The Guardian from London, Greater London, England • 28

4 The Guardian Monday May 17 1999 Sport Leicester Arphuad, Kaamark, Elliott, Sinclair (Walsh 70), Zagorakls, Lemon, Oakes (Heskey 50), Savage, Gtippy, Cottee, last. Subi not used: Keller, Impey, Fenton. Att: 25,353. Raft Dunn (Bristol) Southampton (1)2 Evorton (0)0. Southampton Jones, Dodd, BenaH, Maisden, Monkou, Lundekvam, Le Tissler (Ostenstad 85), M.

Hughes, Beanie, Pahars (Beresfoid 80), Kachloul. Subf not uied: Hughes, Hiley, Moss. Emrton Myhra, Weir, Short (Bakayoko 62), Watson, Unswortti, Ball, Hutchison, Dacourt, Gemmifl (Degn 73), Campbell, Jeffers (Cadamarteri 62). Subi not used: Gerrard, Ward. Alt 15,254.

Rift Barber (Pyrfard) Wert Ham (2)4 Middlesbrough (0)0 Lampard 4 Keller 26 Sinclair 75 01 Canio 78 West Ham Forrest, Potts, Ruddock, Ferdinand, Minto, Berkovic, Lampard, Foe, Keller, Di Canio, Sinclair (Cole 83). Subi not ustd: Sealey, Coyne, Laiatldis, Mean. Middlesbrough Scrnvarzer, Cummins, Pallisler, Vckers, Gordon, O'Neill, Townsend, Summerbell, Mustoe, Ricard (Armstrong 46), Deane (Camphell 73). Subs not used: Beresford, Maddison, Baker. A 25,902.

Ret WiRard (Worthing) LEADING GOALSCORERS (total) 29Yorke(ManUtd). 22 WoiVtContiy 17 fo Pqrisrfnuth)! ilShearerlNiB 20 HassrbainklLeeds); Cressvlei (Sheff 19 for tork); WardBlackbum. 15 for Barnsley). 19elkaAsenal)V" 18 Ricard I iMi'ddie's'bra'ug't)')'; 16 jdac'ni'rn (teton Cottee (Chelsea). 'G iiugsson'jiLesterl or Bolton); Poyet (Chelsea).

REFEREES TABLE Games VM Red Ave Renhle 23 105 7 Barber 25 114 5" 4.56" Lodge 22 94 4 Reed 22 93 Wiiiart 22 92 Poll Harris 22 90 8" "4.09 Barry' 21 82 bun'ri i'9 74 WiiiUe i.9 73 '3 Jones' 22 80 Riley '20 69 Writer 22 74 GaTlaghe'r 24 79 3 Aictick 18 53 burttin i'9 55 Burge i'8 47 ElTe'ray i'7 41 3" "ZM Ranklna bursts past Gillingham's Mick Galloway, No 1 0, and Andy Hessenthaler Photograph: Andy Couldridge Full throttle Preston's Mark lanWinrow at Deepdale Preston North End 1 Eyres 54 Gillingham 1 Taylor 79 Gillingham moved one step closer to opening a new chapter in the club's less than illustrious history. In the 106 years since the club were founded they have never played outside the lower two divisions, nor have they kicked aball in anger on the Wembley turf. A hard-fought draw here, the third time these two sides have produced that scoreline this season, sets up the possibility of breaking both ducks. The closest Gillingham had been over the hill and far away after taking control of the fiercely competitive game. But their decline in recent weeks has been spectacular and they came into this game with their confidence in tatters having won only one of their previous nine games.

It will be a test of their fledgling manager David Moyes' motivational skills to pick his players up for the return leg at the Priestfield Stadium on The tone of the match was set within the opening 20 seconds when the Preston captain Sean Gregan clattered into his opposite number Andy Hessenthaler to earn a yellow card. In fact Gregan was fortunate to remain on the QBSBBBftMSaMlBBMIHBSBBanReseHeeHH ITALY A Pts Milan 33 19 10 4 57 33 67 Uzl'o Parrna ri'ore'ntina 33 Ro'iria 9" 'lb' 51" Juvenile Udlmie Boidii'ria 33 i'i" i '43 'i" inter 33 12' 7 14 56''63 43 Bart Ve'ne'z'ia Cagii'ari 3'3''li''''7''i'5''48'48''46' Pia'c'e'ni'a 33 Penigla 33' Sai'e'mita'na Sa'mpdo'rl'a 33 8 i'6 i'6" 37 55" M-Vl'ce'ni'a Emnoii Ban 0 Juventus 1 Bologna 2 Sampdoria 2 Parma 0 Piacenza 1 Roma 3 Cagliari 1 Salernitana 2 VTcenza 1 Udinese 1 Perugia 2 Venezia 3 Inter 1 Saturday: Frorenh'na 1 Lazio 1 Milan 4 Empoli 0 Note: Empoli deducted two points for attempted match fixing. SPAIN APta Barcelona 34 21 7 6 76 38 70 Maiiorea Reai'Ma'drid Ce'ttaVigo 3415 "i'3" 6 "37 '58 Valencia be'pCariih'a 34" 16 i'6 8 SO Aftie'tJeKib Eipa'rry'oi "-9 bvi'ed'o Waves' EatrBmadura Wliarreai 34 i l'i' 6 '39 "53" '32 fenerlfo' "5 13 16 "34 "55 "28 Note: Real Beb's awarded three points and a 3-0 victory by default over Valadolid after Valladolid fielded an ineligible player in their match on January 10. Athletic Bilbao 2 Villarreal 0 CeltaVigo 2 RealSociedad 2 Estremadura 1 Tenerife 0 Real Betis 0 DeporbvoCoruna 3 Real Madrid 2 Oviedo 1 RealZaragoza 2 ABetico Madrid 0 Salamanca 1 Naves 0 Valencia 1 Espanyol 2 Saturday: Barcelona 1 Valladolid 1 Friday: Racing Santander 1 Mallorca 0 HOLLAND A Pts Feyenoord(C) 33 24 5 4 74 37 77 Wiiierhii Vitesse" 33 "i'8 "8 "7 62 Rod'a 33 17" 9 7 '58 36' 66' PSV" 33" i'6" 10 7 84' '53 '58 g'aic' 33" i'6 8" 9 71 39 56 Hee're'nveen FCfw'en't'e 33 12 Fornina 33 i 2' "8 13 '47 '53' '44' AZ FC LWecht 33" i'6 "8" 15 52" 61 38" NEC 36 be Graa'f s'criap 33 8" 14 '38 55' 35 tm 33 i'l '15 3Z Ca'mb'uiir 33 7 10 16 '35' '62' 31' Sparta 33 4 22 37 '71 25' RKC NAC 33" 4 i'6 'i'9 39" '59 22" A'ax Amsterdam 2 RKCWaalwijk 0 Twente Enschede 2 NAC Breda 2 Sparta Rotterdam 5 Fortuna Sittard 0 NEC Nijmegen 0 Feyenoord 3 Vitesse Amhem 2 Graafschap 1 MW Maastricht 1 Heerenveen 0 PSV Eindhoven 7 AZAlkmaar 1 RodaJCKerkrade 3 Utrecht 0 GERMANY A Pts Munich (0 32 22 6 4 70 25 72 BLe'verkuien" 32 'i'7 12 3 69 27' 63 He'rth'a" Berilii 32 'i'6 8" 8 51 31 56" VfL'Wo'lf'sn'u'ra' Bar bortm'iin'd 32" 14 9 "9 43 "33 Si' 18'60'Mwicti Sehaike 'u'liWif'Sii VfB'sWga'rt' 32 'W'AB'x 'SCFreTburB 32" '9 "iiW4i 36 Nu'f e'mberg 32 "7" 15 i'6 38 47 '36 32 15 37' 45 35 Hansa Rostdcit "32 8" i'6 14 45 55 34 Hntra'cht "36S1 "31 VfLBo'chum B'MMh'n'nidbch IR) 32 "4" 9 i'9 '46 73 21 Schalke 04 0 Kaiserslautern 2 Saturday: VILBochum 0 VILWolfsburg 2 MSVDuisburg 0 Bayer Leverkusen 0 Eintracht Frankfurt 2 Borussia Dortmund 0 TSV 1860 Munich 1 Werder Bremen 3 VfB Stuttgart 3 SC Freiburg 1 Nuremberg 2 Bayem Munich 0 Friday: BMoenchengladbch 2 Hamburg SV 2 Hertha Berlin 2 Hansa Rostock 0 FRANCE French Cup: Final Saturday. Nantes 1 Sedan 0 BELGIUM Final standings A Pts Genk 34 22 7 5 74 38 73 ciubBiiige's M'a'VyWsS'n An'de'rtecht' "7" 6 76 Ex'ceisior 34 19 "9 "6 76 47 66 Lokeron' 34 "i'7" "6" li' '69 61' '57 Li'er's'a Grt'ent 34 i'4 'i'6 'i'6 sinttriil'den 34 14 9" i'i' 52 46 51 Germinai Eimri'341'4 7" 13 '48 46 49 Hareib'eke' 34" i'6 1113 '44 '46 '41 Westerio Ee'ridrach'tAaist' 34' "9" i'7 48 66 35" Cha'iier'oi 34" "7" i'i" 16 '39 '54 32 Beve'ren 34" "8" '33 '60' 3'6 Lo'm'ni'el 34" "7" "7 2'6'33'5'5''28' ko'rwjk Ortond Club Bruges 5 Westerio 3 Harelbeke 1 Genk 2 Anderlecht 3 Kortrik 1 Germinal Ekeren 1 Excelsior Mouscron 1 EendrachtAalst 4 Ostend 0 Sinl-Truiden 1 Beveren 1 Lommel 2 Ctiarleroi 1 Lokeren 1 Ghent 4 Lierse 3 Standard Liege 0 PORTUGAL TOP THREE A Pts Porto 32 23 6 3 82 25 75 toarfsta 3 'i 'i'9" i'6 "2 67 Bo'iifjca 7 65' '26 61 Aherca 1 Farense 3 Leirla 2 Rio Ave 0 Sakjueiros 1 Amadora 1 Setubal 2 Campomalorense 0 Porto 7 Academlca 1 Saturday: Braga 2 Sporting Lisbon 0 Friday: VitorlaGulmaraes 1 Maritimo 1 Benfica 4 Chaves 1 A Pts ManUtd(C) Arsenal Chelsea Leeds WertHarrT" Uvarpooi Hlddleibreugri Leicester Tottenham Newcastle Evertoii Coventry Wlrnbiadon Soutriarnptori 38 22 13 3 80 37 79 'WiBW'TSiWa "38" 16" "9" 13 46 S3 57 46SS "38 '38 "12 15 i' '48 "54 si' 38 13 38 8 WY '38 '7 7 18 "918 1216 41 42 46 46 42 "47 43 '40 63 Chariton (Rj Nbrm'Forast(R)' 12 18 "9'22 41 56 36 WSi'Ss 3S'W30 Arsenal Kanu 66 (0)1 Aston VUla (0)0 Arsenal Seaman, Dixon, Keown, Adams, Vivas (Ljungberg 15), Parlour, Petit, Vieira, Overmars IDiawara 79), Bergkamp, Anelka (Kami 61).

Subi not used: Bould, Lukic. Aston Villa Oakes, Ehiogu, Caldenmod (Stone 79), Souttigate, Watson (Vassell 721, Scrneca, Draper, Grayson (Delaney 72), Wright, Joachim, Merson. Subs not used: Barry, Enckelman. Att: 38,308. Ref: Gallagher (Banbury) Charlton (0)0 Short Wad (6TT Sonner 79 Charlton Petterson, Mills, Tiler, Brown (Bowen 64), Powell, Stuart, Kinsella, Redleam (Barnes 62), Robinson (Priigle 70), Jones, Mendonca.

Subi not used: llic, Parker. Sheff Wed Srnicek, Haslam (Cressvrelt 591, Walker, Charlton are Relegated to Nationwide League Division One, Stefanovic, Thome, Rudi, Jonk, Atherton, Alexanders, Booth, Carbone (Sonner 60). Subs not used: Pressman, Humphreys, McKeever. Att 20,043. Ref Reed (Birmingham) Chelsea Babayaro 40 (1)2 Derby Carbonari 88 (0)1 Vialli 68 Chelsea Kharhe, Ferrer, Duberry (Terry 57), Lambourde, Le Sain, Di Matteo (Newton 76), Wise, Poyet, Babayaro (Petrescu 46), Flo, Vialli.

Subs not used: Hitchcock, Zola. Derby Poom, Laursen, Carbonari, Prior, Delap, Powell, Eranio, Schnoor (Harper 59), Baiano (Beck 59), Wanchope, Sbjrridge (Boertien 81). Subi not used: Hoult, Jackson. Att: 35,016. Ref: Riley deeds) Coventry (0)2 Leeds (1)2 Aloisi 63 Wijnhard43 Teller 72 Hopkin90 Coventry Hedman, Nilsson, Burrows (Edworthy 37), Shaw, Breen (Williams 46), Teller, McAllister, Boateng, Soltvedl Huckerby (Aloisi 58), Whelan.

Subs not used: Clement, Quinn. Leeds Robinson, Haaland (Hopkin 46), Granville (Harte 72), Radebe, Wettierall, Ribeiro (Kewell 69), Batty, McPhail, Jones, Wijnhard, Hasselbaink. Subs not used: Martyn, Woodgate. Att 23,049. Ref: Lodge (Barnsley) Liverpool (1)3 Wimbledon (675 Berger 12 Riedle 50 luce 65 Liverpool Friedel, Staunton (Babb 46), Song (Heggem 85), Matteo, Carragher, Berger, Redknapp, Ince, Leonhardsen, McManaman, Riedle, Babb Thompson 74).

Subs not used: James, Bjomebye. Wimbledon Sullivan, Kimble. Perry, Blackwell, Cunningham, Kennedy, Earle. Roberts, Cort (Hughes 69), Hartson, Gayle. Subs not used: Heald, Leabum, Castledine, Francis.

Att 41,902. Ref: Barry (Scunthorpe) ManUtd Beckham 42 (1)2 Tottenham Ferdinand 24 (1)1 Cole 47 Man Ltd Schmeichel. G. Neville, May, Johnsen, Irwin, Beckham, Scboles (Butt 69), Keane, Giggs IP. Neville 79), Vorke, Sheringham (Cole 45).

Subs not used: Van Der Gouw, Solskjaer. Tottenham Walker, Carr, Edinburgh, Scales, lCampbell, Anderton, Freund, Sherwood, Ginola IDominguez 9), Ferdinand, krersen, Dominguez (Sinton 76). Subs not used: Baardsen, Newcastle (0) 1 Blackburn Harmon 51 Wilcox 37 (1)1 Newcastle Harper, Barton, Hughes, Dabizas, Griffin, Solano, Hamann, Lee (Glass 51), Speed, Ketsbaia (Sana 63), Marie. Subs not used: Given, Beharall, McClen. Blackburn Filan (Flowers 45), Dunn (Johnson 45), Peacock, Broomes, Davidson, Carsley, Croft, Gillespie, Wilcox, Gallacher (Taylor 54), Ward.

Subs not used: Duff, Dailfy. Att 36,623. Reft Winter (Stockton-on-Tees) Notbn Forest (0) 1 Leicester (6)0 Bart-Williams 76 Notbn Forest Crossley, Louis-Jean, Palmer, Chettle, Bonalair, Porfirio (Edwards 89), Bart-Williams, Melton, Rogers, Freedman, Harewood. Subs not used: Beasant, LynJe, Allou, Darcheville. BANK OF SCOTLAND, PREMIER LEAGUE pyj Rangera(C) 35 23 7 5 77 30 76 Celtic 34 68" Bif" 1 o' Vc Johnstone 35 14 12 9 38 38 54 biindee 35 13 7 15 36 55 46 Hearts' 35 i'6' 9 16 '39 '48 '39 ii" i'c" i 'b 'm 'm 'i'i' 3.11 ..53 38 18 Dundee Utd 35 8 10 17 36 46 34 Dunfermline (R) 35 4 16 15 27 57 28 Celtic (1)3 Aberdeen (0)2 Blinker 1 Mayer 55, Perry 81 Johnson 60, Burchill 88 Celtic Gould, Stubbs, Annoni, Mahe, Riseth, Wieghorst, Lambert Heafy, Blinker, Laisson, Johnson (Burchill 76).

Subs not used: Brattbakk, ODomell, Donnelly, Corr. Aberdeen Warner, Anderson, Perry, Smith, Dow, Hart (Wyness 89), Bernard, Mayer, Jess, Winters, Hamilton (Young 73). Subs not ustd: Leighton, Pepper, Milne. Art 59, 138. Rif: A Freeland (Aberdeen) (0)1 Irvine 22, Boyc: 50 Thomson 49 Falconer 61 Dundee Douglas, Smith, Irvine, Anderson, Grady (Coyne 821, Maddison, Falconer (Bayne 82), Miller, Rae, Robertson, Boyack (Adamczuk 74).

Subs not used: Wilkie, Langfield. SEMI-FINALS, FIRST LEG First Division BoKon (0)1 Ipswich (0)0 Johansen84 Bolton Banks, Cos, EH, Frandsen, Todd, Fish (Bergsson 65), Johansenl Jensen, Gud.iohnson (Hansen 73), Taylor, Gardner (Warhurst 73). Ipswich Wright Wilnis, Clapham, Thetis, Mowbray, Venus, Dyer, Holland, Johnson (Naylor 77), Scowcroft, Magilton. Subs not used: Cundy, Stockwell. Att 18,295.

Ref: Halsey (Wefwyn Garden City) Watford (1)1 Birmingham (6T0 Ngonge5 Watford Chamberlain, Bazeley, Kennedy, Page, Palmer, Robinson, Ngonge (Hazan 81), Hyde, Mooney, Johnson, Wright (Smart 67), Subs not used: Day. Birmingham Poole, Rowett Grainger, Robinson (Ndlovu 69), Holdsworth, Johnson, McCarthy, O'Connor, Furlong, Bradbury (Adebola 45), Holland. Subs not used: Purse. Att 18,535. Ref: Wilkes (Gloucester) Dickov quells fears of the faithful TOP SUPPORTERS Man United Uverpooi Arsenai Aston yiija Newcastle Everton Leeds Chelsea Middlesbrough Tottenham Derby Blackburn WestHarn' Notfm Forest" Coventry Leicester Chariton Wlmbie'don Southampton 55,316 367S3" 35.016" 32,913" 3a436" 26j6H" 36,025" 20,046" 15,255" 55,052 "29.559' "30,357" "30.612" "34,382" "33,387" 55,188 "36,203 2S684 '2677B iA fc Sutfte.

rt JAii '--t fX FA VASE (Wembley) Final BedllngtonTer (0)0 Tiverton Tn (0)1 Rogers 88 Bedllngton Ter O'Connor, Bowes, Pike, Boon (Ludlow 90), Melrose, Teasdale, Crass, MirJoTeton (Renforth 90), Gibb, Milner, Bond. Subi not used: Pearson, Cameron, Gowens. Tiverton Tn Edwards, Fallon, Saunders, Tatterton, Tallon, Conning (Pears 69), NancekM (Rogers 69), Variey, Everett, Daly, Leonard. Subs not used: Tucker, Hynds.Grimshaw. Att 13,878.

Ref: Burns (Scarborough) FA TROPHY (Wembley) Final Forest Green (0)0 Klngstonlan (0)1 Mustafa 49 Forest Green Shuttlewood, Hedges, Forbes, Bailey (Smart 76), Kilgour, Wigg (Cook 58), Honor (Winter 58), Drysdale, McGregor, Metiew, Sykes. Subs not used: Coupe, Perrin. Klngstonlan Farrelly, Mustafa, Luckett, Crossley, Stewart Harris. Pitcher, Ratbay, Leworthy (Francis 86), Akuamoah, Patterson. Subs not used: John, Corbett, Brown, Tranter.

Art 20.037. Reft A Wilkie (Chester Le Street) FA WOMEN'S PREMIER LEAGUE National Division: Southampton OTranmere Rvrs 2. Dunfermline Butler, Shields, Coyle (Graham 66), Tod, Ireland, Huxford, Smith (Britton 75), Petrie (McGroaty 66), Thomson, Johnson, Shaw. Subs not used: Westwater, Squires. Att 4,179.

Reft Dallas (Motherwell) Hearte (1)4 Dundee Utd (6jT Ritchie 41, McSwegan 50 Eustace 90 Adam 67, Cameron 77 Hearts McKenzie, Naysmith, Ritchie, Adam, Cameron, Jackson (Flogel 70), Locke (Guer'm 701, Pressley, Munay, Severin, McSwegan (Juanjo 70). Subs not used: McPherson, Strang. Dundee Utd Combe, Hannah, Dodds, McNally, Thompson, De Vos, Murray (Mathie 70), Eustace, McLaughlin (Olofsson 51). Subs not pf''' McConata9e- Art 13,187. Reft Smith (Troon) Kilmarnock (111 St Johnstone (6TT Roberts8 Boltan 66 KllmamocK Marshall, MacPherson, Kerr, McGowne, Mahood, Vareille (Wright 79), Roberts, Lauchlan.

Subs not used: Meldrum, Burke. st Johnstone Main, McQuillan, Dasovic, O'Neil (McAnespie 891, Kane, Bollan, Griffin, CHaltoran, McCuskey LmmdK par(er86) s.mao Sub used: Connolly, Whiteford, Ferguson. Art Motherwell (0)1 Rangers (2)5 Nicholas 74 Amatol6, 51 Van Bronckhorst 37, 54 (pen) Kanchelskis 65 Mothorwell Goram, Brannan, McGowan, Crakjen, IRamsey 59), Valakari, Spencer, McMillan, Goodman (Nicholas 45), Adams INevin 591, McCulloch. Subs not uiod: Lasley, Woods. Rangers KI05, Porrini, Amoruso, Wilson, Kanchelskis, Van Bronckhorst (Mclnnes 65), Reyna (Riecio 74), Albertz, McCann (Johansson 65), Amato, Wallace.

Subs not used: Nicholson, Brown. 1 LEADING GOALSCORERS (total) 38 Larsson (Celtic). 26 Wallace" (Ranger's). (Dundee (Rangers). Second Division Preston (0)1 Gllllngham (0)1 Eyres 54 Taylor 79 Preston Lucas, Alexander, Ludden, Murdock, Jackson, Gregan, Cartwright, Rankine, Nogan (Applelon 77), Macken (Harris 87), Eyres, Subs not used: Kidd.

Gllllngham Bartram, Soutfiall, Can, Smith, Butters, Pennock, Patterson (Hodge 69), Hessenthaler, Asaba (Saunders 86), Galloway (Brown 69), Taylor. Att 18,584. Reft Kirkby (Sheffield) YVTgan (1)1 Man City (0)T Barlow 1 Dickov76 Wlgan Carroll, Bradshaw (Green 841, Sharp, McGibbon, Balmer, Porter, Liddell (Lee 80), Greenall, Haworth (Jones 31), O'Neill, Barlow. Man City Weaver, Crooks, Edghill, Vaughan, Horlock, Weikens, Brown, Whitley, Cickov, Goater (Taylor 83), Cooke (Allsopp 65). Subi not used: Pollock.

Art 6,762, Reft A Wiley (Staffs) Third Division Leyton Orient (0)0 Rotherham (0)0 Orient Barrett M. Joseph (SrJmson 61), Lockwood, Smith, R. Joseph, Clark, Ling, Richards, Watts (Maskell 82), Simba, Beall. Subs not used: Finney. Rotherham Pollitt, Varty, Hurst, Thompson, Knill (Williams 73), Dillon, Scott, Hudson, Fortune-West, Wame, Roscoe.

Subs not used: Sedgwick, Pettinger. Att 9,419. Ref: Heilbron (Newton Ayclrlle) Swansea Bound 44 (1) 1 Scunthorpe (0)0 Swansea Freestone, Jones, Howard, Cusack, Smith, Bound, Roberts (Appleby 59), Thomas, Alsop, Watkin (Bird 42), Coates. Subs not used: Price. Scunthorpe Clarke, Housham, Dawson, FkkKng, Wilcox, Hope, Walker, Forrester, Eyre, Gayle, Csfvo-Garcia.

Subs not used: Bull, Stamp, Harsley. Alt 7,828. Reft DPughlWirral) lanWhittell at Springfield Park Wigan Athletic 1 Barlow 1 Manchester City 1. Dickov 77 A sign of the times in Manchester football is that while the other lot dream of trebles, City are obliged to slog it out among the muck and nettles of a play-off derby at Wigan. If it is the end of a season the law of averages dictates that City's fate probably hangs in the balance, and at the same time they are almost certainly shooting themselves in the foot.

Twelve months ago they won handsomely at Stoke but still exited the First Division as other results conspired against them. come to breaking free from the hoi polloi of the bottom two divisions was in 1987 when they lost out to Swindon in a playoff final replay at Selhurst Park. In those days such matters were resolved amid less salubrious settings than the national stadium. Yesterday Gillingham's striker Robert Taylorwas once again the scourge of Preston, equalising David Eyres's opener with only 10 minutes remaining arid the home side apparently cruising. Taylor, a 500,000 summer signing from Brentford, had dented Preston's drive for an automatic promotion spot with a last-minute equaliser when these sides last met In truth Preston should have Famously, two years before that, City blithely wasted time during a2-2homedrawwithIiverpool after being fed the erroneous message by the then manager Alan Ball that a point would keep them in the Premiership.

Hence the air of caution among the long-suffering fans. Asked before kick-off which of the play-off teams he most feared, one responded: "City," It took Joe Royle's team only 20 seconds to illustrate that point Gerard Wiekens and the goalkeeper Nick Weaver shared what the manager described as a "Condor leaving the ball stationary and unguarded 15 yards from goal for Stuart Barlow to score. Butastrange thing happened. With the scene set for another young Kiwi who has been the outstanding centre in the country this season. Had Lee Penny taken a Scott Wilson pass with the line at his mercy 15 minutes later, the Wolves could have moved within four points.

Instead Leeds sealed the win in the 65 th minute with a second try from Francis Cummins, who then completed a hat-trick thanks to a piece of audacity breathtaking even by Iestyn Harris's standards. Harris had already scored one try and three goals on his return to the club he left for Leeds two years ago for 350,000 when he cruised through the Warrington defence for an apparently inevitable second. But instead of touching down in the corner, Harris flicked the ball back to Cummins, who had a free run to the posts, there: fore niaking his conversion a fonnallty Taking such an unnecessary risk would provoke the wrath of maiiy coaches, but not Graham Murray. "That's the beauty of Iestyn Lee Cartwright gave Preston enough width to avoid a heavily congested midfield. Eyres in particular served up a number of quality crosses, the best of which presented Cartwright with a golden opportunity in the 28th minute only for the 26-year-old to head wide from six yards.

Gillingham increasingly struggled to provide Taylor and his striking partner Carl Asaba with any quality service but continued to threaten from set pieces. Lucas was again fortunate when Adrian Pennock connected with Mark Patterson's 31st-minute free-kick only to see his close-range effort ricochet back off the goalkeeper's shoulder. whatever the outcome of these play-offs, has been in lifting that. "This club will be back up there with the big boys," said Weaver, who conceded that Wigan's goal resulted from his calling for the ball and then staying on his line. "It might take two years, it might take five, but we will be back up there.

"That's why I had no hesitation in signing a 4-year contract in January. The fans tell you all you need to know about this club; they've been magnificent. The local media is so full of 'United, United' that it's nice to give them something to cheer about for once, and hopefully that will mean a trip to Wembley and promotion." inability to push themselves, and a lack of pride," Bobbie Gouldingputthevisi-tors in front after three minutes but Wigan scored the first try when Mark Reber scrambled over. Simon Haughton and Mick Cassidy also crossed before the interval and five second-half tries saw them pull away. Castleford lifted their hopes of a top-five place with a 10-6 win against resurgentSheffield, who put Rob Doyle over the line three minutes from time but could not make up the deficit.

Castleford had taken the lead through tries from Francis Mal-oney and Adrian Vowles midway through the first half, the second improved by Danny Orr. Bradford enhanced their championship claims with a 22-12 win at Gateshead, becoming only the second visiting team to win there this season. "We played top-five-quality opposition," said Matthew Elliot, the Bulls coach. "I bet we're one of the few teams that come here and get two points." Halifax's Gary Mercer, who was told he would never play again after displacing a neck vertabra in the opening-day defeat by try as his team swept aside Hull 30-12 at The Shay. pitch when only five minutes later he again left Hessenthaler sprawled on the Deep-dale turf and escaped with a ticking-off.

In such an atmosphere clear-cut scoring opportunities were going to be hard to come by, but the visitors came close to breaking the deadlock after 16 minutes when Preston's centre-back Michael Jackson cleared Hessenthaler's in-swinging corner from under his own' crossbar" with the goalkeeper David Lucas stranded. The home side responded well after the early scare, and began to take control of the game with Gregan and Mark Rankine controlling the midfield. David Eyres and An air of pessimism and disquiet has hung over Maine Road for at least half a decade. Royle's greatest achievement, Dickov fufilled Royle's prophecy with equaliser A dazzling hat-trick from their stand-off Steve Blakeley inspired Manchester's other Reds' first league win of the season to end a 14-match losing run, writes Andy Wilson. London led Salford with a try from their Acton-born winger Dominic Peters.

But in the 12th minute Blakeley scooted over from 30 metres for his first. The hat-trick try, two more conversions and a drop goal completed his 23-point tally as Salford won 31-14. After seeing his side concede eight tries and fail to cross the line once in yesterday's game at Wigan, the Hud-dersfield coach Malcolm Reilly described the 36-2 defeat as "Wigan didn't have to do a lot to beat us. Some of the kids are just not up to it but with others it's sheer laziness, the Rhinos back in the swim calamity, City instead demonstrated justhowfarthemanager has lifted them in theyearsince they slumped to the lowest point in club history. "As soon as they scored I turned to the chairman and said, We'll score'," Royle said.

"I have confidence in these lads. You don't have two defeats in 25, as we did to end the season, by being a soft touch. We have just got to defend more diligently." That should be provided by the return from injury of Andy Morrison, if notfor Wednesday's second leg then for the Wembley final if City reach it. Indeed, after Paul Dickov swept home a superb 77m-minute equaliser it is hard to see City as anything other than odds-on favourites for the promotion place. and I certainly won't try to change him; it's what people want to see," grinned the head Rhino, showing again what a loss he will be both to Leeds and the British game when he leaves for North Sydney at the end of the season.

Murray also expressed his pleasure that this Leeds win came with an all-British team, with all five of their overseas players injured. Warrington's Darryl Van de Velde pointed to his team's poor discipline in the first half, itself aproduct of the pressure exerted by the Leeds pack, as the cause of their defeat. That allowed Harris to set up the first try for Cummins and score the third himself, beating Wilson's half-hearted attempted tackle, with Marvin Golden hitting Ryan Sheridan's pass and shrugging off Alan Hunte for the second. Warrington: Penny; Roach, Kotie-Love, Forsten Wilson, Briers; Chambers', Farrar, Nutley, Gles, Knott, WaMght. Substitutes: Duffy, Hanger.Busby.Leatham.'' Loads: Harris; Rrvett, Golden, Cummins, Sterling; Powell, Sheridan; Fleary, Newton, McDermott, Slnfield, Farrell, Hay, Substitutes: SI Hilalre, Motley, Jackson, Wrench.

Referee: Smith (Castleford). Andy Wilson atWilderspool Warrington Wolves 1 0 Leeds Rhinos 28 It has taken them two weeks, but last night Leeds proved that they have shaken off their Wembley hangover. An entirely understandable 60-point drubbing at St Helens three days after the Challenge Cup final had been followed by stuttering victories over Wakefield and Sal-ford, but this was more like the team who beat Wigan, St Helens and Bradford en route to Wembley as the Rhinos moved level with Warrington, Wigan and Castleford in third place. Their forwards, with the props Barrie McDermott and Darren Fleary outstanding, completely dominated the opening exchanges, laying the foundations for three tries in 26 minutes which established a 16-0 lead, Warrington fought back commendably with the first of two superb individual tries from Toa Kohe-Love, the.