The Guardian du lieu suivant : London, Greater London, England • 32

32 The Guardian Thursday May 20 1999 Sport First Division play-off I European Cup Winners' Cup I I Nedved volley gives Lazio a famous first Russell Thomas at Villa Park Jon Brodkin -atEortman Road And his goal, a trademark header of power after a surging run, demonstrated why the ultra-ambitious Roman club paid 18m for him. In a remarkably open, opportunity-laden start Mallorca were forced to up their tempo after Vieri's seventh-minute goal, plundered from Giuseppe Pancaro's deep cross. The Spanish response was swift and beautifully constructed. Miquel Soler's superb pass opened up Lazio's right flank for the highly impressive Dejan Stankovic to cross low and accurately for Dani to stab home inside the startled Luca Marchegiani's near post. There were second-half counter-points to Lazio's growing sense of destiny.

Ariel Ibagaza's run and pass set up the unmarked Lauren for a shot that Marchegiani blocked; then Lazio's captain Alessandro Nesta dived acrobatically to head away Stankovic's clever cross. Ned-ved's coup de grace, executed from just outside the area, sent the Lazio legions home deliriously happy. But Hector Cuper's island team, after this remarkable first European campaign, will no doubt continue to frighten the continent's elite if they are not dismantled for yet another time. Real Mallorca (4-4-2): Roa; Olaizola, Marcelino, Sfviero, Soier; Lauren, Ibagaza, Engonga, Stankovic (Conceicao 56min); Dani, Biagini. Lazlo (4-4-2): Marchegiani; Pancaro, Mihajlovic, Nesta, Favalii; Stankovic, Almeyda, Mancini (Couto 90), Nedved (Lombardo, 84); Vieri, Salas.

Referee: GBenko (Austria). Lazio 2 Real Mallorca 1 Dani 11 Lazio finally captured their first European trophy when Pavel Nedved.one of the unsung members of his 100m team, hooked in a magnificent volley eight minutes from time to assert narrow Italian supremacy over the unfancied but highly durable Real Mallorca in this classic Latin confrontation last night. So Italy are the last winners of this tournament, just as they were the first back in 1961. Lazio deserved their victory, even if the persistence of the pride of Palma stretched Italian nerves to the very end. Any suggestions that this final was a mighty inconvenience to Sven Goran Eriksson's team in view of the Italian title denouement in four days' time were expunged by their obvious will to overcome one of Europe's meanest defences.

No one typified that spirit more than Christian Vieri, richly deserving his man-of-the-match nomination, for his often breathtaking power and, just as conspicuous, his sheer will power. His head bandage, applied after an accidental knock from Mallorca's goalkeeper Carlos Roa midway through the first half, illustrated the striker's bravery. "Commiserations to Ipswich," said Bolton's manager Colin Todd. "The side which finishes third deserves to go up but I don't make the laws. Psychologically that goal we conceded in the last minute must have been a big boost for them.

But I took my players over to where our fans were to psyche them up and restore their belief." Restoring belief may be a tough task for the Ipswich manager George Burley, who must expect to lose key players such as Dyer and the goalkeeper Richard Wright over the summer. "It will take a few weeks to get over this but we will be back," he said. "The players are devastated. Over the two legs I felt we were the better side. We should have won the game handsomely." Indeed, within eight minutes Ipswich were level on aggregate, Matthew Holland shooting past Steve Banks.

And although Taylor equalised from close range in the 50th minute, within a minute Ipswich were back in front through Dyer. Even when Frandsen put Bolton ahead again on aggregate with seven minutes remaining, Ipswich somehow summoned the strength to square the tie and force extra-time. Again Dyer was their saviour. But when Taylor scored his second in extra-time there was to be no way back. Holland's strike from 20 yards proved too little too late.

Ipswich Town (4-4-2): Wright; Wilnis tStockwell 105min), Mowbray (Thetis 99), Venus, Clapham; Dyer, Holland, Magilton, Petta; Johnson (Naylor Bolton Wanderers (4-4-2): Banks; Cox, Todd, Fish, Elliott (Warhurst 29), Johansen, Jensen, Frandsen, Gardner; Taylor, Gudjohnsen (Hansen, 112). Referee: Kirkby (Sheffield). Ipswich Town 4 Holland 14, 116, Dyer 52, 90 Bolton Wanderers 3 Taylor 51, 96, Frandsen 84 Agg 4-4; 3-2 after 90 minutes Bolton win on away goals The sight of Kieron Dyer crumpling to the turf at the final whistle said it all. For Ipswich this most thrilling of victories tasted only of sickening and all-too-familiar defeat. For the third successive season they have fallen narrowly short of Wembley; narrowly short of a 10m windfall as well.

That may yet await Bolton, who went through on away goals after 120 minutes of relentless drama. Four times the visitors fell behind, including to a 90th-minute Dyer header which sent the game into extra-time. Yet three equalisers were sufficient to take them to Wembley on Monday week where they will meet Birmingham or Watford. The route which took them to the Premiership in 1995 could offer an instant return. It was impossible not to feel sympathy for Ipswich, who held second spot for such a -lengthy period of the season, and proved themselves 10 points better than Bolton over 46 league matches.

But as against Sheffield United two years ago, the away goals rule has sent them out. They will surely reflect, though, that they had enough chances to have won on aggregate, even allowing for two Bob Taylor goals and a deflected Per Frandsen effort which ultimately took Bolton through. Second Division play-offs Goater's goal makes City slicker frustration for Ipswich's Kieron Dyer against Bolton last night Photograph: Gary Prior Third Division play-offs Cup final countdown Mr Fixit ready to emerge Orient on the penalty pitch invasion by several hundred home supporters during which Lockwood was struck on at least two occasions. The action had been brimming with passion but lacking purpose during a frenetic affair. After Orient's Amara Simba had squandered a fine opportunity inside the opening three minutes, there was little goalmouth action before Roscoe was denied by Barrett's full-length save with the last kick of normal time.

Rotherham (4-4-2) Pollitt; Varty, Thompson, Dillon, Hurst; Roscoe, Hudson, Scott (Sedgwick 70), Knill (Williams 65); Forlune-West, Warne, Leyton Orient (3-5-21: Barrett; Smith, Joseph, Clark; Richards (Morrison 84), Ling, Beal, Stimson (Kicks 115), Lockwood; Watts (Inglethorpe 48), Simba. Referee: Wilkes (Gloucester). Daniel Taylor at Millmoor Rotherham 0 Leyton Orient 0 Agg 0-0 after extra-time; Leyton Orient win 4-2 on penalties Amid remarkable tension Ley-ton Orient emerged victorious from an epic slog to launch their Wembley preparations, courtesy of their goalkeeper Scott Barrett's heroics and Matthew Lockwood's winner in a dramatic penalty shoot-out. The London club have visited the Twin Towers before, playing three league games at the nation's footballing mecca in the 30s, but their date with destiny against Scunthorpe on Richard Ashley at Maine Road Manchester City 1 Goater27 Wigan Athletic 0 AggZ-1 After three seasons of decline, incorporating two relegations and the ignominy of playing in the third tier for the first time, Manchester City's single-goal victory over Wigan has left therii one game away from a return to the First Division at the first attempt. Shaun Goater bundled in his 21st goal of the season to seal a 2-1 aggregate win and his side's passage to a final against Gillingham on Sunday week.

But, in truth, it was a tense affair for the 31,000 home fans and a collective sigh of relief reverberated around the ground at the final whistle. Four minutes earlier the substitute Graeme Jones had chilled their blood as his header rattled the crossbar. "It was atypical City finish, a bit dramatic in the end, with a crossbar thrown in," said their manager Joe Royle. "We played well in the first half, but then the situation got to one or two of the players. "But we got there and it was for the fans.

For all the misery of recent years, the love they have Sheldon strikes twice in fiery finale Headache and heartache Neville attributes his sharpness, both mental and physical, to his omission from Glenn Hoddle's squad for last summer's World Cup finals in France. "It was terribly disappointing to miss out but, perhaps, I am reaping some kind of benefit now," he said. "Being selected by Kevin Keegan for his first England squad provided me with such a massive boost. I wasn't even playing for my club every week but he still picked me; I couldn't believe it." If the armchair pundits were correct in their assertion that Alex Ferguson sent out against Blackburn Rovers last week the team he will send out against Bayern next week, Neville will definitely be given an opportunity to join the boys of 68 in Old Trafford's Pantheon of all-time greats. "The 1968 European Cup-winning side is still remembered and revered," he said.

"It will be wonderful if the current team was to be remembered with similar affection in 30 years time." While Ferguson is unable to find room for him on a regular basis, Neville cannot find it in himself to criticise United's dream-weaver. "Although my form since Christmas has been getting better and better, before then it was quite poor," he said. "But the boss stuck with me. I think he knew that I would come good." Bareev (Rus) 1 Topalov (Bui) 0G Kasparov (Rus) 1 Short (Eng) 0 Morozevich Shirov (Sp) unlinished, Leaders: Adams, Bareev, Kasparov, Topalov Morozevich, Shirov 1.5 (1 unlinished). AMERICAN LEAGUE Baltimore 5 Anaheim 3 Boston 6 NY Yankees 3 Toronto 7 Detroit 5 Chicago White Sox 0 Cleveland 13 Kansas City 13 Oakland 3 Texas 4 Tampa Bay 5 Seattle 10 Minnesota 1, NATIONAL LEAGUE Florida 1 Chicago 4 1 1 1 1 Montreal 7 Philadelphia 4NY Mets 2 Milwaukee 4Atlanta 1 2 Pittsburgh 4 Colorado 3 Cincinnati 5 San Diego 2 St Louis 5 Francisco 3 Arizona 7 LA 3 Houston 11.

OIROD'ITAUA Fifth stage (Terme Lulgiane to Monte Slrino, 147km): 1 Gonzalez (Colombia) Kelme 4hr 1 lmin 47sec 2 dl Luca (It) Cantina Tollo at 5sec 3 Jalabert (Fr) Once 6 Overall: 1 Jalabert 21hr 26mln lBsec 2 di Luca at 7sec 3Rebellinl44Savoldellll6 NHL Stanley Cup play-offs: Semi-finals: Eastern Conference: Buffalo 3 Boston 2 (Buffalo win series 4-2)Wesforn Conference: Detroit 2 Colorado 5 (Colorado win series 4-2). WOMEN'S MEXICAN OPEN (Mexico City) Semi-finals: Jackman (Eng) bt Grinham Hessenthaler leads men of Kent to Wembley for the club and the crusade they are on, they deserve it" Roared on by the masses, City tore forward in the first period, firing in crosses from both flanks to service Paul Dickov and Goater. Both went close, Goater volleying over the angle and Dickov's header forcing Roy Carroll into a diving save. Terry Cooke provided the nous but it was from a centre by Michael Brown that the goal arrived, when Goater's chest diverted the ball across Carroll, who got a hand to it but failed to keep it out. Wigan's manager Ray Math-ias was left ruing his side's luck and suggested they should have been awarded "a blatant penalty" when Kevin Sharp was floored under the challenge of Gerard Wiekens in the seventh minute.

A more imaginative side may have exploited City's insecurity but Wigan's weary legs they had come through seven games in 15 days to claim a play-off place lacked the energy to reach Wembley for a second time this season. Manchester City (4-4-2): Weaver; Crooks, Wiekens, Vaughan, Edgtiill; Cooke (Pollock, 76min) Whitley, Brown, Horlock; Goater (Taylor, 73), Dickov. Wigan Athletic (4-4-21: Carroll; Green (Kilford, 66), McGiWxm, Greenal, Sharp; Balmer, Porter (Lee, 75), Bradshaw, Liddeli; Lowe (Jones, 54), Barlow. Referee: THeilbrbn (Newton Aycliffe). up the advantage their captain, Andy Hessenthaler, had provided after only 65 seconds.

Carl Asaba guided Barry Ashby's pass towards the stocky midfielder and the finish was emphatic. David Lucas could only dive in despair. Gillingham continued to create half-decent chances before the interval, but it did not seem to matter that these were declined, so much in command of their defensive duties were the three giants at the heart of their rearguard, They were helped every time the ball was knocked high and, when Preston tried to feed their wide players, the resulting crosses had a habit of locating only a home jersey. Then, when Mark Rankine surged clear, Adrian Pennock hustled the ball away before he could get in his shot. There was slightly more joy for the visitors after the interval and Vince Bartram went full-length to turn aside John Macken's drive.

The tension mounted and there were the inevitable late scares, but Gillingham had done enough. Gillingham (3-5-2): Bartram; Ashby, Pennock, Butters; Patterson, Smith, Hessenthaler, Galloway (Saunders 56), Southall; Asaba (Hodge 81), Taylor. Preston North End (4-4-2): Lucas; Alexander, Jackson, Murdock (Darby 72), Ludden (Harris 83); Cartwrlght, Gregan, Appleton, Eyres; Macken, Rankine (Nogan 65). Referee: Halsey (Welwyn Garden City). May 29 will carry even more significance, the prize being a return to the Second Division.

After more than three-and-a-half hours of bone-crunching goalless action, the decisive blow was struck by Lockwood, capitalising on the hosts' deficiencies from 12 yards. Andy Roscoe and Paul Hurst saw their efforts saved by Barrett, leaving the successful strikes of their team-mates Steve Thompson and Williams as mere footnotes. For the visitors, Lockwood emulated the achievements of Dean Smith, Martin Ling and the substitute David Morrison. But the night ended in recriminations after an unsavoury Scunthorpe cancelled out Swansea's first-leg lead in the second minute but the game did not come alive until a thrilling extra-time, which included three goals, a punch-up and a sending-off. The substitute Gareth Sheldon put Scunthorpe two ahead within a minute in extra-time but the celebrations were short-lived.

Tony Bird hit back for Swansea and, had the scores remained the same at that stage, Hollins's side would have gone through on away goals. But Scunthorpe added a third again through Sheldon to swing the tie back in their favour. (G McCourt) Tote: 1 1. 10; places 2.30, 4.00, 3.90, 2.80. Dual 171.00.

CSF: 97.97. Trlcast: 1,293.67. 8.35 (2m 21): 1, MITHAK, Cochrane (13-2); 2, Distant Storm(16-l); 2, Sharaf (14-1). 3-lfav Bridie's Pride. 13 ran.

hd, dht. (D Nicholson) Tote: 7.70; places 3.00, Distant Storm 4.60, Sharaf 3.80. Dual Mithak, Distant Slorm 126.00, Mithak, Sharaf 31.60. CSF: Mithak, Distant Storm 51.07, Mithak, Sharaf 45.43. Trlcast: Mithak, Distant Slorm, Sharaf 658.06, Mithak, Sharaf, Distant Storm 653.37.

NR: Sea Freedom. QUADPOT: 34.90 PLACEPOT: 1,709.30. UTTOXETER 6,20 (2m Hdle): 1, ROLLER BLADE, Maude (11-4); 2, Bhutan (6-4 fav); 3, Cromwell(5-l). 13 ran. 114, 3.

(N Twislon-Davies) Tote: 3.20; places 1,60, 1.80, 1.50. Dual 3.30. CSF: 6.12. NR: Barren Lands, Merzouga, Sparky Too. 6,50 (3m 1 10yds Hdle): 1 SPARKLING BUCK, Mogford (1 1-2); 2, Derra Glen (9-1); 3, Fairy Knlght(ll-4fav).

15 ran. 1, 13. (AHobbs) Tote: 8.40; places 2.00, 3.40, 1.50. Dual 20.60. CSF: 47.70.

Trlcast: 153.65. 7.20 (3m Ch): 1, JIMMY O'DEA, DurackdO-1); 2, Country Store (1 1-8 fav); 3, King Torus (4-1). 6 ran. 6, dist. (J MackielTote: 9.30; places 2.70, 1.40.

Dual 8.50. CSF: 22.92. Trlcast: 58.32, NR: Fanfaron, Freddie Muck, Hooded Hawk, Hoodwinker, Stan's Your Man, The CarrigRua, 7.50 (2m Hdle): 1, CONNEL'S CROFT, Tlzzard (4-lfav); 2, Ron's Round (5-1); 3, Six Clerks 114-1). 14 ran. 4, 22.

(P Evans) Tote: 3.70; places 1.70, 1.80, 5.60. Dual 8.00. CSF: 23.02. Trlcast: 243.87. NR: out in the FA Cup final against Newcastle United.

Once again he will be covering for an absent friend, Denis Irwin, the left-back who fell foul of the referee David Elleray's pettiness in a game at Liverpool two weeks ago and is subsequently suspended. Next Wednesday, in Barcelona's Nou Camp stadium, Neville could be at it again as cover for another suspended player Roy Keane, arguably an even bigger task. "A Champions Cup Final against Bayern Munich. What more could a player want?" he asks rhetorically. "I am quite an athletic sort of person.

My mind and body aren't tired at all. Some of the lads here have been playing non-stop football for the best part of two years but I really couldn't feel fitter." Neville content as the indispensable stand-in SUPER LEAGUE Caitleford (4)14 St Helens (14)33 CastiefordTrlsi: Davis, Gay, Rogers Gotli: Tonks St Neleni Trlei: Smith 3, Nentove 2, Long Goals: Long 4 Drop Goals: Martyn Gateshead (10)25 Hull (0)6 Gattshsad Tries: Alrwood, Carney, Collins, Daylight Goals: Saromrt 3, Paters Drop Goals: Peters Hull Tries: Murdock Goals: Prescott Alt: 1,580 ATP ST POELTEN TOURNAMENT Second round: Canas (Arg) bt Ivanisevic (Cro) 6-2 6-2 Kafelnikov (Rus) bt FSquillarl (Arg) 6-4 6-1 El Aynaoul (Mor) bt Schuettler (Ger) 6-2 6-1 Koubek (Aut) bt Stepanek (Cz) 6-3 3-6 7-6 Clavet (Sp) bt Framberg (Aus) 6- 4 6-3 Zabalata (Arg) bt Kroslak (Slovak) 7-5 6-3 Rlos (Chile) bt A Berasategul (Sp) 7-6 6-2 Hlpfl (Aut) bt Ruud(Nor)6-46-2. WORLD TEAM CUP (Ouesseldorf) Blue group: United States 3 Slovakia 0 Red group: Australia 3 France 0, mmmmmm WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (Copenhagen) Selected: Women: Second round: Morgan (Wales) bt JWillmott(GB) 11-6 11-7Y Mliul (Japan) bt Hallam (GB) 11-6 11-3 SARAJEVO GRANDMASTERS Round two: Leko IHun) 0.5 A Morozevich (Rus) 0.5Round three: Timman (Nelh) 0.5 Leko 0.5MAdams(Eng) 1 ISokolov(Bos)0E Ian Ross As Philip Neville prepares for a five-day spell at the office which may well see his name, writ large in Manchester United folklore, he will doubtless be amused to find himself likened to the lantern-jawed Hollywood icon Harvey Kietel. Kietel, it must be stressed, does earn slightly more than the lad from Bury, the independent free state of the pie and peas supper. But, believe it or not, there are similarities.

In Pulp Fiction, Quentin Tarantino's homage to sharp-suited, slow-brained American hoodlums, Kietel plays a modern day Mr Fixit a clean-up man who patiently awaits an invitation to clear away a mess of someone else's making. -Where Kietel removes bodies, Neville replaces them. Not to be confused with his older brother Gary, who is one of United's permanent fixtures, Philip is the stop-gap hero, the indispensable stand-in. As one of the less-feted members of a team which can boast a positive firmament of bright stars, Neville is a contented young man well, reasonably content. "People say I don't have a regular place in the side but I have started something like 30 games this season which isn't too bad," he said.

On Saturday he will move enthusiastically from shadows to centre stage when he turns EUROPEAN CUP WINNERS' CUP Final Lazlo (1)2 RealMallorca (1)1 Weri 7 Danill NedvedSl 33,021 (Villa Park) NATIONWIDE LEAGUE PLAY-OFFS Semi-finals, second lag FlrrtOlvlilon Ipswich (1)4 Bolton Holland 14, 116 Taylor 51, 95 10)3 Dyer 52, 90 Frandsen 84 (agg: 4-4) (act; 3-2 at 90min; Bolton win on away goals) Second Dlvttlon Gllllnaham (1)1 Preiton 10,505 (0)0 Hassenthaler 2 (agg: 2-1) Man City Goaler 27 (agg: 2-1) (1)1 WIgan 31,305 (0)0 Third Division Rotherham (0)0 Leyton Orient (0)0 9.529 (aet; Leyton Orient won4-2on pens) Scunthorpe Dawson 2 Sheldon 92, 102 (agg: 3-21 (113 Swansea. (0)1 Bird 98 7,089 FRIENDLY. Malaysia 0 Arsenal imeuw, ru. ai MED DUNBAR pSSieTshlp One: Harlequins a Wasps 20. Tempers boiled over in the 104th minute when John Eyre's foul on Michael Howard led to a 20-man brawl.

Eyre was given his marching orders once the referee Alan Wiley had restored order. Andrew Dawson's early goal for Scunthorpe was followed by a period of intense pressure from the home side, Jamie Forrester and Paul Harsley both missing good chances. Scunthorpe (3-5-2): Clarke; Logan, Hope, Wilcox; Harsley (Housham, 1 18min), Calvo-Garcia, Forester (Sheldon, 84), Walker, Dawson; Gayte, Eyre. Swansea Chty(4-4-2): Freestone; Jones, Smith, Bound, Howard; Roberts (Price, 55), Cusack (Appleby, 102), Thomas, Coates (O'Leary, 102); Bird, Alsop, Referee: A Wiley (Burntwood). Arabian Heights, Misler Woodstick, Reflecting, Rimouski.

8.20 (2m 5f Ch): CHARLEY LAMBERT, A Thornton (6-4 fav); 2, Nordic Breeze (7-2); 3, Chief Gale (7-1). 7 ran. 6, 2. (J Mackie) Tote: 2.50; places1.70, 1.50. Dual 3.20.

CSF: 5.88. NR: Hunting Lore, Lagan, Southerndown, Warfield Lad. 8.50 (2m 41 1 10yds Hdle): 1, LONG ROOM LADY, Llewellyn (4-9 fav); 2, Double Or Quits (9-21; 3, Sally Lightfoot (16-1). 6 ran. 1V5, 12.

(N Twiston-Davies) Tote: 1.60; places 1.20, 1.40. Dual 1.60. CSF; 2.61. NR: Auetaler, My Dawn, Turbulent Gale. QUADPOT; 2.00 PLACEPOT: 2.60.

NATIONWIDE LEAGUE PLAY-OFFS Semi-final, second leg First Division: Birmingham (01 Warlord II) (8.0). Rugby Union AWED DUNBAR Premiership One: Saracens Newcastle (7.45). Play-offs: Rotherham Bedford (6.30), WORLD CUP Group (10.45); Cardiff: Australia New Zealand. Riverside: Pakistan Scotland. OTHER MATCH (Three days): Fennel's: Cambridge University Kent Nick Alexander atGlanfordPark Scunthorpe 3 Dawson 2, Sheldon 92, 102 Swansea City 1 Bird 9B Agg 3-2 after extra time: 1 -1 after 90mlns The record books make good reading for Scunthorpe after they overturned a first-leg deficit to book a place at Wembley in a highly charged playoff semi-final.

Brian Laws' team will be thrilled to learn that, for the past seven seasons, the side finishing one place outside an automatic promotion spot has gone on to triumph at Wembley. (Aus) 9-19-5 9-2L Charman (Eng) bt (2) Schoene(Ger)9-3 9-69-2Flnal: Jackman bt Charman 9-4 9-3 9-0. NBA Second-round play-offs: Semi-finals: Eastern Conference: Atlanta 92 New York 100 (NY lead series l-0)Western Conference: Utah 93 Portland 83 (Utah lead series 1-01. CHEPSTOW 6.05 (51 16yds): 1, WHIZZ KID, Norton (11-2 Co fav); 2, Mister Jolson (6-1); 3, Bramble Bear (9-1). H-2CoFavJuwwi.

11-2C0 lav Miss Hit. 10 ran. 1, W.IJ Bradley) Tote: 7. 10; places 2.30, 2.20, 3.70. Dual 18.90.

CSF; 35.21. Trlcast: 275.70. 6.35 dm 2f 36yds): 1, STRING QUARTET, Whitworth (10-1); 2, Tariyfa (5-11; 3, Ballet-K (40-11. 2-1 favTricolore. 14 ran, 2V4, Chapple-Hyam) Tote: 14.70; places 2.60, 2.20, 8.20.

Dual 59.00. CSF: 54.1 1. 7.05 dm 21 36yds): 1, STAR PRECISION, Drowne (5-4 fav); 2, Kusler (5-21; 3, Shadoof (20-1). 6 ran. 7, Vh.

(G Balding) Tote: 2.40; places 1.30, 2.00. Dual 3,00, CSF: 3.97, 7.35 (6f 16yds): 1, CEDAR MASTER, Doe (13-2); 2, Dandilum (8-1); 3, Mentiga (11-4 fav). 12 ran. 1V4, IVi, (R O'Sullivan) Tote: places 2.20, 2.00, 1.70. Dual 21.70.

CSF: 51. 17. NR: Billy Bathwick. 8.05 (7f 16yds): 1, HALMAN ERROR, O'Connor (8-1); 2, Arbenig(12-1); 3, Polish Spirit (14-1); 4, Grace (10-1). 7-1 Jt Fav Moon At Night.

7-1 Jt fav Shades of Love, 20 ran. nk, Trevor Haylett at Priestfield Gillingham 1 Hessenthaler 2 Preston North End 0 Agg 2-1 After a wait of 106 years, Gillingham believe it is time they made their acquaintance with Wembley, and last night a second-minute goal proved enough to win them a place in the play-off finals for the Second Division. Now, against Manchester City, the men of Kent will attempt to seize the opportunity of First Division football for the first time. If they reproduce this amount of effort and determination, they could well upset the odds. "It's a very long season and this is a lovely end for us," said the Gillingham manager, Tony Pulis.

"We'll have a superb day out at Wembley, but we will also be going to win. Kent will empty on the day and we'll fill the stadium." For Preston there was the crushing disappointment of ending a campaign with nothing after for so long looking likely to nick an automatic spot. They were forced to start the game without their leading scorer, Kurt Nogan, because of injury and when he was later introduced Gillingham were showing no inclination to give.