The Observer from London, Greater London, England • 42

OBSERVER SUNDAY 12 MAY 1991 42 North London's twin powers: Patrick Barclay assesses the prospect of a joyous FA Cup finale to Tottenham's troubled show pw mh ft )0(al thine run leading to the decisive shot. But everyone took part in a riveting discovery of inspiration through perspiration. THE MAGIC of the FA Cup final may have been lost somewhere amid the proliferation of roads leading to Wembley, but every now and again along comes a prospect so alluring as to restore the season's climax to its former glory. Such a prospect is six days distant. The meeting of Tottenham and Nottingham Forest has something, surely, for everyone.

It is, in all likelihood, Gazza's last stand before we lose him to Lazio. It is Brian Clough's first experience of the occasion. It ought also, given the styles of the clubs, to be a very fine football match, carrying the nearest you can get to a guarantee of goals; Spurs and Forest have played each other nine times since Terry Venables arrived at White Hart Lane, and neither has managed a single clean sheet. For the Londoners, undoubtedly, the stakes are higher. You would not bet life savings against Clough, at 56 a grandfather figure, returning with his young, developing side.

But Spurs in their current incarnation seem doomed unless the Cup sends them into Europe and persuades someone with real money to realise Venables's dream of a takeover. Fortunately for them and their supporters, footballers can be at their best amid such adversity. After months of nagging uncertainty, during which Arsenal hogged the football headlines, Spurs produced a magnificent performance against their great rivals in the semi-final at Wembley. Paul Gascoigne, although nowhere near match-fit after his abdominal operation, was at his most Bothamesque before being pionship (twice) and Cup successes. Yet Mabbutt recalls: 'It was a difficult decision.

'We had just got to the FA Cup final and League Cup semifinal, and finished third in the League. With our squad, and the formula developed under David Pleat, I considered us capable of emulating Liverpool. So I signed a five-year contract. Within three months the manager had left and about seven of the squad followed. People expected miracles of Terry, but it doesn't happen like that.

He's taken time to get the players and style he wants. 'I don't think we're far away, now, from being able to sustain a challenge for the Championship if the squad's kept together. My concern is that it will be ripped apart because of the club's financial plight. As captain, I am resigned to our losing Paul Gascoigne in the next year or two. Regardless of the club's position, he will go to the Continent.

But he needs time to mature, and the club needs time to adjust to his leaving a natural One has the feeling events, again, are conspiring against a good professional. Like Lineker, whose years of predatory distinction are hardly reflected by two medals won at Barcelona, Mabbutt has not yet obtained the honours he deserves: one Uefa Cup medal, courtesy of Tony Parks's penalty saves against Anderlecht in 1984. His big disappointments, though, came at international level, when Bobby Robson left him out of the 1986 World Cup and 1988 European Championship squads; rumours that diabetes had counted against him only deepened the frustration. But there is still time. His recent restoration by Graham Taylor for the visit to Turkey brought a reminder that he is only 29.

National squads need long running drama at White Hart Lane (clockwise from left): Lineker, Mabbutt, Gascoigne and Venables charm of his side, though he is bound to have a word about Gazza who, skilfully nursed by Venables since it became obvious that the Cup was Spurs' only hope of salvation, destroyed three Second Division sides before turning his attention to ArsenaL There are several others capable of turning a match: for Forest the extraordinary young Roy Keane, for Spurs the clever, adaptable David How-ells, who scored twice at the whatever plans Venables, that most astute tactician, may lay. Venables, in the semi-final, directed his men to stifle the Arsenal full-backs, Lee Dixon and Nigel Winterburn, and oblige Tony Adams and Steve Bould to try to play the ball out of defence. Now the task is to stop Stuart Pearce's forays from the back, and Nigel Clough's wanderings. Brian Clough may simply tell his players to keep passing until they can shoot, which is the (fiTDipsitr's best Leading players in the such men. Mabbutt has played 13 times for England, at centre-back and in mid-field.

He is a genuine all-rounder in the original cricketing sense. He most enjoys attacking from midfield, where he was once regarded as Bryan Robson's successor, and is proud that on his only appearance as a Spurs striker he scored the two goals that gave them victory over Birmingham, but has been content to pilot the side through recurrent storms Saunders, with nil support', still contrived to show why they will be queueing up at the Baseball Ground to entice the striker out of the clutches of Captain Bob. What -he could do adequate service and a better -class of companion is mouthwatering. It was fitting that Luton's last game on their unloved plastic pitch should be a relegation-avoiding victory, as that is how they have spent most of their time on it. Next season the grass that will grow again on Kenilworth Road may be greener.

The called to fidget and frolic on the bench. Gary Lineker, that specialist in small, unceremonious goals, actually beat a man in what was, for him, a labyrin THE HEAD of Mick Harford, which has figured in most of the memorable moments of Luton's recent history, once again rose to the occasion and played its part- in keeping them in the First Division for another season. The irony is that he now wears the shirt of Derby County and when, two minutes before half-time, his head beat all others to Preece's free-kick the ball was sent flying into the net guarded by his own keeper, Shilton. That own goal meant that Luton had gained some reward The captain, Gary 'Mabbutt, says he has never known such pressure in the build-up to a match, nor such sublime satisfaction in a final whistle. 'We were very wound says Lineker.

'Everyone just went for it as if their lives depended on You may wonder what two nice, matter-of-fact boys like these are doing in a situation like this, but then they were not the only ones to have thought, at various times over the past few years, that Spurs were on the verge of something rather more positive than an assault on the First Division indebtedness championship. Lineker arrived from Barcelona only days before Chris Waddle was sold to Marseille. He sought reassurance and was told the proceeds, 4.25 million, would be ploughed into the team. Instead they went into a pit whose bottom has yet to be reached. He has no idea where he will be next season but as England captain, determined to lead his country at 31 in the European Championship, cannot afford to stand still.

Last summer, after Lineker had confirmed his world class, Spurs rejected 3 million from Torino. They may shortly have to settle for the 1.5 million envisaged by Real Madrid. Everton, Leeds and an Italian club are also interested in providing his next challenge. Mabbutt has more cause to ponder the wisdom of faith in Spurs, though he seems philosophical enough about spuming Liverpool after the 1987 FA Cup final defeat against Coventry. Kenny Dalglish said he was one of three players wanted at Anfield.

The others were John Barnes and Peter Beardsley, who went on to share in Cham Bob Houston at Kenilworth Road Luton Town Derby County .2 for the sweat and exertion of a first half that had started shakily for them with Chamberlain having to pull off the save of the afternoon from Harford after only six minutes. The Luton keeper had to be in heroic mood again in the last 10 minutes when Wright rattled his crossbar with a header but by then the Hatters were safe derland fans could not resist one more rousing chorus of 'By far the greatest team the world has ever seen', in flagrant disregard of the empirical evidence. The First Division can only be the poorer for lack of such traditional City seemed unable to decide whether to take the game seriously. They took an early lead when Quinn was allowed a ridiculous amount of space in the penalty area from Hendry's Steve Tongue at Boundary Park Oldham Athletic 3 Sheffield Wednesday 2 Oldham's football has remained so generously open that their League matches have yielded a total of 136 goals, for and against, which is 42 more than those revered entertainers in East London. Wednesday have scored, and conceded, almost as many.

Having snatched relegation from the warm embrace of safety a year ago, they went into this game knowing that no unlikely combination of results could bring tears this time. Newsome made a rare appearance in defence and Watson, the latest signing from their nursery club, Charlton, was given a full Yiriio om THE end of term and it's just like school. Those who won prizes last year did so again as the last Saturday of the season brought out bumper crowds. Southend, Grimsby and Cambridge, all promoted from the Fourth last year, went up together for the second successive season, although Cambridge, who progressed via the play-offs last time, did it in style long-ball style by winning Sad Sunderland sing without trace from the middle of the defence. Captain, it might be said, is his natural position.

Having in his previous FA Cup final been credited with goals for both sides, including the one that won a marvellous match for Coventry, Mabbutt might like a dull victory this time. But the chances, happily for the rest of us, are slim. Spurs will again be pumped full of adrenalin and Forest, ending their season on a tide of exuberance, are unlikely to be quelled Harford: Own goal operative on the electronic scoreboard seems to think so. His last message for the 1990-91 season, when it was declared over by George Courtney's whistle, was 'Now for the Championship'. ond goal before the interval in similar circumstances to the first, with Quinn again shooting low past Norman.

News from elsewhere rendered the second half an anti-climax and Sunderland were not unduly concerned about White's winner in the final minute. The visiting fans insisted on Sunderland returning, to the pitch at the end for a lap of honour. They'll support them evermore. 1 watch them next season. The decline and fall of West Brom in the West Midlands has been mirrored by Leicester in the East Midlands, and if WBA had avoided the drop, Leicester would have gone down instead.

Like West Brom, Leicester have never played in the Third, and their 1-0 win over Oxford ensured their safety. More than 19,000 flocked to Filbert Street to see whether Gordon Lee's men could wriggle out of trouble. They did, thanks to a first-half goal from Tony James. At the other end of the table, Middlesbrough, Brighton and Barnsley were all chasing the two remaining play-off places. At 4.30 in the afternoon Bary nsley, beating Middlesbrough 1-0, were in the play-offs.

By 4.40 they were out. Brighton scored in the last minute to beat Ipswich 2-1 and despite Bar-nsley's victory, Middlesbrough and Brighton made it. In the Fourth, it was the tightest finish for years, but Darlington, promoted from the Conference last season, emerged from the dogfight as champions after beating Rochdale 2-0. Stockport, Hartlepool and Peterborough join them in the Third. Stockport, the League's highest scoring club, made it 84 goals this season by slamming Scunthorpe 5-0.

Scunthorpe City Ground early in the season when he was playing as prominent a part as Gascoigne, Lineker or anyone else in making his side look plausible challengers for the Championship. He returned from injury just in time to help them into the final. I thought Arsenal would win that day. I cannot pick a winner now and, anyway, have not the taste, given Spurs' plight and Forest's" contribution to the cause of real football, for picking a loser. ssoM lobbed, over the Ogrizovic but failed to reach, the before it rah out; of Smith and Merson were all guilty of weak finishing.

But against that Seaman had to make a fine point-blank save from Gynn and was fortunate once when a corner went through his hands, bouncing across 'the goal any Coventry player managing tar make contact It was possibly an' indication of Arsenal's fragile nerves when they brought oh an extra defender Linighan for Merson with 20 minutes left and the score poised at 2-1'. Smith made the game safe with a third goal in the 76th minute, keeping his head his nerve as he ran on alone to a Hillierpass. 1 Coventry had had chances of their own until that stage but. were totally swept aside as Limpar scored his hat-trick. He crashed in a Campbell cross' in the 79tii and in the 86tivmes merised the hapless Ogrizovic before getting his own third and Arsenal's fifth- And there was still time for substitute Groves to complete the scoring a couple of minutes later.

to the keeper, who had been, rapturously acclaimed beforehand as the club's Player of the Year. But the same could not be said when Couhty scored a second goal after 26 minutes. Draper shot speculatively from 20 yards and the lanky. Czech, whose outstanding season has been dotted with moments of bizarre failing, simply stood and watched the ball pass by the post- the inside of the post. Dowie raised home hopes with a deflected shot off the bar after 35 minutes, but it was an isolated threat in a half which degenerated into expressions of West Ham frustration.

Just after the hour the home side, who had brought on McAvennie and Keen at half-time, were reduced to 10 men as Foster went off with a cut head after a challenge by Regis. By then, however, news that Oldham were 1-0 down had calmed the proceedings, and West Ham had loosened up. With 12 minutes left, Parris drove home Keen's cross and, two minutes later, Bishop headed a Parris cross against the bar. At the final whistle the confused West Ham players, some with arms raised, sprinted off and. the crowd sprinted on to await the awarding of a trophy which was about to disappear up the Ml.

Somewhere in the nulling throng were two newly-weds in full wedding dress who had cancelled their reception to watch the match. Their team ended up as the bridesmaids. and secure in the First Division for what will be their tenth season. Elstrup's lunge to head firmly past Shilton in the 47th minute had meant that the whole of Kenilworth Road could breathe easily. Derby, already doomed, never offered more than token resistance after Harford and McMinn had tested Chamberlain in those opening minutes.

The visitors' midfield was a pallid affair compared with Luton's hyperactive Preece and Rees. Up front, McMinn had seemed eager but was to disappear injured at half-time. Paul Wilson at Maine Road Manchester City 3 Sunderland 2 free-kick. But then they sat back and watched as Sunderland raised their supporters' spirits with two goals in five minutes. Their equaliser was worthy of any First Division side.

After debut in place of his South London predecessor, Williams. Neat and assured on the ball, he did much unselfish running off it to make the room for Hirst, who might have had four goals before half-time but had to settle for one. That came in the first 90 seconds, a header bouncing in off the far post. Wednesday supporters, infiltrating the home end, caused a four-minute hold-up as they were escorted the length of the pitch to join 3,000 soul mates. They saw Hirst clip two shots wide of the far post and have another blocked by Hallworth's foot before Wilson doubled the lead in the 50th minute.

Wor-thington's cross from the left was not cleared and his fellow Northern Ireland international scored with a fizzing 20-yard half volley. Then Oldham started playing. EN VIEW of the scoreline it is. going to sound, ridiculous that. -Arsenal learned the first lesson of Championships by finding out that no one is going to make life easy for them.

But that was definitely the way of it for most of the match which became Highbury's most exciting game of the season. For much of the Coventry played with a spirit and an intelligence that kept Arsenal on a knife-edge of indecision until the last 15 minutes. It was only then that Arsenal ran riot with four superb goals, including the completion of a spectacular hat-trick by Limpar with a goal reminiscent of the great Georgie Best. There was no hint of this climax for most of the match with Coventry so dangerous at the start it became ironic that then-intense resistance should end with one of their own players scoring Arsenal's first goaL The central defender Peake was stretching desperately to prevent a Merson cross reaching the charging Campbell when he deflected it instead past his own keeper. It was Limpar, always the liveliest Arsenal forward, who scored THE SECOND Division trophy gleamed tantalisingly inside the main Upton Park stand; an all-ticket crowd of 26,551 prepared for the celebration party which had been postponed until promotion was followed by championship; and verily, the law of sod came to pass.

West Ham, jaded and fractious, were soundly beaten by a County side who will hit the play-offs on the back of seven consecutive wins, and Oldham's last-minute victory deprived them of the presentation around which the whole afternoon had been built. Billy Bonds, West Hams manager, was told initially that Oldham had drawn 2-2, which would have given his team the title by a point. 'We only heard the news after we had slapped each other on the he said. 'So it was a little bit The now contest the play-offs for the third time in four years. Hartlepool nobbled Northampton's play-off chances with a 3-1 home win, while Peterborough came from behind for their I7th draw of the season, 2-2 at Chesterfield, with a 73rd-minute equaliser.

That goal ensured that Blackpool, second in the table at the start of play, must battle it out in the play-offs. Walsall's Prank McGhe at Highbury Arsenal 6 Coventry City 1 their second after another central defender, this time Pearce, had blundered and failed to intercept cleanly. The same man played a vital part in Coventry's comeback; goal, heading against the bar twice after Seaman uncharac-teristically failed to clear a Woods corner. Gallagher, Coventry's outstanding player, finally forced it in. It all happened during a three-minute spell which also contained another Arsenal goal claim.

Smith was convinced that his shot from a Campbell cross had crossed the line before Ogrizovic grabbed it and dragged it back. Arsenal, if not the most exhilarating team in the League, are, by a considerable distance, the most efficient and they tightened their grip to have most of the better scoring chances in the second half. Campbell alone missed four, the best of them when he Mike Rowbottom at Upton Park West Ham United .1 Notts County 2 Hammers fens, who had swarmed on to the pitch, rallied loyally but their cheers had a dutiful ring. The North Bank had broken out the Bubbles song well before kick-off, but the home side were fading and dying as early as the sixth minute when their defence was split clean down the middle by Johnson, who then shot feebly. Ten minutes later, Harding pulled the ball back from the right to Johnson, who transferred it to the unmarked Draper, and his shot beat Mik-losko low to his right.

No blame could be attached Ian McParland would be well advised not to spend his summer holiday there after his goals sank the Seasiders 2-0. Burnley beat bottom club Wrexham 2-0 in front of another crowd at Turf Moor and left the Welshmen thankful there was no relegation. Burnley's faithful must now make the trek to Torquay for their play-off semi-final. Torquay defeated York 2-1. pQDU 40 minutes spent naively failing to flummox City's offside trap, Sunderland finally managed to elude it through Pascoe.

Kay slid behind the home defence and his firm cross from the byline was gloriously met by Gabbiadini's head. Thus encouraged, Sunderland took a shock lead in the 45th minute when Davenport's deflected shot left Bennett an easy header at the far post. But they contrived to concede a sec BEING PERFECTLY honest about it, any team that loses at home to the likes of Woking during the course of the season should not be surprised to find themselves relegated when the day of reckoning comes. That day finally came for West Bromwich Albion when their 1-1 draw at Bristol Rovers was not enough to save them from the Third Division for the first time in their 112-year history. There is no doubt that West Brom, unbeaten in nine matches, have improved recently under new manager Bobby Gould, but the English champions of 1920, founder members of the League and five times Cup winners will have to rebuild their future at places like Darlington, Exeter and Hartlepool come August.

It should at least give the club's president, one Bert Milli-chip, the chance to see how the other half lives if he goes to hats and scarves went up in the air at Blundell Park as John Cockerill's goals gave Grimsby a 2-1 win over Exeter, and promotion, in front of an appreciative 14,225. The Mariners, boasting the division's best defensive record, went up through a better goal difference and left unlucky Bolton to fight it out in the playoffs again with Tranmere and Bury, as they did last year: IF POINTS were awarded for class from the terraces instead of on the pitch, Sunderland would have few worries about First Division survival. Sadly, they are notj and despite the presence of the most numerous, boisterous and insanely optimistic travelling support in the League, the Wearsiders will return to the Second Division whence they came. But even in bidding farewell to the First Division, the Sun OLDHAM ATHLETICS last open-top bus ride through town a year ago became a consolation prize at missing out in the League Cup Final, the FA Cup semi-final and the Second Division promotion chase. This evening's will celebrate not just a return to Division One after 68 years but the championship itself, captured in the most dramatic fashion with a penalty two minutes into injury time.

Aware that West Ham were in trouble, the home supporters refused to let Oldham lie down even when they fell 2-0 behind to Hirst and Wilson. Marshall halved the deficit on the hour, knocking in Barlow's cross at the second attempt. With 10 minutes to play, Bernard's low drive was deflected in off Nils-son, depriving Wednesday of the runners-up position. Then, in Oldham's last fling, Sheridan tripped Barlow and Redfearn, a second-half substitute, found, himself taking a penalty which would win or lose the title. He placed it wide of Pressman's right hand to earn a place in Latic folklore and round off an astonishing two years in the history of Oldham Athletic FC.

Improving last season's improbably poor haul of only four away wins to eight had effectively quashed accusations that Joe Royle's side could only play on plastic, as well as providing the foundation for promotion. Not through any 1 joyless functionalism either: ttDue aip aimd nop cpett ftlheair Second! cDnaimce John McKeown the title with a 2-0 home win over Swansea. The celebrations went a bit flat at Southend, though, as Brentford booked their play-off ticket with a 1-0 victory and scuppered the Shrimpers' title hopes. However, the.