Kowenicki, Clements, Blair, Heaton, Keegan, Steel, Stainrod, Atkinson.

Bishop again By BILL Cardiff 1, IF Sunderland are not Ray Bishop you can Cardiff striker scored the promotion last season; he could well have done a similar dark deed this Bishop scored the winner in a 2-1 Cardiff triumph at Roker on April 28. 1979, when Sunderland missed promotion by' one point. Bishop again was the Cardiff scorer as Sunderland were held to a Ninian Park which leaves them still needing a point. Hurst hoping And Sunderland will have meet West Ham in their final match next Monday without their reliable defender Jeff Clarke, who was carried off with damaged knee ligaments after a collision with his team colleague, Joe Hinnigan. of West Ham hovering It seems as though, the ghost over at the moment.

finalists' former goalkeeper, Peter Grotier, did Sunderland outright and ending all arguments on Saturday. 5 11 of Cardiff 'sinner' MEREDITH Sunderland 1 too kindly disposed towards hardly blame them. The goal that robbed them of Geoff Hurst. another former West Ham player, will certainly not be cheering Sunderland on in their last match. The Chelsea manager will be: hoping desperately that Sunderland slip to defeat to allow his own club to claim the last.

promotion place. There is yet another link with West Ham-and this one could work to Sunderland's advantage. Pop Robson, once the goal-scoring favourite at Upton Park, headed Sunderland's crucial 61stminute equaliser six minutes after Bishop had struck- and he looks sharp enough give his old team some headaches next week. But the biggest reason why should return to the First Division is only 5ft' 4in tall and is called Stan Cummins. The former Middlesbrough player, who was once described by Jack Charlton as the best prospect have seen," mesmerised the Cardiff defence.

Cardiff. Grotier: Grapes, Lewis, Campbell. Pontin, Thomas, M. Elliott, Bishop, Moore, Ronson, Harris. march, S.

Elliott, Arnott, Buckley, Hinnigan, Clarke 0 (Dunn 0 0 41min), HindSunderland. Turner: Whitworth, Brown, Robson, Cummins. 5 Larry May (No. 5) gives Leicester the Second Division Championship as he slams home the winning goal against Orient. Leicester's May day, By A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT Orient 0, Leicester 1 LEICESTER have deservedly Division title.

Their youth and experience cup-tie atmosphere at Brisbane Road to clinch the two points needed. They survived an early onslaught by a lively Orient attack looking for a quick breakthrough, which almost came in the seventh minute when Wallington had to fling himself sideways to palm away a header by Mayo. through in the 13th minute when Leicester made the breakMay raced 40 yards into the Orient box to fling himself forward and force in a free kick from Smith. took a firm grip for the remainder of the first half, playing some delightful football. In the closing stages, with the 10,000 Leicester supporters who made the trip to London already acclaiming their side as.

champions, they came close to adding another goal when Young was unlucky with a header. -Day; Fisher, Roffey, Taylor, Gray (Moores, 46), Hughton, Chiedozie, Jennings, Mayo, Parsons, Coates. Lelcester. Wallington: Williams, Scott, May, O'Neil, Byrne. Good(Henderson, 72), Young, Wilson, Smith.

Cross caps it for Hammers By ROGER MALONE Bristol Rovers 0, West Ham 2 BRISTOL both ROVERS treated and West this match as a rehearsal Rovers, under Terry Cooper, their new manager, giving several youngsters an airing for next season and Hammers preparing for Saturday's A Cup Final against Arsenal. Cooper, the former Leeds and England veteran who plans to play for another two seasons, said he had discovered his new centre half for next seasonMark Hughes, 18, a tall Welsh debutant who had to come off in the second half with sore knee. However, for all Rovers' honest endeavour, they were split too frequently to suggest anything but another hard campaign ahead unless, as Cooper hopes, his directors can scrape up the funds for him to buy two experi- 3 3 Cohen has a match to remember Liverpool Aston Villa 1 VI was obliged to wait until the last Saturday of the League season to play his first senior game in front of enough was packed into it to last him for years, writes Donald Saunders. After all, it is not every day of the week that an Israeli international makes his home debut in the Football League on the afternoon that his club wins the championship. Nor have many footballers, from any country, opened their acoount, in any league, with an own goal then balanced the books by scoring for the correct team, at the same minutes later.

Cohen's first goal did much to prevent this match developing into an anti-climax; his second put wavering Liverpool back on course for their fourth championship in five years. It is not difficult to imagine his feelings when he helped Linton's prodded shot into his own net, to put Villa level in the 25th minute. This untimely error. wiped out the lead Johnson had snatched, in the fourth minute, and seriously damaged the calm efficiency. of the champions' performance.

Signs of panic thendeed half, throughout there the were rest signs of of panic in the Liverpool ranks, as Shaw, Cowans, Geddis and Bremner threatened to frustrate their championship ambitions, just two days after Arsenal had ended their FA Cup hopes. But, five minutes after halftime, Cohen drove a low cross from Dalglish into the far corner of Villa's net, to restore Liverpool's lead and remind them that they were champions, facing a team of inexperienced youngsters. From that moment, Bob Paisley's men played the highly skilled, attacking football with which they, had opened the substantial mid-season points gap that, ultimately, proved a valuable insurance against Manchester United's late challenge. After Johnson had taken his season's haul to 27 with fierce shot in the 71st minute, Kennedy brought the game to. a rousing climax with a graceful header that Blake could only help into his own net.

Clemence: Cohen, Thompson, R. Kennedy, Hansen, Dalglish, Lee. Johnson, McDermott, Souness. Aston Villa. -Rimmer: Swain, Gibson, Blake, on Ormsby, Heard, Bremner, Shaw, Geddis, Cowans, Linton (Morley IPSWICH RUN ENDED AFTER 23 MATCHES By JOHN WHALLEY Manchester C.

2, Ipswich T. 1 Ipswich's unbeaten League run of 23 games was ended by a Manchester side that seemed determined, to ensure Malcolm their coach, keeps his job. City played with more confidence against a side, one time bottom of the table, who needed two points to be assured of a' UEFA Cup place. The swirling wind and a bone hard pitch resulted in misplaced passes and consequently. through balls were left more to fortune, than to judgment.

The conditions probably affected Ipswich's superbly balanced midfield and steady defence more than a City side, still in the process of rebuilding. But Bobby Robson, their manager, still envied, something City had- You would have thought it was a cup tie out he remarked. "They never stopped encouraging them throughout the game. If we had support like that I think we'd be winning every week. Our winning run is over but I've no complaints, and now I'm hoping we can still finish above Arsenal." Reeves had put City on their way with a third minute goal after good work by Henry.

The scorer returned the compliment in the minute when Henry hit the winner, In' between, Hunter headed home Muhren's cross. Manchester City: Corrigan, Reid, Power, Futcher, Caton, Henry, (Bennett 45). Mackenzie, Daley, Deyna, Sugrue, Reeves, Ipswich, Cooper, Burley, Mills. Thijssen. Hunter, Osman, Wark (McCall 52), Muhren, Mariner, Brazil, Gates.

Monday, May 5, 1980 BARRON BLOCKS COVENTRY 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 the Liverpool crowd, but SEXTON SETS TARGET FOR NEXT SEASON By DENIS LOWE Leeds United 2, Manchester United 0 ONCE Liverpool had taken matters into own hands, the ifs and buts of Manchester United's defeat hardly mattered and Dave Sexton promptly offered warm congratulations to the Anfield his side had chased fomen long. "I'm real pleased we were it able I'd to make fight of and like to think we can finish in front of Liverpool next season," commented the Trafford manager, whose team lost at Elland Road for the first time in seven visits. While Manchester has sufficient chances to win and conceded the second goal to a debatable penalty, most neutrals in 39,625 crowd would. take. the view that highly motivated Leeds side deserved the victory.

Parlane and Flynn linked up before the splendid Harris, a constant menace to Albiston, put over the centre which Parlane turned past Bailey in the 15th minute, and another surging run by the Welshman paved the way for the penalty 14 minutes from time. McQueen handled George Flint, the Notts referee, decided that McQueen had handled--rather than been hit by a Harris centre, and Hird, Leeds's leading scorer with eight goals, scored comfortably from the 'spot kick. With Manchester's defence often uncertain in the swirling wind, Cherry, Graham and Parlane. were close to adding further goals, but more scoring opportunities fell to the visitors after Buchan's departure. His thigh injury caused a reshuffle Leeds, United: Lukic, Hird, Cherry, Flynn, -B.

Greenhoff, Madeley. Harris, Chandler, 'Parlane, Stevenson, Graham. Manchester United: Bailey, Nicholl, Albistop. Mcllroy, McQueen, Greenhoff, Buchan (Ritchie 43), Coppell, Jordan, Macari, Thomas. The Daily Telegraph, 19 By ROBERT OXBY Coventry City 0, Arsenal 1 ARSENAL, likely omitting A Cup six final team, avoided injury and collected two points with an 87th-minute goal by Paul Vaessen, the youngster with the happy knack of winning matches in the closing minutes.

As against West Bromwich the previous week. Arsenal owed a great debt to Paul Barron, their reserve goalkeeper, who made a number of outstanding saves in a match that became something Coventry, of a none formed a guard: of honour as Arsenal came onto3 the pitch, made several chances but their opponents they found hard blustery wind and, pitch a problem. Blyth, the Coventry goalkeeper, wore track-suit trousers? a nificant comment on the British climate at the beginning of May. The afternoon was' reminiscent of the darkest days of winter. Thompson thwarted Thompson, City's striker, could have had at least three goals, but each time he was by point-blank saves from: Barron.

Although Arsenal were clearly. at half-pace, Walford had a splendid match as deputy for O'Leary and Talbot produced his traditional perpetual motion, performance in midfield. Arsenal should have gone ahead when Hollins centred" accurately for Talbot, but -his diving header went just wide In the 79th minute Davis replaced Price and seven minutes later he hooked wide with his left foot, The decisive goal came. when Talbot carved out a perfect opportunity for Vaessen, who stroked the ball Hunt, Dyson, Gillespie, Van Gool, Coventry. Blyth; Coop, Jacobs, Wallace, Thompson, Gooding.

Bannister. Arsenal, -Barron: Rice. Nelson, Taibot, Walford, Vaessen, Young, Gatting, land, Price (Davis 79), ATTENDANCES UP The weekend's Football League matches attracted a total attendance of 595,285, which showed a rise of 70.795 compared with the corresponding period last season. Details. including three matches on Friday, were: 1980 1979 Balance Div I 273,858 255,074 Div IT 152,474 148,839 3.635 Div Div IV 110,305 58,668 42,993 77,584 1 Totals 595,285 524.490 70,795 Alitalia Cup Dulwich victory marred By NEIL SCOTT DULWICH'S Alitalia Cup a bad-tempered affair, sent off and.

two others Isthmian League team won 3-1. A Dulwich official, John Lawrence, described the seen at the club's one of the most disgraceful" him ground. The Dulwich goals came from Lewis (2), who also missed a penalty, and Kingston. Dulwich won two and drew two of their qualifying group matches, but finished second to Sutton, the Cup holders, on goal difference. Sutton beat Mantova 6-0 and go into the final against Triestina in Italy on May 15 without conceding a goal.

Scorers: McKinnon (2), Cornwell, Southam, Rains and Rogers (penalty). Sutton share Dulwich's cern at the behaviour of the Italians and may decline to compete in future. Officials and. players were angry after a 2-0 win over Triestina last Wednesday in which three Italians were sent off and booked. Enfield champions Enfield are Berger Isthmian champions the, fourth time in five years after a 3-3 draw with Walthamstow, who finished runners-up.

Walthamstow 3-1 with goals by Sedgwick, Tappin and an own-goal. Enfield replied through King, O'Sullivan and Milne. Oxford City, managed by for. mer English captain Bobby Moore, are relegated from the Premier Division. game with Campobasso was in which two Italians were booked before he Berger FOOTBALL TODAY 7 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 Monday Soccer Commentary FRANCIS INJURY DENTS FOREST'S EUROPEAN HOPES By DONALD AS Liverpool enjoy qualifying for the fifth consecutive season, are wondering how their ing that trophy will be Trevor Francis.

Francis, English soccer's and widely regarded as the baller in the country, tore scoring twice against Crystal Palace on Saturday, and he had an operation to repair the damage in a Mansfield hospital yesterday. The operation has been successful, but it may take the injury to heal completely," said the surgeon afterwards. To case, Francis will miss England's European Championship campaign in Italy next month, as well as Forest's EuroCup final against Hamburger SV in Madrid three weeks next Wednesday. Ron Greenwood may also be his England squad for the SO obliged a to find a replacement in dependable Ipswich defender, Mick Mills, who suffered a double fracture of the right wrist during Saturday's match against Manchester City. The absence of Francis, who scored the only goal in last season's European Cup Final against Malmo, substantially reduces Forest's chances of beating.

Hamburg. Crucial role years. Will to win This season he has developed into a footballer of superstar quality, with England as well as Forest, and obviously would have played a crucial role for both teams in Europe. Whatever happens to Forest in Madrid, Fn-lish soccer will still powerfully represented in the European Cup next autumn by Liverpool. who have won the League title for the fourth time five seasons.

As Jimmy Adamson, manager Leeds, rightly points out, success comes most clubs in cycles, lasting, Dat most, six or seven "But that doesn't happen at Anfield," he emphasises. Thev are up there all the time and seem to have been so since the early '60s. This is not just a question of ability--above all, they have the will to win." Certainly, Liverpool believe in winning. To us, that is what soccer is all reaffirmed Smith, their chairman, after Saturdav's decisive victory over Aston Villa. That is why manager Bob is always seeking to strengthen his squad.

He knows that even. seemingly bottomless pool of players was insufficient to sustain a championship and FA Cup campaign together this spring. Moreover, competition from ambitious youngsters keeps the SAUNDERS the satisfaction of European Cup for the Nottingham Forest prospects of retainaffected by the loss of first £1 million player most accomplished footan Achilles tendon after Season's ups and downs DIVISION I CHAMPIONS: Liverpool. CUP TIVES Manchester Utd Wolves (League Cup winners) plus either AIRELESATED. Bolton, Bristol DIVISION II CHAMPIONS: Leicester.

PROMOTED Birmingham Sunderland or Chelsea. RELEGATED Charlton, Burnley, Fulham. DIVISION HI CHAMPIONS: Grimsby. PROMOTED Blackburn, Sheffield Wed. RELEGATED Wimbledon, Mansfield, Southend Bury or pool.

DIVISION IV CHAMPIONS Huddersfeld. Walsall, Newport Portsmouth. SEEKING RE-ELECTION: Rochdale, Crewe, Darlington Hereford or Port Vale. SCOTTISH LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Celtic. Premier Division.

RELEGATED: Dundee Hibs. Division I CHAMPIONS: Hearts. PROMOTED Airdrie. RELEGATED Arbroath Clyde. Division I CHAMPIONS: Falkirk.

PROMOTED: E. Stirling. regulars on their toes and strengthens the management's hand when the time comes for new contracts. to be negotiated with star players. after But, chatting with Mr Paisley the championship had been clinched, I gained the firm impression that he and his players want more than simply to succeed--they want to win their trophies handsomely.

We started to change after our first European Cup win in 1977 99 he said. 66 We have tried to play football, since then. attackingot this League, every does a lap of honour if they beat us. But we did it last autumn when we won 12 games in a row. That is the best we've played since I became manager- and that is how we want it to be." Can Mr Paisley see any other club say Ipswich, Nottingham Forest, Arsenal or Manchester United reaching Liverpool's standard? They are still having to play defensively.

like we had before that first European Cup final," he replied. 66 Change can come only gradually. You need time, patience and the right players." Divisions 1 Il Waldron helps Saints finish in style THERE were no half measures fewer than four teams went 10 sides failed to score- five of Division Ill (of SOUTHEND ARE PUSHED DOWN At. the bottom end of the table a second-half goal by Edwards meant that Hull stay 11p and that Southend, 1-0 losers, return to the Fourth Division next season. But Bury, surprising 2-1 victors at promoted Blackburn can still escape if they win their last game and Blackpool, who drew 0-0 at Chester, lose theirs.

Millwall goalkeeper Jackson played one of the best of his 600- odd League games when he produced a series of superb saves against Brentford but he was finally beaten by Funnell who exploited defensive mix-up. Reading let a point slip in a 1-1 draw, at Rotherham when Gooding levelled. right on the stroke of time, a. first half effort by Kearney. A goal from Sims was enough to give Plymouth victory at, Gillingham when he exploited rare lapse by goalkeeper Hillyard.

Division IV PORTSMOUTH PROMOTED Portsmouth are back in Division Three, thanks to a of goals by Davey and Purdietheir first this season League and a superior goal difference to Bradford. Portsmouth's win at Northampton was hard earned and took them to 60 points, level with the Yorkshire club who were beaten by a single Cliss goal in the next County at Peterborough. So City stay down. Lincoln signed off with a final flourish in the last League game. of the season at Torquay.

They rattled up five in a seven-goal night spectacular, but only 2,146 paid to see it. ALTRINCHAM TOP Altrincham, the first Alliance Premier League champions, will be nominated for Football League membership this summer after clinching the title with a 2-0 win at Gravesend. They aim for the double tonight when they meet Northwich in the second leg of the League Cup. DUTCH -Feyenoord 1, Roda JC 1- Utrecht 0. Twente 0- AZ Alkmaar 5, PEC 0- Haarlem 2.

NEC 1. NW Vitesse PSV 2- Go Haag 0 Ahead Ajax -1. 1. Tilburg Sparta 2. -Excelsior 1, Willem I Kick-off 3 unless, stated.

DIVISION I Arsenal Nottm in the First Division. No on a four-goal spree, but them at home. Liverpool course), Nottingham Forest, Norwich and Southampton were the on-target teams. There was an exciting five-goal second-half at Carrow Road, where Norwich finished 4-2 winners over Derby after leading by a single goal at the interval. Fashanu, Paddon and Woods added to the Norwich total, while McCaffrey and Swindlehurst scored Derby's last First Division goals for at least 15 months.

Southampton brought their home goal tally to 53, easily the best in the top two divisions with a convincing 41 win over Middlesbrough. Defender Waldron hit two of the goals penalty), Channon and Hayes added the others. Ramage scored 'Boro's consolation. Bristol City, already doomed to relegation, finished with a flash of defiance which earned them a 0-0 draw at Tottenham, while Bolton did the same, holding Woives to a goalless draw. There were no goals either at Brighton, where Everton were the visitors.

Not suprising, perhaps, when you remember that neither side has managed to reach 50 goals all season. Fulham hammered Fulham signed off from the Second Division with a hammering at Shrewsbury. a last effort by Mahoney gave Fulham a second goal. Kitchen had scored their first after Shrewsbury had scored at regular intervals through Biggins, Keay (penalty), and" Dungworth, Banton (own goal) King. Watford ended on a happy note, beating Burniey 4-0 at Vicarage Road with goals from Pritchett (2), Sims and Rostron, while Queens Park Rangers finished in the form that could have earned them promotion with a 3-1 triumph at Wrexham.

Only 3,672 supporters were scattered over the vast Valley terraces for Charlton's last home of the season. When Robinson put Charlton ahead half-time their loyalty looked like being rewarded. But goals from James his debut, and Giles for Swansea stopped their enjoyment. After half-an-hour Preston were two goals up at Cambridge and confident of achieving their fifth away win. After 90 minutes they were 3-2 behind following goals from Spriggs, Reilly and Christie.

Elliott and Elwiss had scored in Preston's early purple patch. ITALIAN Pescara Perugia Cagliari Udinese DIVISION I West Ham Charlton (7.30) DIVISION HI Hull Bury SCOTTISH LGE. Dive Hibernian Partick (7.30). CENTRAL Liverpool. FOOTBALL COMB.

Bristol Arsenal (2). ALLIANCE PREM Cup, Finial, Leg: Northwich Vic Altrincham (7.30). SOUTHERN L.GF. Midland Div: Bridgend Milton Keynes. PREM -Lancaster (7.30), Morecambe Oswestry, MIDLAND LGE.

Ashby Belper (6.30). BERGER ISTHMIAN LGE. Prem Tooting Mitcham Dagenham. Div Chesham Harwich. HITACHI CUP.

Final: Enfeld Sutton (Harrow Boro). KINGSMEAL ATHENIAN Dorking Windsor, Grays Marlow, Ruislip Levton-Wingate, Uxbridge Edgware, Welling Utd Chalfont St Woodford Banstead. LONDON SPARTAN LOB. Berkhamsted T. SE COUNTIES QPR- Ipswich (Harrodians gd, 2).

HANTS SNR, CUP. Final Replase Farnborough Newport I-o-W. Oxford TESTIMONIALS. Woodley: V. Oxford Utd: (7.30); Graham: Palace Chelsea.

-Barnet Luton, XI. RUGBY Lincee, 4 Derby Sevens (Beeston, 1). won their sixth Second an ideal blend of their. composure in. a Saturday's League soccer results and tables DIVISION I Bolton Wolves Brighton Everton Coventry Arsenal Leeds Man.

Utd Liverpool A. Villa Man. City Ipswich Norwich Derby Notts For. C. Palace Southampton Middlesbrough 'Spurs Bristol C.

A Stoke HOME AWAY' A DL A Pts Liverpl 41 15 6 0 046 8 10 4. 6 35 21 60 Man 42 17 3 1 43 8 7 22 27 58 Ipswich 42 14 4 3 43 13 8 5 8 25 26 53 Arsenal 39 8 9 3 24 12 9 6 4 26 18.49 A. Villa 42 11 5 5 29 22 9 7.22 28 46 Nottm 39 15 4 1 43 11 4 3 12 18:29 Sthmptn 42 14 53 7 10 12 29 45 Wolves 40 8 5 25 17 10 3 8 29 27 45 W.B.A. 42 9 37 23 11 8 17 27 41 Middlsbr 40 9 3 25 14 5 11 19 30 40 Leeds 42 10 4 30 17 7 11 16 33 40 Norwich 42 10 8 3 38 30 6 12.20 20 36 40 C. Place 42 9 5 3 26 13 amt 7 11 15 37 40 Tottnhm 42:11 30 22 5-12 22 40 Covntry 42 7 34 5 12 22 42 39 Brighton 42 8 00 25 20 7 11 22 37 37 Man Stoke 42 9 4 8 27 26 6 11 17 32 36 42 8 8 5 28 25 5 12 15 41 37 Everton 41 7 7.

7 28 25 2 10 8 15 25 35 Bristol 42 6 6 9 22 30 3 7-11 15 36 31 Derby 42 9 4 8 36 29 4 15 11 38 52 25 30 Bolton 42 5 11 19 21 4 17 19 ALLIANCE PREM Scarborough Leamington Barnet 1-Bath 1, 0-Gravesend 0. Altrincham 2- Maidstone 2 0-Nuneanton Bangor 2-Redditch Utd 0, Kettering. 1-Stafford 0. Boston mouth 2, Northwich Vic Wealdstone 0-Worcester 2, Telford 1-Yeovil 1, NORTHERN PREM -Burton Macclesfeld 3, Matlock 2-Frickley 2, 1-Lancaster 1. Goole -Morecambe 0-Marine 0, Buxton Gainsborough 2, Tamworth 3- 1 Runcorn 1.

Gateshead 1- -S Liverpool on 0. 2-Witton Moseley 2, Oswestry SOUTHERN Divi Banbury 1. Bridgend Taunton 1-Bromsgrove 2, Merthyr 0-Corby Wellingborough Enderby 0, King's Lynn 0-Gloucester 1, Alvechurch 1-Milton Keynes 3, Barry 0-Minehead 0, Cheltenham 2-Trowbridge 1. Kidderminster 2- Witney 2. Bedworth 0.

Southern Div: Addlestone Hounslow 1-Andover 0, Bognor Regis 0. Ashford 2. Salisbury 1-Aylesbury 3, Gosport 3. Crawley Fareham 2- Dorchester 2, Dartford 1- Dover 0. Hastings 1-Dunstable 5, Chelmsford 2-Margate 2.

Bast gstoke 0-Waterlooville 0, Canterbury 1. CENTRAL Aston Villa 1. Leeds 1-Burnley 2, Nottm Forest -Bury 2, Sheff Wed Man Utd 1. Liverpool 1- Preston 1, Coventry 3- IT 1, Blackpool 0-Stoke 1, WBA 0- Wolves 1, Bolton 1. DIVISION I Birmingham Notts Co.

Bristol R. West Ham Cambridge Preston Cardiff Sunderland Chariton Swansea Chelsea Oldham Newcastle Luton Orient Leicester Shrewsbury Fulham Watford Burnley Wrexham PR HOME AWAY WDLF A A PtS Leicster 12 5 4 32 19 8 4 26 19 55 Brmnghm 42 14 5 2 37 16 7 6 8 21 22 53 Chelsea 42 14 3 4 34 16 9 4 8 32 36 53 Sundrind 41 15 5 0 45 13 5 7 9 22 29 52 O.P.R. 42 10 9 2 46 25 9 29 28 49 Luton 42 9 10 2 36 17 7 7 7 30 28 49 W. Ham 40 12 2 6 33 20 7 5 8 17 20 45 Cinbrdge 42 11 4 40 23 3 10 8 21 30 44 Newestle 42 13 6 2 35 19 2 8 11 18 30 Preston 81 10 3 30 23 9 8 26 29 Oldham 42 12 4 30 21 4 6 11 19 32 43 Swansea 42 13 3 7 31 20 8 9 17 33 43 Shrwsbry 42 12 41 23 6 2 13 19 30 41 Orient 7 29 31 8 19 23 41 Cardiff 42 11 21 16 4 12 20 32 40 3 Wrexhm 13 26 15 3 14 14 34 38 Notts 42 6 24 22 7 4:10 27 30 37 Watford 42 9 8 4 6 33 27 23 18 2 3 14 17 12 28 37 Bristol 5 41 35 Fulham 42 6 4 11 28 5 3 13 23 46 29 Burnley 42 7 19 23 6 14 20 50 27 Charlton 41 6 6 9 25 31 0 4 16 13 43 22 FOOTBALL COMB. -Arsenal 3, Swindon 2- Palace 0, Norwich Fulham 0, Spurs 1-Ipswich 3, Orient 2-Oxford 3, Hereford 1.

MIDLAND -Boldmere 0, Bridgnorth 2- Chipping Norton 2, Northfield 0-Cinderford 0, Moor Grn 1 Coleshill 2, Oldbury 4-Highgate 2, Walsall Wood 1-Knowle 0, W. Midlands Police, 1-Mile 2, Solihull 2-Paget 1, Evesham -Racing Warwick 3, Cradley 1-Walsall Spts Co 2, Studley 2. WELSH LGE -Prem. Afan Lido 1, Pontllanfraith 1- -Barry Ammanford 0 Swansea -Lianelli 1, Merthyr 1, Maesteg 1. STH WALES CORINTHIAN LGE: Hirwaun 3, Penrhiwceiber 1, Kenfig Hill 1- rgoed Taffs Well 1- Cardiff CS 1, Liangeinor 1.

WESTERN LGE Cup Final 1st Leg: Devizes 0, Frome 0. WESTERN LGE. Prem Div: AFC Bournemouth Keynsham 2-Bridport. 0. Rar-staple 2- Clevedon 7.

Tiverton 0-Dawlish 2, Bridgwater 3, Ilminster 2-Welton Saltash 0- -Exeter 6, Clandown -Paulton 5. MIDLAND -Bridlington 2. Retford 0-Long Eaton 1, Boston 1. SE COUNTIES Div. Palace 0.

Norwich 1-Southend 1, Ipswich 2- West Ham 1, QPR 1. ESSEX SENIOR -Final: Dagenham 2 Harwich 1. DIVISION HI Blackburn Bury Blackpool' Chester Brentford Millwall Chesterfield Exeter Gillingham Plymouth Grimsby, Sheffield Hull Southend Rotherham Reading Sheff. Wed. Carlisle Swindon Barnsley Wimbledon Mansfield HOME AWAY A Pts Grimsby 46 18.

2 3 46 16 8 8 7 27 26 62 Blackbrn 46 13 5 34.17 12 4 7 24 19 59 Sheff 46 12 6 5 44 20 9 10 4 37 27 58 Chestrild 46 16 5 2 46 16 7 6 10 25.30 57 Colchstr 46 10 10 3 39 20 10 11 25 36 52 Carlisle 46 13 6 4 45 26 5 12 21 30 48 Reading 46 14 6 3 43 19 10 11 23 46 48 Exeter 46 5 4 38 22 5 13 22 46 48 Chester 46 14 6 3 29 18 13 20 39 47 Swindon 46 15. 4 50 20 4 15 21 43 46 Barnsley 46 10 6 29 20 7 10 24 36 46 Sheff 46 13 35.21 5 13 25 45 46 Rothrhm 45 38 22 6 12 20 42 46 Millwall 46 14 6 49 23 14 16 36 45 Plymth 46 13 39 17 15 20 38 44 Gillnghm 46 8 6 26 18 12 23 33 :42 Oxford 46 10 04 9 33 34 26 24 10 23 38 41 Brentfrd 46 10 7 13 26 47 41 Hull 45 11 4 29 20. 9 13 22 48 40 Blackpl 45 10 7 6 39 34 4 14 21 40 39 Southnd 46 11 6 6 33 23 3 4 16 35 38 Bury 45 10 4 9 30 23 3 14 14 36 37 Mansid 9 9: 5 31 24 7 15 16 34 36 Wmbldn 46 6 8 9 34 38 4.6 13 18 43 34 w. MIDLANDS -Armitage 0, Gresley 0-Brereton 3, Hinckley 1- Coventry 0, Halesowen -Dudley 1, Willenhall 2-Gornal 5, Darlaston -0 -Hednesford 0, Lye 0-Ledbury 5. Blakenall 3-Malvern 3, Bilston 0 -Tividale 4, Brierley HIll -VS Rugby 1, Sutton 2-Wednesfield 2, Shifnal 1.

BERGER ISTHMIAN -Prem. Div: Carshalton 3 Barking 0- -Enfeld 3 Walthamstow -Harlow 0 Staines 2' -Hayes 0 Oxford -Hendon Hitchin 1- -Tooting 1 Wycombe 2. Div 1: Epsom 2 Ware 1-Leytonstone I 2 Farnborough 1- -Met Police 3 Horsham 0. Div Billericay 5 Barton 1-Eastbourne Utd 3 Southall 0- Feltham 1 Letchworth Hemel 0 Lewes 1-Hungerford 1 Worthing 2. KINGSMEAD ATHENIAN -Edgware 1 Welling 3-Fleet 2 Hoddesdon -Harefield 1.

Dorking -Leyton 3 Chertsey -Redhill Ruislip 1- Woodford 3 Alton 2. Cup Final: Grays 2 Windsor 4. ALITALIA -Dulwich Hamlet 3, Campbasso 1- Sutton 6, Mantova -Folkestone 2, Triestina US LONDON SPARTAN -Chingford 3 Horley 0-Amersham 2 Faraham 0-Frimley 0 Berkhamsted 2. TOWN COUNTRY LGE. Chatteris 0 Braintree 1-Lowestoft 0 Tiptree 3 -Clacton 1 Saffron -Stowmarket 0 Yarmouth 2-Sudbury 3 Histon 0-March 2 Bury 2.

55 35 33 31 28 23 1 1 This check (1-55) applies to Littlewoods, Vernons, Zetters: DIVISION IV Aldershot Wigan Crewe Darlington Bournemouth Hereford Scunthorpe, Huddersfield Hartlepool Northampton Portsmouth Peterborough Vale 1 Port Doncaster Torquay 3 Lincoln Walsall Newport HOME AWAY DIL Hddrsild 46.16 2 61 7 5:40:30 66 Walsall 46 12 9 2 43 11 9 3 32 24 Newport 46 16 47 22 1. 36 28 61 Portsmth 46 15 5 3 62 23 917 7 29,26 60 Bradford 46 14 6 3 44.14 10 :6. 7 33 36 60 Wigan 46 13 5 42:26 8 8. 7.34:35 Lincoln 46 14 8 1 43 12 9 10 21 30153 Peterbro 46 14 3 6 39 22 7 9 19,25,52 Torquay 46.13 7 3 47 25 2 10 11 23 44 47 Aldersht 45 10 6 6 35 23 11 27 30 Brnemth 46 8 9 6 32 25 9 20 2614 Doncster 11 37 27 11 25 36 44 Nthmotn 46 14 33 16 14 18 50 44 Scunthrp 11 9 3 37 23 6 14 21 52 43 Tranmre 45 10 9 32 24 10 18 32:40 Stock prt 46 9 30 31 5.13 18 41 York 8 35 34 5 13 30 48 39 Halifax 46 11 3 29 20 4 17 17 52 39 P. Vale 46 8 6 9 34 24 6 13 22 46 36 Hartlepl 46 10 7.

6 36 28 2 3 16 23 36 38 Daringtn 46 7 11 5 33 26 2 15 17 48: 35 Crewe 10 6 7 25 27 ODD 15 10 41 35 Herefrd 45 8 8 22.21 13 14 Rochdale 45 6 7 9 20 26 1 16 13 51.27 SCOTTISH Prem. Div. Hibs Aberdeen Partick Rangers St Mitren Celtic HOME AWAY DL A PS Abrdeen 35 10 4 9 5. 3:37.17 4 Celtic 36 13 3 2 44 17 5172f 47 St Mirrn 35 5 2 33 22 7 7 19 26 Dndee 36 9 7 2 23 6. 9 20.24:37 Rangers 35 11 5 2 29 16 4 26 37 Morton 36.

4 5 24 5 4 9 36, Partick 34 6 7 4 23 21 4 6 7 18 25 53 Kimrnck 36 7 6 5 19 19 4 5 9 17 Dundee 36 9 3 6 33 30 1 3 14:14 43:26 Hbrnian 35 6 7 23 30 0 216 6:36 18 UTD. COUNTIES LEAGUE. Ampthill 0, Rothwell 1-Bourne Stewart 2- Buckingham Eynesbury 0-Holbeach Kempeton 1-Irthlingboro 2, Wolverton Olnev 2. Stamford -Potton -Wootton 51 Northampton Spencer St. Neots 2.

COLD SHIELD HELLENIC LGE. Prem Div: Didcot 4, Kidlington Forest Green, 1. Moreton 1-Northwood 2. Fairford 1. S.

MIDLANDS L.GF.Leighton 2, Pirton 2-Shillington Royston 2. no SCHOOLS UNDER-19 INTNTL. land 0, Enoland 1 (Dumfries). ENGLISH SCHOOLS -Final Est-leg: Middlesbrough 1 Reading 0. enced campaigners- one for midfield, the other up front.

John Lyall, Hammers' manhas a more immediate problem--which 11 players to pick, for Wembley. He has permed from 15 during their last (six games. Regulars Brooking and Brush were rested at Eastville and Pearson was missing with slight back trouble, but he may play in tonight's match against Charlton. Holland's ankle, however, is reported unlikely to mend in time for Wembley. Devonshire, the new England recruit, lifted Hammers out of an uneasy beginning by rifling home the first goal from 25 yards after 56 minutes and Cross's header sealed the result 20 minutes later.

Bristol Rovers: Thomas: Bater, Hughes (Wiliams 55), Mabbutt, Grimths, Barrowclough, Pulis, Penny, Bates, Barrett. West Ham: Parkee: Lampard, Stewart, Bonds, Martin. Devonshire, Allen, Morgan, Pike, Neighbour. -Ascoli 2, Juventus 2. Avellino 1-Roma 0, Inter -Milan -Napoli Torino 1, Bologna Lazio T-19a Catanzaro.