The Observer from London, Greater London, England • 81

14 May 2000 The Observer www.footballunlimited.co.uk 6 Barnsley run rampant as Blues flounder while Stoke hold on to slim lead GazzaandJoondalup THE BIGGEST NEWS of the week was almost Gazza's on-loan transfer to the Western Australia Soccer League side Joondalup city. It would hardly have been the most glamorous move of a career that has taken in the likes of Lazio, Rangers and Spurs, but it would hawo hari ttc Gills beaten but not out yet Joondalup, an aboriginal name which translates as 'place of glistening water', is a suburb of Perth, on Australia's west coast, and it is known for its large British expatriate population. The team's manager, Paul Simmons, was bom and bred inTyneside, which may explain his eagerness to teil the world about Gazza's imminent arrival 'We are towards the end of he said How big is this for Australian 'It would be a huge boost for Australian says George Pendrigh, editor of ritish Soccer Week, a Perth-based magazine sold in newsagents across Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. 'I'm not sure if it'll happen, but this is a lovely part of the world and I'm sure that he would enjoy his time I'm sure he would. Perth not only boasts some of the best fishing around (Gascoigne is a renowned angler), but there's also the Swan Valley wine-growing region and mi le upon mi le of beautiful beach.

And while the area might not be world renowned for its footbal it's good enough to attract soccer academies run by Southampton and West Ham, which would share Gascoigne's home stadium, the Arena Joondalup. Perhaps it's about time that, having creamed off much of Australia's best talent, we send them some of our own. Although it's less certain if Gazza still qualifies. And it's less certainstill that he'll begoing. 'I couldn't believe what I was said Bryan Robson when he heard the 'news', 'I have never even heard of He has now, but maybe that was the point.

Dyer straits: Barnsley's Bruce Dyer shrugs off Birmingham defenders to score his side's second goal in their stunning 4-0 play-off victory at St Andrews. Photograph by PA Swap seats for summer in slammer TOUTS AND HOLDERS of black market Euro 2000 tickets face fines of up to threeyears in jail, organisers warned this week. by the holder's name: police have warned that rigorous identity checks should prevent any ticket transfer. 'Do not buy tickets on the black market and do not sell your they warn. 'Those who do, risk fines and jail terms of six months to three Some97percentofthe 1.2m available tickets for the 31 games have already been sold, with the remainder set to be assigned in the next few weeks.

So for everyone who landed seats for Slovenia Norway in last year's ticket lottery and had been hoping to sell them on enjoy the game. Mom mm km Birmingham City Hague 'listens with interest' FAT LES (left) may have won the vote to record England's official Euro 2000 song, but one of the rejected artists isn'tgiving up. Billy Arthur's 'An English MillenniumAnthem' was spurned by the FA in favourof the Jerusalem remix-but Arthur believes his song remains a candidate for a new 'motivating, unifying English National Anthem'. So far he has sent copiestoWilliam Hague (left), Tony Adams, the England squad, national radio stations, and to us. Adams sent goals in such a vital said Trevor Francis.

'But how do you legislate for such a result? Unfortunately, the pressure got to several Birmingham players who could not respond to the In a woeful first half with just a single attempt on Kevin Miller's goal, it took only 11 minutes for the home side's Premiership aspirations to be put into perspective by that one-time terror of the top flight, Neil Shipperley. The burly striker still looks slow on the turn, but if you give him the time, as Birmingham did when he picked up a loose ball just outside the area, he has no problem hitting the target. Barnsley could hardly believe their luck. Not only were they off to a dream start, but St Andrews was silenced and thoroughly demoralised. The visitors lost Robbie van der Laan to practically the first challenge of the game, and then lost his replacement Thomas to Martin O'Connor's hideously late challenge, yet Barnsley Shipperley 12, Dysr A8 60, att: 26,492 Paul Wilson at St Andrews DAVE BASSETT TOOK a step towards an eighth football league promotion when Barnsley buried Birmingham City's play-off hopes without recourse to the now superfluous second leg at Oakwell.

Two-goal substitute Bruce Dyer was the hero, yet he might not even have figured had Birmingham not fouled Geoff Thomas out of the game. This was definitely not what the home chairman David Gold had in mind when he suggested two goals should be enough to book a place at Wembley. Whether either of these sides has a realistic chance of claiming he had 'listened with interest'- but Arthur won'tstop until the CDmakesitbig.He'ssetupawebsiteatvvww.fa7artf7ur.comand we've Escort fillies chase horses A FLOCK OF HIGH-CLASS escort girls have taken to targeting wealthy race-goersatChesterafterexhaustingthefootball-fan market The ladiesfram La Femme Escort Agency handed out flyers to binocular-carrying punters at the three-day meeting last week. John O'Brien, theagency boss, said the Liverpool-based firm had a history of attending big sporting events: 'We already target big football matches and did a lot of business during Euro But this is the first time we've hit the races so we'll have to wait and see what kind of a i response we Mr O'Brien denied the girls were lowering the tone. They are very up market ladies and they weren't asked to New Italian shirts: 'Great for the ladies' i ITALY HAVE LAUNCHED a brand newstripfor Euro 2000-a skintight outfit designed to prevent shirt-pulling by opponents, and, say the makers, to 'appeal to young ladies'.

The high-collared azure blue outfit, made from lycra, allows players to reach the ball even when their shirts are being tugged. 'It also makes it easier for referees to see when a shirt is being says designed Marco Boglione. The commercial clincher, though, is the unisex appeal. 'Ourshirt stretches to accommodate all the curves of the says Boglione, 'making it perfect for the ladies. We also studied the idea of making skintight shorts too, but in the end decided against if Theshirt will make it's defenders, or perhaps Birmingham simply need to improve their defending.

After 59 minutes, Eric Tinkler beat what Birmingham were hoping was an offside trap by prodding the ball forward into the space between Myhre and his back-line, for Dyer to supply an almost identical finish to his first. "We have high hopes of the future if we can build on this performance," said Bassett. 'We just have to complete the job in the second leg. I never realised Barnsley have never been to Wembley so this result puts us within sight of As Craig Hignett wrapped up the scoring four minutes from the end, the only consolation for the Blues, was that away goals no longer count double. Birmingham: Myfire, Purse (Ndlovu Hoidsworth, O'Connor, Grainger, Hughes, Johnson (Marcelo 46), Lazaridis, A Johnson, Furlong (Adebo'a 73).

Subs not used: B3SS, Gili. Barnsley: Miller, Brawn, Morgan, Eadsn, Barnard (Barker 88), Tinkler, Appleby, Hignett, Van der Laan Thomas 2, Dyer 29), Shipperley, Subs not used: Sheron, Bullock, Referee: Halsey (Hertfordshire). behind Liddle was negligible, yet referee Barry Knight chose only to caution the defender after consulting an assistant. And so what happens next? Liddle, reprieved and relieved, emerged as the game's dominant defensive figure and scored the opening goal with a meaty half volley in the 36th minute. Hartlepool manager Chris Turner, whose side were on the brink of going out of the league 12 months ago, said: 'We blitzed them, but badly needed a goal.

We will go to Darlington on Wednesdav with our heads held Hartlepool: Hollund, Barren, Lee, Westwacd, Amison (Dibble Stephenson, WiMer, Clark, Coppinger (McAvoy 73, Beavers (G.Jones 46), Midg'ey. Subs not used: Rupatrick, Shfton. Darlington: Collect, Liddle, TutiM, Bnrrp.ve-!:, Gray, Oliver; Heaiey INy or 73), Hiorth fed 35, Duffie'c! f-Naga-i 73), Gabbiadini. Subs not used: Atfchscn, Porter. Referee: Knight 'Orpington).

Stoke City Gbrinlaugssen lr LigMtooi-rne Thorn? fc7 Gillingham Gooden 16r Hessentfiaier 90 3 2 Duncan Mackay at Britannia Stadium GILLINGHAM, THE PLAY-OFFS and injury-time goals seem destined to be wedded together. Last year in the final they were on the receiving end when Manchester City scored twice late on to force extra time and eventually win on penalties. This time, the roles were reversed and it was Andy Hessen-thaler's last-gasp goal which could prove decisive. There were 95 minutes on the clock when the Gills player-coach fired in a 20-yard shot which means his side must overcome only a one-goal deficit in the second leg at Priestfield on Wednesday. Few among Stoke's biggest crowd for two years would have given Gillingham much chance of that after just seven minutes.

Perhaps it was the shock at again finding themselves in the play-offs which caught the Gills stone cold from the kick off, but, just 25 seconds had elapsed when Arnar Gunnlaugsson hit a shot into the roof of the net following good work from Kyle Light-bourne. The home crowd were barely into their second chorus of their theme tune Delilah before Lightbourne doubled the lead, sidefooting in from 10 yards. The extraordinary opening continued in the 18th minute when Ty Gooden replied for Gillingham following Stoke's inability to clear an Iffy Onuora cross, though it needed a couple of deflections and a scuffed shot before it was finally forced home. Like a boxer trying to recover from being knocked down twice in the opening couple of rounds, Gillingham looked stronger the longer the contest wore on before falling victim to the classic sucker punch in the 65th minute. Peter Thome was still shaking his head at hitting the post when he followed up Vince Bartram's save, from a James O'Connor header, and tapped in his 30th goal of the season from two yards.

Stoke's two-goal cushion was restored. That might have been the knock-out blow had Gillingham not again climbed off the ropes with Hessenthaler's brilliant late, late effort. To prove a point, Gudjon Thordarson, Stoke's Icelandic manager, came into the press room with a stopwatch that he claimed showed that the goal came after the final whistle should have been blown. Rather than all-too predictably blaming the referee he might have been better asking his own players why they wasted so much time in those final few seconds. Stoke City: Vi'ara, Hainan, Mohan, Dryden Uacobsen 55), Clarke, Kavanagh, O'Connor, Gunnarsson (Gudjonsson 81), Gi-nniaucfsson, Thorns, Lightoaurn: Connor 81).

Subs not used: Muggleion, Gillingham: Pennock.As'iby, Butters. Smit'i Browning 55, Hessen-thaier, Lewis, Goeden, Cnuora. Subs not used Mautoic, Thomson, VcG'inchsy. Referee: Dean Hesv.a!!. nine minutes before half-time, but team-mate Dave Farrell decided to help the ball over the line and was flagged for offside.

There no mistake in the 68th minute, however, when Clarke stole the ball from defender Mike Bashan before running on to finish with a classy, low left-foot shot. Barnet manager John Still, who fielded five of his former Peterborough players, said: 'I thought we were the better team and there is still every reason to believe we can go through. It was a fantastic game and I know the players will be up for the second Subs not used: Peterborough: Subs not used: Fans attack Marco, Hodgson debut in the U21 game against England later this month. Hartlepool Darlington EaZIay i far, but no doubt MID FIELD NYARKO 'arid sometimes get them wrong'. Brooklyn.com set to clean up JUST DAYS AFTER Brooklyn Beckham's debut walkabout at Old Trafford, a Norwegian fan has set up I Hignett 84 4 beating Ipswich or Bolton is another matter, as is what either could hope to achieve in the Premiership.

But at least Bassett and Barnsley did their travelling support proud with a professional and marvellously positive display. Birmingham, it almost goes without saying, were a huge disappointment to the supporters who staged a pitch invasion at the end. There were enough blue and white balloons to suggest genuine optimism, but even if the fans were willing to go along with the fiction, the players and it seems the manager did not really believe it. 'I never thought it possible that any of my teams which have been built on a solid back four would concede four 0 2 FA don't share his generosity, particularly over the attack on Gabbiadini. Hodgson said: 'Somebody walked round from the other side of the pitch and punched him full on the jaw as he walked off.

It's history and we're not going to pursue Hodgson was left holding his head after being struck by a 50p coin while he sat outside the Darlington dugout. 'It's not a nice part of the game, but it he said. 'The daft thing I did was to sit outside. I sat inside the dugout when we lost here in the league. Superstition got advantage.

'The pressure's on us now. isn't he argued. think the tie is in the balance. I would 't put any money on it, that's for But the masses from Mill-wall will surely feel this was an opportunity missed. Although this wasn't a game of abundant chances, they glimpsed enough to take some kind of lead to the JJB Stadium.

Wigan withstood everything, from a fruitv atmosphere inspired by the appearance of old bov Terrv Hurlock. to a 20-minute spell under the cosh when Mill-wall's front two threatened before half-time. Effervescent striker Neil Harris dovetailed well with the rather more direct force of Paul Moody. Last-ditch clearances, smothering saves and the odd shot off target kept it troalless. the youngster's first tribute website part of an online rush to cash in on the toddler's image.

'Brooklyn Pictures' has inspired a wave of punters to snap up Brooklyn-related domain names in the hope that companies negotiating were still more composed and organised than their opponents. Bassett's decision to send Dyer on, a bold ploy just one goal in front, was rewarded when the substitute took advantage of square defending to score twice. 'Bruce Dyer did very said Bassett. 'He hasn't been in the team for the last two games but when he came on he produced the kind of performance I expect from Obviously realising attacking efforts needed to be stepped up, Francis sent on Peter Ndlovu and Marcelo at the interval, but any half-time reorganisation was negated when Birmingham conceded just four minutes into the second half. Gary Rowett and David Holdsworth both had chances to clear a nondescript ball forward but left it to each other, allowing Dyer to steal between them and place a shot past a keeper rooted to his line.

Thomas Myhre. on loan from Everton, needs to improve communication with his increasingly vulnerable as Hartlepool stepped up the tempo in a second half which indicated why they had lost at home only once this season. They should certainly have equalised in the 56th minute when a goal seemed inevitable after Craig Midg-ley rounded keeper Andy Col-lett and watched in disbelief as his shot drifted across goal with Gary Jones unable to find a decisive touch. 'I still can't believe it didn't go said Hodgson. 'At that point.

I thought it might be our Others were having similar thoughts even earlier in a robust derby which always reflected the intense rivalry between these two North East neighbours. Darlington defender Craig Liddle might have made a fifth minute exit for tripping James Coppinger as the striker broke free, the cover Clarke's Barnet Arber 22 Peterborough Lee faS 1 2 Nick Callow at Underhill PETERBOROUGH manager Barry Fry has always had an eye for a good story, although he normally makes the headlines himself. In nine years in charge at Barnet. he claims to have been sacked 29 times while surviving two heart attacks and re-mortgaging his house twice to keep the club in business. So he was quick to point out the poignancy of Andy Clarke's winning goal in the first leg of this Third Division play-off semi-final, it is said this could be the last game Bar-net will ever play at Underbill.

to pay 8m forthe rights to Beckham senior's image will also be keen on owning junior's online identity. According to John Holmes, head of SFX entertainment who represent the Beckham's online, 'Brooklyn hasn't played any part in our negotiations so fj Liddle 36, Gabbiadini 76pen John Wardle at Victoria Park STRIKER MARCO GABBIADINI was punched by a Hartlepool fan after helping Darlington take a significant stride towards Wembley in the Third Division play-offs. David Hodgson, the Darlington manager was also struck on the head by a coin thrown from the crowd in another unpleasant incident at the end of a season when crowd trouble throughout the country has increased. Last night, Hodgson was in a forgiving mood; Hartlepool may find the police and the hewillatsomepoint' Brooklynbeckham.co.ukand are alreadytaken-other permutations are in big demand. Competition: see the FA Cup final WIN ATOP DAY out at next Saturday's FA Cup final courtesy of sponsors AXA by answering this, as-ever, simple question.

Which of the following dietary supplements have not been taken by FA Cup finalists on the night i before a final? a) nerve powder b) monkey gland powder c) steak, egg I and rum cocktail. Send youranswertoAxa competition, Observer Sport, 119 Farringdon Road, London EC1R3ER. The prize includes 100 travelling money for two people. 2 Done: david.hillsobserver.co.uk Tales from the tabs me there and superstition nearly earned me a stitch or two. 'These are die-hard Hartlepool fans who sing from start to finish and think nothing of throwing a The coin, which Hodgson later presented to his multimillionaire chairman George Reynolds, was directed at him shortly after Gabbiadini scored a controversial second goal which leaves Hartlepool facing a daunting task in Wednesday's second leg if they are to reach Wembley.

The frustration of the fans was understandable, if not the way they expressed it, because even Hodgson suspected substitute Glenn Nay-lor was offside before being brought down by a challenge which ensured a red card for keeper Martin Hollund. It was a gloriously timed goal for Darlington, whose one-goal lead appeared 'They defended very well and made it difficult for conceded Millwall's joint manager Alan McLeary. Hopefully there will be more space for us up And also for Andy Liddell, who buzzed impressively and could have an influential say before this semi-final is up. Let battle recommence in Lancashire. What goes around comes around? Mill-wall feel they owe Wigan for inflicting Wembley heartbreak at the Auto Windscreens Final last May.

There's still a lot to be settled on Wednesday night. Millwall: Subs not used: Subs not used: Wigan: Young Lions lose their bite welcome return 5sK. KING DAVID: CELTIC IN FOR O'LEARY Celtic have offered David O'Learya massive2m-a-yearcontract to take overas boss at Parkhead: the move came afterGuus Hiddink refused to sign. ARSENAL GO FOR Arsenal are set to sign Lens' Ghatiian international midfielder Alex Nyarko after Leeds secu red a 7m deal fo team mate 0 1 ivier Dacourt CHELSEA PAY18k FOR 12-YEAR-OLD BOY hel sea have been told to pay 18,000 fo a 12-year-old from Luton. Chelsea assistant boss Gwyn Williams says the 'playground predator' is a 'lovely kid'.

AND THE Manchester United have targeted AC Milan's 13m-rated midfielder Massimo Ambrasini; Man City have made Leeds striker Alan Smith a 5m target- the deal could go through if Leeds land Bayern Munich's 10m-rated Carsten Jancker; Chelsea plan to offer striker Mikael Forssell in part exchange for Bolton's Eidur Gudjohnsen; Napoli want to snatch Benito Carbone from Villa; Arsene Wenger has made Marseilles' Robert Pires and Vasco's unior Baiano histoptwosummertargets; Middlesbrough are closing on 3m-rated Barcelona defender Winston Bogarde; Chelsea have joined the race for Atletico Madrid's Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink- teammate Kiko is a 6111 target for Newcastle; That is sad, but it is fitting that Clarkey should then score the last goal here because he gave so much delight to the Barnet supporters when he played here." he said. Barnet won 2-0 at London Road earlier in the season, so Fry was right to remind his players afterwards that their job is only half done. But there were more than enough chances for both sides in this game to suggest there should be more goal action in the second leg on Wednesday. Jason Lee. the striker formerly known as 'Pineapple used his aerial power to give Peterborough the lead with an awesome header.

But he then missed chances to complete a hat-trick, exited the game on a stretcher with a knee injury, and paid for his wastefulness when Mark Arber equalised in the 22nd minute. Clarke should have scored Millwal! 0 Wigan Athletic att: 14,091 Amy Lawrence at "Hie Mew Den WIGAN WERE SUCH sure preseason bets for promotion they should have been savouring the smell of Ambre Solaire by now. But all the good work of a 25-match unbeaten start to the season was unstitched by a recent slump. So here they were doing it the hard way. sweating in South-East London.

Their efforts determined and uncompromising, if not exactly the epitome of creativity give them the edge for the second leg. even if manager John Benson was keen to play down any home Coventry are chasing Palace's Hayden Mull ins; Spurs are tracking Spanish defender Fernando Sanz; Leicester are readyto bid for Wimbledon's Marcus Gayle; Harry Redknapp says he's 'done a deal' to swap Marc-Vivien Foe for Frederic Kanoute; and Blackburn have rubbished reports of a bid for Wimbledon's John Hartson: 'Journalists write stories', says Soilness: all wrong boss Graeme Souness, Referee:.