The Guardian from London, Greater London, England • 13

THE GUARDIAN Monday May 10 1993 SPORTS NEWS 13 First Division: West Ham 2, Cambridge 0 Case off claret and tthe blues FA Trophy final Runcorn 1 Wycombe 4 O'Neill on way ttmfH Thorn at Wmbloy David Lacey Second Division champions, have only just missed Joining them. The pattern is likely to be repeated as the gap in wealth which separates the Premier League from the rest grows ever wider. Newcastle may have debts but they also have Sir John Hall. West Ham are committed to spending 5.4 million on the new Bobby Moorestand which is part of an 8 million development aimed at bringing Upton Park into line with the requirements of the Taylor Report There will be little cash to spare for strengthening the team. Eight of those struggling to reach the dressing room through Saturday's cheering throng were regular members of the West Ham side relegated last season.

"It will be bloody hard," their manager admitted, but Bonds could not tell Speedie, on loan from Southampton, whether he would be able to sign him. Speedie's goals have helped first Blackburn and now West Ham win promotion, but to survive in the Premier League a team needs more than a slightly battered 33-year-old striker. And if West Ham cannot afford a Speedie they are hardly likely to buy a Shearer. West Ham have adequate strength in goal and at full-back, where on Saturday the totally committed, socks-down performance of Julian Dicks bore echoes of Rafael Gordillo, Spain's left-back in the 1982 World Cup. However, the backbone of the West Ham team does not look up to the demands which will again be made of it Cambridge, while lacking the pace of a Premier League side, were still able to provide a foretaste of the sort of matches West Ham will need to win regularly if they are to gather the 50 points which have become the bench mark for staying up.

Cambridge finished with 49, playing four more matches in the First Division, and went down. The Premier League is more about winning modest gigs than stopping Ryan Giggs. The new trophy Manchester United have just won sums the whole thing up admirably: take away the crown topping and all is bloated mediocrity. Despite rip-off prices, a members-only policy towards the casual spectator and visiting fans increasingly regarded as a nuisance, the roots of the game's support remain healthy. Yet the vines of English football continue to produce a largely non-vintage grape, even if the Premier League has just been assured of another dash of (CORDIS: Wmi Ham IMM Speedie Allen (89).

WMt Ham UnftMfa Miklosko; Breacker. Dicks. Pons. Gale. Bishop, Robson (C Allen.

61). Butler. Speedie (M Allen. SB). Morley.

Keen. Cambridge Unlteeli Fifan; Heatncote. Kimble (Fensome, 63). Rayrtor, Chappie. O'Shea.

Dennis (Bartleit. S3), Clandge. Butler. Clayton. Leadbltler.

Raferaaa 0 Elleray (Harrow). Tears are not enough the agony of relegation proves too much for some supporters at The Shay as Halifax slip into the Conference JOHN HOULIHAN Third Division: Halifax leave the League after Downs and out 72 undistinguished years as Northampton live to struggle another day and possibly finished the end it did not matter because even more astonishingly Northampton, 2-0 down at half-time, came back and won 3-2 at Shrewsbury, who were definitely trying because victory would have put them in the play-offs. Instead Bury get their play-off place and Halifax leave the League, to be replaced by Wycombe Wanderers, champions of the GM Vauxhall Conference. However, it is not certain that Halifax will swap places with them. The board meet tomorrow to decide whether to stay in business.

The club, always short of cash, went near to extinction in 1930, 1937, 1950, 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1983 and 1987. The chairman Jim Brown estimates that the income, never high, would be 200,000 lower out of the League. The ground, council-owned and close to the centre of town, is coveted by various commercial concerns. An WYCOMBE Wanderers yesterday completed the non-League game's most cherished double, but the FA Trophy looks like being Martin O'Neill's farewell present to the Football League's newest club. In the wake of this success the man who remains the bookmakers' favourite to succeed his one-time mentor Brian Clough at Nottingham Forest confirmed that he will today meet Wycombe's chairman Ivor Beeks.

Beeks, while insisting that he had not received any approaches for his manager, appeared resigned to losing the 41-year-old O'Neill. "If it is going to come," said the chairman, "I suppose it will come next week. It would have to be a very good club to tempt him away. We can't compete with a Premier League club." O'Neill played down reports that he had already been interviewed by Forest But he offered the broadest hint that he is on the verge of leaving Wycombe after three years in charge of the Buckinghamshire club. "Some managers have made a career of going at the right time, and maybe this is the right time," he said.

Forest's chairman Fred Reacher narrowed the list of candidates at the weekend when he said that Clough's successor will be selected from those with Forest connections and who are available. O'Neill's contract expires at the end of next month. O'Neill last night celebrated Wycombe's latest triumph a third trophy after collecting the GMVC title and the Championship Shield constituting the most successful season since the non-League pyramid system was reformed in 1979. A rugged final featured as many bookings as goals and disgorged two male streakers, separately, from the near 30,000 Wycombe support The naked pitch-invaders were quickly escorted away after cavorting contributions on the hour and again IS minutes later. By then Wycombe were 3-1 ahead through set-piece goals from Cousins after two minutes, Kerr on 23 and Thompson on 58.

Shaughnessy's 42nd-min-ute goal raised hopes of a Runcorn comeback but they were dashed when the referee waved play on eight minutes from time after McKenna's header appeared to cross the line. After that Carroll's 90th-minute cross-cum-shot was academic. Runcorm Williams: Bates. Robertson, Hill. Harold.

Anderson. Brady (Parker. 72 mm). Brown. Shaughnessy, McKenna, Brabin.

Wycombe Wanderer Hyde, Cousins, Cooper, Kerr, Crossley, Thompson. Ryan, Hutchinson (Hayreltin. 70). Guppy. Referees I Borrett (Harleston).

Sport in brief Snooker Steve Davis yesterday finished top of the European Snooker League with a 7-1 drubbing of Thailand's James Wattan at the University of Warwick. Davis scored three centuries in four frames, including a tournament best of 140 in the sixth frame. Davis leapfrogged over Jimmy White to end the normal league season on top of the table, with Davis and White guaranteed two of the four places in the 50,000 play-offs in Thornbury, near Bristol, on May 29 and 30. Cycling Toni Rominger of Switzerland gained control of the Tour of Spain yesterday after his blistering finish to the 197-km 14th mountain stage between Tudela and Valdezcaray turned his four seconds deficit into a healthy 33-second advantage. Only his fellow Swiss Alex Zuelle, demoted from first place, and Spain's Laudelino Cubino, 3min 40sec adrift in third position, seem able to prevent Rominger repeating last year's victory.

"I attacked today with the idea of winning the Tour, but my time was not good enough to think of winning yet," Rominger said. Motorcycling Jim Witham continued his domination of the British Superbike Championship by with another double victory in the third round of the series at Snetter-ton. Having won five of the six races in the championship so far, the Huddersfield rider now has a 23-point lead in the series which has not yet reached the halfway stage. Witham beat Steve Hislop by in the first 14-lap race and by some seven seconds in the second. Diving Irina Lashko, the 1992 Olympic silver medallist in the three-metre springboard, won the event at the Alamo International to lead a Russian sweep of both titles for the first time in the 24 years the event has been held.

The 20-year-old led for the entire 10-round competition to win the women's title with 510.51 points. Her teammate Vladimir Timoshinin won the men's platform title with 587.58. SATURDAY was one or those radio days. The final weekend of a league programme ushered in on a tidal wave of TV hype found fans glued to their transistors as if the only Murdoch who mattered was still Kenneth Home's other half. Manchester United's triumph on the 17th green might have dished BSkyB's carefully arranged Premier League climax but at least the championship's early denouement gave the rest a better chance to hold the attention.

Radio's noises off. moreover, added drama and sometimes confusion to the conflicting emotions of promotion and relegation. Portsmouth thought Cambridge United had drawn level at West Ham, in which case their 2-1 defeat of Grimsby at Fratton Park would have taken Jim Smith's team straight up from the First Division, leaving Billy Bonds's side to contest the playoffs. In fact the left-footed shot from Leadbitter which had beaten Miklosko did not count because another Cambridge forward, Bartlett, was offside. The match at Portsmouth ended seconds before Clive Allen's tap-in completed a 2-0 win for West Ham to bring hundreds of their followers on to the pitch in premature celebration.

Speedie had given them the lead two minutes after half-time, hooking the ball in with typical opportunism. Bubbles time at West Ham and a bubble of optimism burst at Fratton, but at least Portsmouth are still in with a chance. Unlike the Crystal set at Highbury where, alas, it was a day for anodes rather than another Noades. West Ham for Crystal Palace, Newcastle for Middlesbrough and one of four good footballing sides (Portsmouth, Tranmere, Swindon or Leicester) for Nottingham Forest would appear to be a fair swap. The Premier League's inaugural season has been distinguished more by the keenness of the triangular contest at the top than any overall quality, and might be enhanced next time by the passions of Tyneside and the enduring football beliefs of London E13.

However, sober reality suggests that only Newcastle have the financial clout to build a team capable of consolidating a Premier League place. This season Blackburn Rovers, backed by Jack Walker's millions, have distinguished themselves by finishing fourth. But Middlesbrough, who went straight up a year ago looking a better side than Blackburn, have gone down and Ipswich, last season's Weekend results Soccer (-Champions; t- Promoted; Relegated; Above dotted line -Play-offs) PREMIER LEAGUE QPfl (0) 2 Ferdinand, Allen 18.904 Wimbledon (0) 1 Hotdsworth 30,115 Aston VOla (0) 1 Daley Han Utd (0) 2 Ince. Robson Arsenal 3, Crystal Palace Blackburn 1, Sheff Wed Coventry 3, Leeds Ipswich 2, Nortm Forest Liverpool 6. Tottenham Man City 2, Everton 5, Middlesbrough 3, Norwich Oldham 4.

Southampton Shed Utd 4, Chelsea 2. A Pt 42 24 12 6 67 31 84 42 21 11 10 57 40 74 42 21 9 12 61 65 72 42 20 11 11 68 46 71 NacUiuiT .41 16 12 13 60 54 OO 42 16 11 15 62 55 59 41 15 14 12 54 48 89 42 15 12 15 56 51 97 41 15 11 15 39 35 SO 42 14 14 14 51 54 41 15 11 15 57 65 60 42 14 12 16 56 55 84 42 IS 8 19 53 55 03 Liverpool- Arsenal Chela 14 10 IB 54 53 62 42 13 13 16 52 57 92 12 16 14 50 55 92 Leeda- 42 12 15 15 57 62 9 42 13 11 18 54 61 90 Oldham 42 13 10 19 63 74 48 JCryatal Pataosu 42 11 16 15 48 61 49 middtasbrough. 42 11 11 20 54 75 44 iNottm Foft 42 10 10 22 41 62 40 Leading goalicemi (total): 28 Sher-ingham (Tottenham); Wright (Arsenal). 22 Ferdinand (QPR). 22 Ouinn (Coventry); Shearer (Blackburn).

21 Rush (Liverpool); Newell (Blackburn). 20 Deane (Shoft Utd); Bright (Sheff Wed). 19 White (Man City); Chapman (Leeds), Hignett (Middlesbrough); Holdsworth (Wimbledon). 18 Le Tissier (Southampton); Saunders (Aston Villa). BARCLAYS LEAGUE First Division Newcastle (6) 7 Leicester (0) 1 Cole 3, Lee Walsh Kelly 3 30.129 Bar (13 ley 1.

Swindon Birmingham 1, Charlton Bristol 4, Brentford 1: Derby 2, Wolverhampton Millwall 0, Bristol Rvrs Notts County 3, Sunderland Peterborough 1, Tranmera Portsmouth 2, Grimsby Southend 2. Luton Watford 0. Oxford Utd West Ham 2. Cambridge Utd 0. A Pts -Newcastle 46 29 9 8 92 38 90 tWeet Hot 46 26 10 10 81 41 B8 Portsmouth 46 26 10 10 80 46 68 46 23 10 13 72 56 79 46 21 13 12 74 59 TO 46 22 10 14 71 64 70 48 18 16 12 46 19 9 1B 46 19 7 20 65 53 70 68 57 OO 58 57 04 55 63 02 57 56 01 49 46 01 56 60 OO 53 56 OO 49 67 BO 57 71 98 55 70 92 54 64 92 50 72 91 48 62 81 50 64 SO Orlms.

Peterborough 46 16 14 16 WotttvffumptOA. 46 16 13 17 Chatften 46 16 13 17 46 17 9 20 46 14 14 18 46 14 14 16 46 14 13 19 46 12 16 18 46 13 13 20 46 13 12 21 46 10 2t 15 46 13 11 22 tam 46 13 10 23 52 71 49 tCambrtdge Utd. 46 11 16 19 48 68 49 Rovera- 46 10 11 25 55 87 41 Leading goalacorers (total): 47 Whit-tfngham (Portsmouth). 29 Blissett (Brent-lord). 27 Savtllo (Birmingham).

20 AldrMge (Tranmere); Cole (Newcastle). 29 Kelly (Newcastle). 24 Kltson (Derby). 22 Morley (West Ham); Furlong (Watford). 21 Masked (Swindon).

20 Gray (Luton). 19 Adcock (Peterborough); Bull (Wolverhampton); Qabota-dlnl (Derby). 18 CoHymore (Southend). Tottenham Wimbledon Shotf Utd toawteti informed source put the odds at "only 60-40" in favour of staying alive. Hereford's goal, after 62 minutes, was scored by Derek Hall, who had once been released by Halifax.

But even Hall had the decency not to appear too pleased. The ground was almost silent, and Hereford went back to the centre circle without celebration. The contrast with events at Gay Meadow was very striking. Northampton were 2-0 down and hopelessly outplayed in the first half. Phil Chard, the player-manager, then pushed himself forward and brought on the substitute Pat Gavin.

Chard scored after 51 minutes; Gavin equalised 20 minutes later and then raced into the path of a badly executed clearance by the goalkeeper to make it 3-2. Each of the goals came after an error of some kind from Robbie Turner, a makeshift de Shtgenobu 69, 69. 68. 71: Meshlal 69. 69.

74. 278 Miyase 66. 73, 70, 69. 279 Kawagishl 71. 73.

68. 67; Takami 67. 70. 70, 72; Maklno 69. 69.

66. 75. Alsot 282 Warren (Aus) 69, 70, 72. 71; Ishil (US) 67. 74.

67. 74. 2S4 Tze-Chung (Tei) 68. 73. 72.

71. 289 Gale (Aus) 73, 70, 70. 72. 288 Marsh (Aus) 74. 69.

71, 72. 287 Franklin (Can) 70. 74. 70, 73; Chie-hsiang (Tai) 69, 72. 70.

76. 288 Hughes (Aus) 70, 73. 73. 72. 289 Watts (U.S.) 72.

70. 72. 75. 20O Minora (Philipmes) 74. 69.

75. 72 291 Jones (Australia) 69, 73, 75. 74; Herrera (Col) 66. 75. 74.

76. ATLANTA CLASSIC) Third round leaders (US unless Btated): 200 Price (Zim) 69. 67, 64. 201 Calcavecchla 67, 67. 67.

202 Johnston 71. 67. 64; Pruitt 66. 68. 68.

PERRIER OPEN (Euro Disney, Paris): Final leading scores: 278 Mickelson (US). 270 Elkington (Aus). 281 Raulerson (US). 283 Gronberg (Swe). 288 Metcalf (GB); Arrutl (Sp).

20O Van de Velde (Fr); Persson (Swe); Larsson (Swe). 298 Wood (GB); Edmond (Fr); Mediate (US). 289 Dussart (Fr); Remesy (Fr). Tennis DAVIS CUP) EuroAfrican aonai Oroup threw, Zona Malta 2. Togo Ukraine 3.

Estonia Benin 3, Djibouti Ukraine 3, Malta Estonia 3, Djibouti Togo 3. Benin 0. LTA SATELLITE TOURNAMENT (Bracknell): Men's semMlneisi Tshbutt (Aus) bt Mathews (Hants) 6X 6-1: A Baust (Fr) bt Matheson (Scot) 6-7, 6-3, 6-3. Final) Tabbutl bt Beust 4-6. 6-3.

6-0. Woman's awl fbialsi VatSn (Swe) bt A Grunfeld (Lanes) 6-1, 5-7, 6-3; 2) Parharnanka (Rus) bt A Woolcock (Aus) 6-2. 7-6. Final. VaKIn bt Parhomenko 6-7.

6-3. 6-1. WOMEN'S ITALIAN OPEN (Rome): Beml flnalsi Martinez (Sp) bt Fernandez (US) 7-6. 6-4; Saoatlnl (Arg) bt A Sanchez Vfcario (Sp) 6-1, 6-3. Fault Martinez (Sp) bt Sabatini (Arg) 7-6, 6-1.

OERMAN OPEN (Hamburg): SansMInahu Such (Ger) bt Sanchez (Sp) 5-7. 7-6. 7-6; A Ctesnokov (Rus) bt Karbacher (Ger) 6-2. 6-4. Ftaab SUch (Ger) bt A (Rus) 6-3, 6-7.

7-3. 6-4. CLAY COURTS) OP TAMPA TOURNAMENT (Fla): SetnMlnats. Ysaga (Peru) bt McEnroe (US) 7-6. 6-3; Fromberg (Aub) bt Shelton (US) 6-7.

6-3. 7-5. Final) Yzaga bt Fromberg 6-4, 6-2. Real tennis BNB BRITISH PROFESSIONAL SINGLES (Holyport): SamMlnalai Deuchar bt Ronaldson 6-0. 6-3, 6-2; Fahey bt Bray 6-2, 6-5.

6-3. Final) Oauehar bt Fahey 6-5. 6-1. 6-4. WOMEN'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (Bordeaux): Fbiab Jonas (GB) bt Cornwallla (GB) 5-6.

6-2, 6-3. Motor Sport SPANISH GRAND PRIX (Barcelona): l. A Prosl (Fr) Williams; 2, Ayrton Senna (Br) McLaren; 3, Schumacher (Ger) Benetton; 4. Patrese (It) Benetton; 5. Andrettl (US) McLaren; 6, Berger (Aut) Ferrari; 7, Blundell (GB) Lfgler; 8, Fittlpaldl (Br) Minardi; 9.

Comas (Fr) Larrousse; 10, A Suzuki (Japan) Footwork; 11, Boutsen (Bel) Jordan; 12, Bamchelio (Br) Jordan; 13, Warwick (GB) Footwork; 14, A Zanardl (It) Lotus. DM not Anient 15, Lehlo (Fin) Sauber; IB. Badoer (It) Lola; 17. Wend-linger (Aut) Sauber; IB, A de Ce saris (II) Tyrrell; 19. Hill (GB) Williams; 2a Ales! (Fr) Ferrari; 21, Barbazza (It) Minardi; 22, Alllot (Fr) Larrousse: 23.

Brundlo (GB) Ll-gier; 24, Katyama (Japan) Tyrrell; 25, Herbert (GB) Lotus. Warld drivers' charnpt-onahlp standings) 1. Prosl 34pts; 2. Senna 32; 3, Schumacher 14; 4, Hill 12: 5-, Blunder, Herbert 7-, Lehto. Patrese 9.

Brundlo 10, Fittfpaldl 11-. Alliol. Bar-bozze Andrettl, Berger 15, Zanardl (It) 1. Constrvctora' efiamtaartahlpi 1. Williams 46pts; 2, McLaren 34; 3.

Benetton 19; 4. Llgler 10; 5. Lotus 7: 6-. Minardi 6-, Sauber 8, Larrousse 2: 8-. Ferrari 2.

Boxing PROFESSIONAL BILL (Thomas and Mack Centre. Las Vegas): WBC haavywalalit ttttai Lennox Lawts (GB, hWr) bt Tony Tucker (US) pts. WBC riUddssw eight ttttai U3) junan jacKaon fender on loan to Shrewsbury from Notts County. He can have the freedom of Northampton if he chooses. After the game 2,000 Cobblers fans (one of whom had been carrying a banner marked "No stood in front of the stand, chanted ecstatically and called for Chard.

It was as if Northampton were back beating Leeds and Aston Villa in the top division again, instead of finishing 90th in the League rather than 92nd. Happiness is always relative to one's expectations. Northampton had already decided they would keep going whatever happened. The decision was taken by a board led by Barry Ward, a chartered accountant specialising in insolvency who found himself running the club when it crashed with 1 million worth of debts and the courts appointed him as administrator. (VI r.

hfdr) rst 5th. WBC Ughl elf ai weight ttttai JuEo Cesar Chavez (Mex, hldr) bt Ter-rence Alii (Guy) rst 6th. Wattemafgtit) Mel-drick Taylor (US) bt Henry Hughes (US) rtd 2nd. Llt-weBenswlght) Hector Camseho (P Rico) bt Eric Podolak (US) rst 5th. Mlddkv wetghtt Thomas Tata (US) bt Eddie Hall (US) rst 1st.

Waltoiweluliti Otos Carr (US) bt Eric Valdez (Mex) pts. haavraalghti King IpKsn (US) bt Sam Atkins (US) disq 3rd. Middleweight. Joval (Neth) bt Ryan (Ireland) pts. Basketball NBA) First round play-offs) Eastern Con-farancat New Jersey 96, Cleveland 79 (best-of-five series tied 2-2).

Western Confer-encei San Antonio 100. Portland 97 (aet) (San Antonio win series 3-1). Houston 84. LA Clippers 80 (Houston win series 3-2); Seattle 100. Utah 92 (Seattle win series 3-2).

Cycling TOUR OF SPAIN) Fourieanth stave ITu- dela to Valdezcaray 1978km): 1. Rominger (Switz) 4hr 46mln 45sec; 2, A Zuelle (Switz) at 37sec; 3, Hirtcon (Col) 41; 4. Cubino (Sp) same time: 5. Montoya (Sp) 59: 6, Gelfi (It) 1 25. Overall) 1.

Rominger 62hr 58mm 14sec; 2, Zulle at 33sec; 3, Cubino 3 40; 4. Rincon 6.14; 5, Afonso (Sp) 6.24; 6. Montoya 6.43. Hockey NATIONAL LEAOUEi Mara First DMsloni Clydesdale 1, Edinburgh Civil service Inverfeith 0, Cortbrex Wanderers Menzie-shill 2. Kelbume Stirlmg 0, Stepps Tou-che Ross 2.

Grange 0. Wcwnam Promotion relegation pury-offi Boroughmuir 1, Burrs Melrosa 1 (1-3 pens). WOMEN'S INTERHATIOHAL (Madrid): Spain 0, England 4. WOMEN'S COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIPS (Ml lion Keynes): Oroup Ai Berks 2, Staffs Berks 1, Lanes Stalls 3. Lanes 0.

Group KentO. Yorks Kent 2. Glos Glos 0. Yorks 0. SemMmais: Staffs 1.

Kent Yorks 0. Lanes 6. 5-6: Berks 1, Glos 0. Final: Lanes 1. Staffs 1 (5-4 pens).

WOMEN'S TR1AHOULARS (Woking): Saturday Woking 0, Wimbledon Woking 2, Sussex Wimbledon 1, Sussex 2. Yesterday: Woking 1, Ealing Woking 2, Blueharts 5: Ealing 11, Blueharts 1. WOMEN'S CLUBS) Gt Harwood 3. Leytand Motors Olton WW 1, Leicester Sheffield 1. Bowdon 1.

AVON WOMEN'S CUP) FVisfc Redlsnd 6. Weston 0. Ice Hockey NHL) Seoond round play -off ai Norrte Division finals) St Louis 4, Toronto 3 (SI Louis lead best-of-seven series 2-1). Smyth Division flnahu Los Angeles 7. Vancouver 4 (Los Angoles lead series 2-1).

Patrick Division finals) NY Islanders 6, Pittsburgh 5 (series tied 2-2). Adams Drrisfen finals! Montreal 4, Buffalo 3 (aet) (Montreal win series 4-0) Baseball AMERICAN LEAOUEi Detroit 7, NY Yankees Toronto 3. Baltimore Boston 1, Milwaukee 0: Chicago WS 6, Cleveland Kansas City 9, Texas California 4. Oakland Minnesota 5. Seattle Baltimore 6, Toronto Milwaukee 6, Boston Chicago WS 10, Cleveland NY Yankees 10.

Detroit Seattle 7, Minnesota Oakland 6, California 2. Postponed) Kansas City Texas. NATIONAL LEAOUEi San Diego 2, Chicago Cubs 1: Philadelphia 4, St Louts Montreal 1. Pittsburgh NY Mets 4. Florida Cincinnati 7, Houston Atlanta 13, Colorado 5: San Francisco 6, LA Dodgers 5: Florida 4, NY Mets 2: Atlanta 8, Colorado Chlcarjo Cubs 8, San Diego LA Dodgers 5, San Francisco Philadelphia 2, St Louis Pittsburgh 10.

Montreal Houston 12, Cincinnati 1. Athletics BA LEAOUEi First DMsloni Kingston) lOOmt Rosswess (Birchfleld) 10.5aec OOm A Male (Thames Vail) 21.8. 400rnt Thomas (Blrchfield) 47.43. SOOmi Williams (Thames Valt) 1.51.3. IBOOmi Stewart (Edln Southern) 3.51.92.

ssOOOmt I Taedasne (tseigrave) n.ao.ua, Syoovm awspi Penney (Harlngey) 6.569. 110ml He has kept the club alive, by the creditors' good grace, and it is now making a small week-by-week profit. Building work has started on the new stadium that will finally get the Cobblers a ground away from the cricket pitch, a move that has been in the offing since the 1930s. The directors talk optimistically, if not yet persuasively. There are two reasons why Northampton Town deserve to survive.

One is that the directors have brought supporters' representatives on the board and vowed never again to let a chairman-dictator take control. Another is that on Saturday Shrewsbury were playing in a fashionably disgusting yellow-and-blue confection. Northampton have gone back to their traditional claret shirts and white shorts. In that respect, at least, they looked like a real football team. Everyone else, please copy.

Owen (Belgrave) 14 22. 400m hurdtasi Lynch (Haringey) 52.4. High hwnpi 0 Grant (Haringey) 2.26m (Man of the Match). Pole vauRt Grant (Thames Vail) 5m. Long hunpt Munroe (Thames Vail) 7.36m.

Triple himpt Golley (Thames Vail) 15 98m. Shott Edwards (Belgrave) 18 35m. Discusi Morns (Belgrave) 55.78m. Hanvnen Head (Newham Essex Beagles) 69.74m JavaUm Mackenzie (Newham A Essex Beagles) 77.04m. 4i100mt Shaftesbury Barnet 41 45.

4x40Omt Haringey 3.11.70. Teamst 1, Haringey 361 pts: 2. Belgrave 303; 3, Woodford Gn 293; 4, Thames Valley 282; 5, Birchfield 264; 6. Shaftesbury Barnet 262; 7. Newham Essex Beagles 226: 8.

Edinburgh Southern 190. Second DhriaJoni Cravriayi 1. Sale 271.5: 2. Crawley 232; 3, 0 Gaytonlans 227; 4, Enfield 188: S. Edinburgh AC ISO; 6.

Wolverhampton Bilston 154.5. Third Dhrlskm Swansaai 1, Liverpool 237; 2, Blackhealh 217; 3. Leeds 213; 4. Windsor. Slough A Eton 212; 5, Swansea 204; 6.

Havering Mayesbrook 176. Fourth Division: Bournemouth) 1. Cardiff 255; 2, Bournemouth 225, 3. Cambridge 203: 4, Sheffield 200: 5, GEC Avionics 197, 6. Croydon 180.

FHth Divlsloni Jarrowi 1, Hounslow 241; 2, of Stoke 235; 3. Bristol 216; 4. Cannock Stafford 215; 5. Morpeth 194; 6. Hercules Wimbledon 152.

Chess EUWE MEMORIAL (Amsterdam): Second round) Anand (Ind) a. Short (Eng) i3; Piket (Neth). Kramnlk (Rus) 3. Third round) Kramnlk ia, Anand 'a: Short Jp Piket a. Standings) Anand, Kramnik z3; Piket, Short 1.

Equestrianism BADMINTON HORSE TRIALS 1. Wellon Houdini (V Leng, GB) 43pts; 2. Ricochet (B Tail. NZ) 44; 3. Watkins (T Cleverly, GB) 48 2: 4, Chiel (V Latta.

NZ) 50; 5, Mr Punch (A Hermann, Swe) 54.4; 6, Quart du Placineau (M-C Duroy. Fra) 55.85. Mofocross WORLD SOOce CHAMPIONSHIP (Austria): Second round) Heat 1) 1. Nilsson (Swe) (Honda); 2, Boonen (Bel) (Kawasaki): 3, King (NZ (Kawasaki). British) 4.

Whatley (KTM); 5. Anstie (Honda); 9. Thorpo (Honda): 11, Wheeler (Kawasaki) 13, Smith (Kawasaki). Hast Si 1. Rossi (It) (KTM); 2, Booned; 3, Anstie.

Brtttsht 8, Thorpe: 9. Smith; 10 Whatley. Hast 3i 1. King; 2, Boonen; 3. Smets (Bel) (Husaberg).

BrtUah! 5, Whatley; 7. Smith; 11, Wheeler. Stendingsi Boonen 72pts; Nilsson 70; King 62. Smets 57; Smith 49; Whatley 44. Fixtures (7.30 unless stated) Soccer PA YOUTH CHALLENGE CUP PINAL) First lagi Man Uld Leeds.

PONTINS LEAOUEi Second Division) Derby Coventry (7.0); Middlesbrough Burnley (7.0); Oldham Scunthorpe (7.0). NEVILLE OVENDEN COMBINATION! First DMsloni Tottenham Fulham (2.0); West Ham Luion (z.uj. quay Yeovil (7.45). Women's FA Cup winners Arsenal were crowned Iho new notional league champions yesterday alter defeating Red Star Southampton 4-1 at Fareham Town. Arsenal scored four first-half goals wilh England midfielder Debbie Bampton grabbing a brace and Naz Ball and Jo Churchman scoring one apiece.

Arsenal, with the WFA Cup and the Premier division tills already in the bag, are now set (or the treble delendlng the League Cup at Wembley against Liverpool's Knowa-ley United on Saturday May 29. 8) Peru's Jaime Yzaga successfully defended his title at the USTA Men's Clay Courts tennis tournament of Tampa In Florida when he beat Australia's Richard Fromberg, 6-4, 6-2 In the final. Yzaga, unseeded but ranked 67 in the world, needed 1h 21min to secure victory. Ha has now won seven titles In his eight-year career. Matthew Engel BEFORE Saturday not many people knew and still fewer cared that Greg Downs grew up in Northamptonshire and that his brothers still live in Higham Ferrers.

The significance of this is that before this last round of matches either Northampton Town or Halifax Town had to finish bottom and be booted out of the League. Downs is the player-manager of Hereford United, who were playing Halifax in the crucial match. In theory Hereford had no reason to try especially hard in a game Halifax had to win. In practice Downs told his players that, if they did not try their damnedest, his family would make his life a misery. Hereford went and won 1-0 in front of The Shay's first, and presumably last, crowd above 7,000 in many years.

In BAQ SCOTTISH Premier Dtv-iatoni Aberdeen 1, St Johnstone Dundee 3, Hibernian Hearts 1, Airdrfe Motherwell 2. Falkirk Partick 0, Celtic Rangers 1, uuncee ura u. A Pts 3 95 33 71 42 32 7 42 25 10 7 62 35 OO 43 23 12 8 66 41 88 43 19 9 15 55 45 47 43 15 14 14 45 46 44 43 9 20 14 49 65 39 43 12 13 IB 54 63 37 43 11 12 20 48 66 34 43 11 12 20 49 71 34 43 10 13 20 44 61 33 43 11 7 25 59 84 29 i 17 20 34 60 29 (total): 49 McCoist (Ranaerst. 27 Hatelev (Rancters). 20 Shearer (Aberdeen).

21 Wright (St Johnstone). SO Paatelainen (Aberdeen). 19 Connolly (Dundee Utd). 18 Dodds (Dundee). 17 Booth (Aberdeen).

10 Jess (Aberdeen). 10 Jackson (Hibernian); Ferguson (Dundee VtsJ): Robertson (Hearts). First DMstoni Ayr 3, St Mlrren Cowdenbeath 0, Kilmarnock Dumbarton 0, Dunfermline O-, Hamilton 2, Clydebank Morton 1. Stirling Raith 3, Meadow bank 2. Leading 1, 'Raith Rvrs (P43.

Pts 65), 2. Kilmarnock (43-63), 3. Dunfermline (43-62): 4. St Mirren (43-S1). Relegated.

Cowdenbeath and Meadowbank. Leading goahv corera (total): 34 Oalziel (Raith). 23 Eadie (Clydebank). 22 Brewster (Raith) 19 Flanni-gan (Clydebank); Lavety (St Mirren). 10 McCluskey (Kilmarnock).

Second OMaloni Arbroath 3, East Fife Brechin 2, Albion East Stirling 0, Montrose Forfar 1, Alloa Queen ol South 2, Clyde Stenhousemuir 0, Queen's Park Stranraer 3, Berwick 1. Leading standing! 1. 'Clyde (P3B, Pts54): 2. Brechin (36-61); 3, Stranraer (38-51). Lending goalscorere (total): 20 Mathieson (Stenhousemuir).

24 Ross (Brechin). 23 Sorbie (Arbroath). 22 Petrie (Forfar); Thomson (Queen Of South). 20 Sloan (Stranraer). 19 Moffat (Alloa).

POOLS CHECK. Jacbpot draw (6): 13.21. 25. 40, 42. 55.

Itfgh-eeore draws (4): 2. 24, 33. 46. Ho-eeora draws (4): 18, 48, 54. 57.

WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS) Concacaf third round) Mexico 2, Canada 1 (Mexico advance to the World Cup linals); El Salvador 2. Honduras 1. Asian const First round, Oroup Dt South Korea 0, Bahrain Lebanon 2, Hong Kong 2. PA VASEi Fhu Bridlington Tn 1, Tiverton Tn 0. FA TROPHYi Fatah Wycombe 4.

Runcorn 1. IRISH CUPi Final replayi Ards 1, Bangor 1 (aet: replay Windsor Pk. May 11). LEAGUE OR IRELAND! Premier Dtrislont Piy-offT Shelbourne 0. Bohemians 0.

INTERHAtiOHAL FRIENDLY) Colombia 2, United States 1. SPANISH LEAOUE) Osasuna 0. Se villa Real Sociedad 1. Celta Real Madrid 1, Rayo Vallecano Tenertfe 1. Real Ovledo Barcelona 4.

Cadiz Real Burgos 1, Espa-nol Sporting Gijon 3, Real Zaragoza Deportivo Co runs 0, Logrones Valencia 1. Atletico Madrid 0. Leading standings) 1, Barcelona (P32, P1s50); 2. Real Madrid (32-49): 3. Deportivo La Coruna (32-44).

OERMAN LEA QUE) Werder Bremen 1. Bor-ussia Dortmund 0. Lsanng standing! 1, Bayem Munich (P30, Pts42); 2. Werder Bremen (30-42); 3, Borussia Dortmund (30-39). DUTCH LEAOUEi Aax 5.

Feyenoord Vo-lendam 4, SWDordrecht '90 RKC Waal-wik 1. Fortuna Sittard Sparta Rotterdam 0, Vitesse Arnhem 3. Ssfturdsyi PSV 2, Go Ahead Eagles Devorrter Cambuur Leeu-warden 4. Twento Ertschede Den Bosch 0, Wllfem II Tllburg 3. Leading standings) 1, PSV (P29.

Pts47); 2. Feyenoord (30-46): 3, Ajax (30-43). ITALIAN LEAOUEi Ancona 1, Milan Brescia 2, Atalsnla Cagllari 1. Udlnese Inter 2, Lazlo Juventus 4, Foggla Napoll 2, Genoa Roma 4, Torino Sampdorla 1, Peseara 1. Saturday.

Florentine 1, Parma 1. Lasdhnj tending si 1, AC Milan (P30. Pta46); 2, Internazlonalo (30-42): 3, Juventus (30-36). FRENCH LEAGUE. Caen 2, Marseille Paris St Germain 1, Monaco Valenciennes 1.

Bordeaux 0: Strasbourg 2. Nantes Mont-pellier 1, Salnl-EMenne Touton 1. Auxerre 2. Toulouse 0, Lens 0. Metz 2.

Le Havre Lyon 0. Nimes Lille 0. Sochaux 0. BCLQIAH LEAGUE) Lierse 0. Standard Ghent 2, Boom Arvderiecht 1, Club Brugge Genk 0, Charleroi Waregem 5.

Lommel Cerde Brugge 4, Molenbeek Beveren 2, Lokeren Liege 1. Mechelen Ekeren 0, Antwerp 2. Leading standings! 1. Ander-lecht (P33. Pts58); 2, Standard Liege (33-43), 3, Mechelen (33-40) PORTUGUESE LEAOUEi Braga 3.

Belen-enses Farense 2, Maritime Salgueiros 1, Tirsertse Boavtsta 2, Chaves 0: Famaticao 1, Pacos Ferretra Espinho 3, Estonl 1. Saturday Sporting 3, Betra Mar Porto 4. Gil Vicente 1. Ludlng standings) 1. Benlica (P30, Pts47); 2, FC Porto (29-46): 3.

Sporting (30-41). Rugby Union SWALEC CUP) Pinal (Cardiff): Llanelli 21, Neath 18. MIDDLESEX SEVENS (Twickenham): Quarter-finals) Ldn Scottish 12. Northampton 26; Saracens 14. Harlequins 21; Wefting-ton 10.

Wasps 35; Ldn Irish 14, Western Samoa 17. Scmt-flnslsi Northampton 26. Harlequins Wasps 17, Western Samoa 12 (aet). Ftnafa Wasps 26. Northampton 24.

Plata fbutb Richmond 36. Basingstoke 7. Rugby League STONES BITTER PREMIERSHIP St Helens (0) 18, Leeds (0) 2. St Helens) Trie! Cooper. Hunte.

Ooate Loughlin 3. Dropi O'Donnell. Leeds) Ooali Irving (11.178). DIVISIONAL PREMIERSHIP) SemUtnshu Featherslone 35, Dewsbury 12; Rochdale 16. Workington 30.

WIN FIELD CUP) Brisbane Broncos 22, lllawarra Stealers 20; Penrith 16, Sydney 20; Balmain 20. Western Suburbs 24; St George 16. Newcastle Knights 12; Canberra Raiders 15, Eastern Suburbs 10 (in Perth). Golf BENSON AND HEDGES INTER NATIONAL OPEN (St Mellion): Final scores (GBIre unless slated; amateur); 278 Broadhurst 69. 69.

67. 71. 277 James 68. 71, 69. 69; Olazabal (Sp) 67.

72, 68, 70. 279 Haegg-man (Swe) 69. 69. 71, 70; Brand Jnr 67. 69.

71, 72. 281 Faldo 70. 70, 74. 67. 283 Singh (Fiji) 68.

75. 70, 70; Montgomene 70. 72, 71. 70: Chapman 70, 72. 65, 76.

288 A Murray 73, 72. 74, 66; A GUIner (Swe) 74. 68. 72, 71; Ames (Trl) 75, 67, 70. 73.

280 Farry (Fr) 73. 74. 70, 69: Rocca (It) 70. 72. 74.

70; Mason 74. 73. 69. 70; McGinley 72. 70, 73.

71; Lawrle 72, 77. 65. 72; Goosen (SA) 76. 68. 69, 73; A Russell 70, 72, 70, 74.

287 Karlsson (Swe) 73, 74, 75, 65; Field 76. 71. 71. 69; Evans 72. 69.

72. 74. 288 Basson (SA) 74, 71. 70. 73.

289 Poxon 72. 72, 74. 71; Clarke 76, 68. 74, 71; Roe 73. 71, 74.

71; Gilford 69. 76, 72, 72; A Jimenez (Sp) 74. 73. 69. 73.

20O Senior (Aus) 74. 69. 77. 70. Curry 72.

77. 68, 73; Sewell 70. 76, 70. 74. A Oldcorn 71.

70. 71, 78. 291 Riley (Aus) 75, 73. 72, 71; Lane 60. 75, 75.

72; Struver (Ger) 67, 74. 78. 72; Carrilos (Sp) 75. 72, 72, 72; Parnevik (Swe) 61, 68. 70.

72: A Hunter 77, 68. 71. 75. 292 AHIock 70, 76. 75, 71; Hall 74.

73. 74. 71; Torrance 71, 75, 73, 73. 292 Johnstone (Zim) 74, 71. 78.

70; Clark 74, 75. 72, 72; Mackenzie 72, 74. 73, 74; Curry 74. 71. 73, 75.

294 Boxall 74. 75, 76. 69; A Fora brand (Swe) 73, 76, 72. 73; Levet (Fr) 74, 73. 72.

75: O'Connor Jnr 71. 74. 72. 77. 29S O'Connell 72, 75, 78, 70; Turner (HZ) 74.

73, 76. 72; A Sorensen (Den) 74, 73, 74, 74; Davis (Aus) 71. 73. 75, 76; Brand 69, 78, 72. 76; Townsend (US) 72.

76. 71. 78. 290 Claydon 71. 77.

76, 72; Karlsson (Swe) 73. 75. 76, 72; Teravainen (US) 75, 74. 72. 75; Sunesoon (Swe) 75, 72, 72.

77; McFarlane 75, 71, 72, 78. 297 Richards on 75. 74. 76, 72; Mouland 70, 77, 77, 73; Orr 74. 73.

77. 73; Selfberg (Swe) 74, 71, 77. 75; Gates 74. 74, 74. 75; Wllllson 74, 73, 74, 76.

298 Fernandez (Arg) 73. 76, 78, 71: McAllister 75. 70. 70. 74; Bowman (US) 76.

73, 75, 74; Lanner (Swe) 76. 72. 75, 75; Feherty 77, 71. 72. 78.

301 McLean 74, 73. 79. 75. 302 Malley (US) 74. 75.

78, 75. 303 Wolsten-hotmo 74, 74. 76. 79. 304 Baker 75, 69, 64, 76.

314 H-P Thuel (Ger) 74, 73, 68, 79. FUJI SANKBI CLASSIC (Tokyo): Final scores (Japanese unless stated): 270 Ozakl 67, 67, 66, 6B. 274 Watarvabe 66. 68. 69, 69; Hamilton (US) 71, 67, 66, 71.

277 Blackpool 2. Port Vale Bolton 1, Preston Bournemouth 0, Wigan Bradford 0, Hartlepool Brighton 3. Chester 2, Fulliam 1, Exeter Huddersfield 2, Stockport Mansfield 1. Rotherham Plymouth 2, Reading 2, Stoke 1. Burnley Swansea 0, Leylon Orient West Brom 3, Hull 1.

A Pta 46 27 12 7 73 34 92 46 27 9 IP B0 41 wO 46 26 11 9 79 44 B9 46 25 10 11 BS 54 S3 46 20 13 13 65 47 79 19 15 12 81 57 72 Leylon Orient 46 21 9 16 69 53 72 Raadina 46 16 15 13 66 51 89 46 20 9 17 63 59 09 46 IB 14 14 69 67 08 46 17 14 15 60 60 08 46 16 17 13 57 55 89 46 15 16 15 57 59 01 46 16 12 18 59 64 OO 46 17 9 20 54 61 OO 46 14 12 20 42 60 04 46 12 17 17 45 52 80 46 12 15 19 63 75 81 46 11 17 IB 54 69 BO HuH 46 13 11 22 46 69 SO tPreston 46 13 8 25 65 94 47 mansfleU 46 11 11 24 52 BO 44 IWIgan 46 10 11 25 43 72 41 tCnestar 46 8 5 33 49 55 29 Leading goalecorers (total): 37 Taylor (West Brom); Francis (Stockport) 32 Stein (Stoke); Walker (Bolton) 28 Ellis (Preston); McCarthy (Bradford). 23 Ouinn (Reading). 22 Nogan (Brighton); Heath (Burnley); McGlnlay (Bolton). 20 Rimmer (Chester). 19 Jewell (Bradford); Taylor (Port Vale).

18 Taylor (Leyton Orient); Eyres (Blackpool). Third DMefont Crewe 4, Bamet Ooncas-ter 0. Walsall Halilax 0. Hereford Lincoln 2. Darlington Rochdale 2, Chesterfield Scarborough 2.

Carlisle Scunthorpe 0, Cardiff 3: Shrewsbury 2, Northampton Torquay 2. Gill 'ham Wrexham 4, Colchester 3. A Pta Cardiff 42 25 8 9 77 47 83 Wrexham 42 23 11 6 75 52 BO 42 23 10 9 66 48 79 York- 42 21 12 9 72 45 78 42 22 7 13 76 61 73 42 21 7 14 75 56 TO fliiry 42 18 9 15 63 55 03 42 18 9 15 57 42 17 11 14 57 42 18 5 19 67 42 16 10 16 70 42 15 11 16 59 42 15 9 18 66 42 14 12 16 57 42 12 14 16 48 42 11 14 17 42 42 10 15 17 47 42 11 11 20 51 42 12 7 23 45 42 11 8 23 48 42 9 13 20 46 53 83 52 02 76 89 70 SO 63 SO 71 04 54 54 53 BO 57 47 60 49 65 44 67 43 74 41 64 40 tHaurajt 42 9 9 24 45 68 30 Leading goatseorere (total): 31 Foreman (Scarborough); Griffiths (Shrewsbury). 23 Clarke (Walsall). 21 Barnes (York); Bennett (Wrexham).

20 Watkln (Wrexham): Naylor (Crewe). 19 Bull (Barnet); Slant (Cardiff). 17 Cecere (Walsall); Helllwell (Scunthorpe). 10 Blacxstone (York); Oghanl (Carlisle); Clark-son (Crewe); Mooney (Scarborough). QM VAUXHALL COMFIHEMCSi Oiamj-onat Wycombe.

Relegated! FamborouQh and Boston. HPS LOANS LBAOUIt Premier DMeJoni Champtonai Southport DIAOORA LIAQUEi Premier Dhrlslom Ctiamptonsi Chesham (denied promotion to QM Vauxhall Conference because ol Interior ground). BCAZSJt HOM2S UKAOUEi Fiend- Dhr-tsleni Chernpianei Dover. BASS H-W COUNTIES IXAQUEi First Dhr-Wom B.ackpoof Rvra 2. Bradford Pk Ave Burscough 2, Nantwlch Tn Darvren 0.

Flix-Ion Glossop NE 2. Eastwood Hanley Kldsgrove Ath 1, Prescot Newcastle Tn 2, Maine Rd (Man) 1: Penrith 1. Chsdderlon 1. ROffTIMS LBAOUCi Fire. OMelom Leeds 3, Sheff Utd 1.

NEVtUI OVBKKN COMBlNATtOHi Pint PI rid one Tottenham 9. Norwich 4. S-B COUNTIES LEAGUE Pint DMetont Cambridge 1, West Ham Fulham 1, Charlton Millwall 1. Tottenham OPR 3, Norwich 1. Burnley Hartlepool BounwrncHrth.

Exeter rhuTirffifl Scarborough SovfithotpeaaBBBP Dwtg1on Poncneter.i -Hereford.