The Guardian from London, Greater London, England • 24

24 Cdca-Cola Cup, second NEWS THE GUARDIA1S Thursday October 6 im Bolton 1, Ipswich 0 (agg: 4-0) I Begs Portsmouth i Eyertort i (agg Sneekes in to humble Ipswich round, second David Lacey Petri Wilson their feet, most clear-cut chances came at the other end. Bolton's Thompson, probably their most impressive player going forward, exchanged passes with Paatelaihen In the 14th minute before sending over a cross that presented the Finn with a free header in front of goal, only to see him make an ineffective, glancing contact After a frantic two minutes in which Wark, Williams and Palmer were booked Sedgley headed wide from six yards before he became the fourth visitor to be cautioned. The Irish international midfielder brought a diving, save from Forrest from a free-kick move and the Ipswich goalkeeper produced an even better stop on the stroke of the interval when Sneekes, a Dutchman who has quickly established a reputation as a long-shot specialist, saw a 30-yard 'effort tipped over the bar. Sneekes brought another good save from Forrest in the second half, but most Of his alert runs from defence' went unheeded by his colleagues. After Paatelainen missed a golden opportunity after 73 minutes, running clear on goal from McGinlay's pass but rolling a shot wide, Sneekes popped up in the centre and buried a low drive beyond Forrest.

Bottom Branegan: Lydlate. Phillips, McAteer (Patterson, 87mln). Thompson, Spooner, Fisher, Sneekes, Paatelainen (De Freitas, 83), McGinlay, Lee. aaavnohi Forrest; Yallop. Johnson, Wark (Cotterell, 70).

Llnlghan, Slater, Williams. Palmer, Sedgley, Thomson, Guentchev. ACCORDING to Bruce Rioch there is no such thing as a formality in football, though the Bolton fans appear to be familiar with the concept of an anticlimax. The crowd of 8,212 was well down from the average Burn-den Park League gate. This proves either that Boltonians have lost their appetite for Premiership scalps or that the East Anglians were not rated much of a conquest after the roistering Cup runs of the last two seasons.

Ipswich held out until Sneekes gave Bolton a 4-0 aggregate advantage 13 minutes from the end. The visitors knew an early goal was a priority and must have been heartened by the absence of Stubbs and Ker-naghan from the Bolton defence, one out with a shoulder injury and the other withheld by Manchester City under the terms of his loan. But with Kiwomya injured, Marshall on paternity leave and Paz at home in South America, the visiting attack was in no position to press home the advantage. What threats to Bolton's first-leg lead materialised in an evenly balanced first half came through Thomsen. The big Danish midfielder's headed flick let Guentchev test Branagan's reflexes early on but, once Bolton's reserves at the rear found CT" 13 HE RE was no solace by Hue Solent for Everton and their beleaguered mm manaeer Mike Walker.

Well though they often played at Fratton Park last night after wiping out Portsmouth first-leg lead, the Premiership's bot tom team eventually went out ot the Coca-Cola Cup to a late goal trom Paul Hall, whose in troduction after half-time transformed the First Division side's attack. Whether or not such a defeat amounts to a sackable offence only the Everton board know. On last night's evidence Walker could justifiably plead for more time. He insisted afterwards: "A few people will be thinking I'm going somewhere else but I know where I'm headed. If people think we are going to lie down and roll over they are making a mistake." Had it not been for Alan Knight, the Portsmouth goalkeeper, Everton would have won the tie comfortably.

As it was, they lost it when Hall, a 100,000 signing from Torquay, scored through Southall's legs in the 89th minute. Everton did not look like a team in crisis but they are now without a win in 10 matches this season and Walker has achieved only five victories in 29 games since he moved to Goodison Park. Before the kick-off he and his chairman had a long discussion near the touch-line. A cynical thought was that the manager was being shown the players newly signed. Be that as it may, Ferguson, on loan from Rangers with Dur-rant, on the bench last night, added a number of confident first-time touches to an Everton attack inspired by the skill and bustle of Amokachi.

These two, supported consistently by Stuart, Parkinson and Samways, had the measure of Portsmouth's defence from the outset and after several near misses, which included Knight scooping the ball clear after Stuart's shot had taken a looping deflection off Gittens, Watson headed the aggregate scores level in the 17th minute from Samways's corner. West Ham 2, Walsall (Honour Russell Thomas JOHN MONCUR, largely at odds with the muddled labours of his West Ham colleagues, embellished a night of outstanding midfield endeavour with a 94th-minute goal that finally quelled a Walsall side intent on reviving memories of cup exploits past. Chris NichoU's new club, who had not been past the second round for 10 years, came to London with a 2-1 lead and held it for more than an hour. Then the barrier was lowered again, Manchester City 4, Barnet 1 (agg: 4-2) Walsh sparks City's revival Portsmouth's Gittens has the measure of Everton's debutant Ferguson at Fratton Park last night PHOTOGRAPH: FRANK BARON he gained the support of the burly Powell, moving up from midfield. However it was the exceptional pace of Hall, who had replaced Pethick on the left, which led to the downfall of Walker's side.

As Knight tipped a shot from Ferguson over the bar and Amokachi turned superbly before shooting just wide it seemed that Portsmouth had the more reason to fear extra-time. Then Powell's head glanced on Knight's clearance, Hall nut-megged Southall and Everton retired to Bournemouth to consider the implications of Saturday's visit to Southampton. Whether or not Walker survives beyond the weekend may Heading towards victory At that point Portsmouth ap peared to be living on borrowed time. They had led 3-0 at Goodison before Everton scored twice. Now their main chance seemed to have slipped away and the decision of Jim Smith, the Portsmouth manager, to play five at the back with only Creaney up front had helped give the opposition the initia 0 (aet.

agg 3-2) masterminds Hammers' recovery Stephen Biortoy FOR almost an hour. Third Division Barnet appeared capable of knocking Man chester City out of this competi tion at Mame Road last night. In the end they were defeated decisively enough, although the scoreline was more than a little harsh. City stuttered and stumbled during a first half which ended with Barnet in the ascendancy and understandably buoyant "Unfortunately we did riot take our chances but I -was very proud of my players," said Bar-net's manager Ray Clemence. Quinn eventually levelled the aggregate score in the second half when the Barnet goalkeeper Phillips could only push aside a low shot by Lomas.

It was a goal Bamet scarcely deserved to concede and they responded almost immediately with their top scorer Freed man hooking in from close range. Indeed Freedman, who was being watched by several Premiership managers, including Kenny Dalelish. had two fur ther chances shortly afterwards. He would have been dis appointed to have missed one of them, a view echoed by his manager. City increased the number and the quality of their crosses after half-time while Walsh suddenly discovered a level of form that Barnet were unable to cope to securing the late goal that would have avoided extra-time.

Mehew shot wide, then forced a desperate clearing header from Breacker at the far post; O'Connor beat two defenders before shooting tamely. The simplicity of West Ham's goals mocked their laboured efforts for most of the night. The first flowed via Bishop and Allen to Moncur, whose onward header Hutchison converted with a gentle volley past Wood. The second, stemming again from the left, found Rowland this time crossing and Hutchison seizing on an at Case dismissed latest setback for the Spurs manager as the books close on his survival injuryanewblowforArdiles but Seagulls soar Hellbron (Newton Aycllrf). with.

First he headed in Sum-merbee's long cross from the right and then set up Summer-bee, via Lomas, for City's third and decisive goal. And so the tie was turned upside down, for City had been woeful before the interval. Bar-net had often appeared the more likely to succeed with Brightwell kicking off the line from Hoddle and then Hodges being forced wide after Freedman had seized on a dreadful mistake by HilL City had failed to pick up Freedman in the first leg and continued to lose him again. Barnet displayed excellent composure throughout the team in that first half when their defence was more than a match for City's fitful efforts. Brian Horton, the City manager, believed it was his side's greater pace that eventually saw them home.

He was probably right Barnet certainly did tire. Until then there was little to separate the teams. Once Walsh had scored City's second, though, the tie swung strongly their way. Quinn's second goal, and City's fourth, left a scoreline that did not reflect the overall closeness of the two legs. Manchester Cltyi Dlbblo; Hill, Phelan.

Lomas, Edghlll, I Brightwell. Summerbee. Walsh (Grimms, B9mln). Quinn, Flitcrolt. Beagrfe.

Bamata Phillips; McDonald, Gale (Newell. as), Hoooie, newson. primus, romiinson (Haynes, 82). Freedman, Hodges. Scott.

Wilson. Refereei Lodge (Barnsloy). himself out of favour with Palace's manager Alan Smith and last week asked for a move from the club who paid Newcastle 650,000 for him in 1989. Swindon have taken Nottingham Forest's 31-year-old former England midfielder Neil Webb on a month's loan. Bolton are signing the central defender Simon Coleman from Sheffield Wednesday for 350,000.

Fashanu in hot water with FA JOHN FASHANU has been charged with misconduct by the Football Association over remarks made about Eric Can-tona in the Sun newspaper. Manchester United complained to the FA after Fashanu referred to their controversial French playmaker as "a dirty, nasty b'" in his September 20 column "Fash His Weekly Criticising Cantona over his performance in United's 2-0 victory against Liverpool, Fashanu accused him of "a malicious, dangerous lunge on Neil Ruddock" that was "both cowardly and The FA has also taken issue with Tranmere Rovers, charging the Merseyside club with misconduct over what it termed "derogatory" programme notes about Sheffield United last month. It was said that Dave Bassett, the Sheffield manager, "may be secretly pleased with the way his boys have gone about their kamikaze while his board was as helpful as "a piggy bank without a hole" when it came to buying players. Fashanu and Tranmere have 14 days to explain their comments. Thorn goes back to Wimbledon tive.

Knight, however, continued to defy Everton with some excellent saves, the best on the stroke of half-time when he pushed Stuart's shot against a post, Dobson clearing the rebound. Early in the game the squareness of the Everton defence had seen Creaney go close a couple of times, and for the second half mark's own-goal at Bescot Stadium that gave the Premiership club some insurance last night. Hutchison and the 27-year-old Moncur, worthy of England recognition as his midfield talents mature with age, cost 2.5m between them. Set in this context a Walsall side costing 40,000 expended only on their inspirational captain O'Connor have even more reason to take pride in their performance over 210 minutes. Nicholl, who enjoyed a triumphant return to management with their first-leg victory, saw his team go tantalisingly close Russell Thomas on the Anderton OSSIE ARDILES, booed after the 3-2 defeat by Watford at White Hart Lane on Tuesday, suffered a further blow yesterday when he learned that his England winger Darren Anderton would be out of action for four to six weeks with a torn groin muscle.

The injury, revealed in a specialist's examination, is the latest setback to a manager who knows he is fighting for job survival. Ardiles has already lost his two Results Soccer NOLISH COCA-COLA CUP Second round, second leg Arsenal (0) 2 Hartlepool (0) Campbell 79 20,520 Dlclcov 89 (agg: 7-0) Bameley(0)O 10,992 (ago: 1-3) Bolton (0)1 Sneekes 77 (agg: 4-0) Bisrnley (0) 1 Robinson 84 19.032 (aoa: 1-6) Coventry (1) Dublin 17, 60 Wegerle 64 6.561 Newcastle (1) 1 Cole 41 tpavrlch (0) 8,212 Liverpool (1) 4 Redknapp IS, 68 Fowler 51 Clough 7S Wraiham (1) 2 Cross 42 Bennett 72 (pen) (agg: a-oj (0) irtoMoo in a 14,258 Munday 18 (agg: 0-3) Nogan 84 Man (0) 4 Bamet (0) 1 Oulnn 58, 88, Walsh 67 Freedman 57 Summerbee 77 11,545 (agg: 4-2) Man Utd (1) a Port Vale (0) McClair 34 31,615 May 61 (agg: 4-1) Portsmouth (0) Everton (1) 1 Hall 88 Watson 17 13,605 (agg: 4-3) QPfl (2) 2 Carlisle (0) Alien a 0,3 Wilson 39 (pen) (agg: 3-0) Southampton (1) 4 HwldenftoM (0) Lo Tissier 41 (pen), on, a (agg: 5-0) Torquay (0) Wimbledon (1) 1 4,244 Holdsworth 38 (agg: 0-3) WMt Ham (0) 9 WataaB (0) Hutchison 61 13,553 Moncur 94 2, 1 2, well depend on the result at The Dell, if indeed he is still there by then. He could do with a little luck. Certainly none came his way last night. Portsmouth! Knight; Krlstensen, Gittens, Symons.

Dobson, Stlmson, Prokl, Pethick (Han, n-t), powen. McLoughlin. creaney. vertoni Southall: Snodin, Watson Unsworth, Burrows, Stuart, Parkinson, Samways, Hlnchclitfe (Rideoul, 89mln). t-erguson, amoKacm.

Refereei Cooper (Pontypridd). Moncur extra-time winner formance" against Watford though Spurs went through 8-6 on aggregate his players were called in for extra training. After seeing his team concede 22 goals in 10 matches, Ardiles's priority is to sort out his defence. One bookmaker, at least, has sorted out his future for him; William Hill have closed their book on the former Argentinian World Cup winner, no longer being in charge of Tottenham at the end of the season. EUROPEAN WOMEN'S INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIP (Zurich): First roundi MeOrath (US) bt Po (US) 4-8, 6-0, 0-2; MajoN (Cro) bt Radford (Aus) 8-2, 6-1; Ore-mans (Neth) bt Vis (Neth) 6-3.

7-6: Pierce (Fr) bt Nelland (Ul) 6-3 8-3 Second roundi Maloova (Bui) bt War-del (US) 6-3. 3-1 ret: Zvereva (Bela) bt Makarova (Rus) 4-6, 6-2. 6-1: Navratt-lova (US) bt MeGrath (US) 7-6, 6-3; McNeil (US) bt Raymond (US) 6-1 8-2. Cricket THREZ-DAV MATCH (Harare): Mashona-land Country Oislricts 177 and 125 Sri Lanka 600-6 dec. Sri Lanka won by Innings and 298 runs.

Squash WORLD WOMEN'S OPEN (Guernsev): Second roundi 8 Horner (Eng) bt Langley (Eng) 10-8, 9-6, 9-0; Niton (SA) bt Som-mers (Neth) 9-1 7-9, 9-1 10-8; ntaOeraM (Aus) bt Bell (Aus) 9-3, 9-3. 9-8; Macrae (Eng) bt Maclle (Scot) 4-9, 10-8, 9-0, 9-2; Wright (Eng) bt Clltton-Parks (SA) 9-7. 9-6, 9-5; Wasowe (Can) bt Spacay (Eng) 9-3, 9-2, 9-3; Martin (Aus) bl Jans (Can) 9-0, 9-1, 9-3; asms (NZ) bt Bra-dey (Aus) 9-4, 9-1, 9-2: Charman (Eng) bt Le Molgnan (Eng) 9-2, 5-9, 9-7, 9-6; Oeavea (Eng) bt Weeka Aus) 4-9, 9-0, 9-2, 9-4: Irving (Aus) bt Cooper (Aus) 9-0, 9-3, 9-2; Oohoene (Ger) bt Wilson (NZ) 9-0, 9-0, 9-0; Jaokman (Eng) bt Hol-leran (US) 9-7. 9-1. 9-4.

Owene (Aus) bt Leeves (Eng) 9-5, 9-2, 9-4: Martin (Eng) bt Van Hoorn (Hoi) 104, 9X9, 9-7; Cardwe (Aus) bl Marsh (NZ) 9-5, 6-9, 9-3, 8-10, 9-5. Snooker DUBAI DUTY Fftn CLASSIC! Quarter. Hnabu A McManua (Scot) bt Bond (Eng) 5-4; liendry (Scot) bt Doherty (Ire) 5-4. Fixtures (7.30 unlesa stated) Soccer POHTIHS LIAOAIB (7.0): FWsti Aston Villa Loeds; Shell Utd Blackburn. Secondi Oldham Barnaley.

LBAOUB OP IRELAND! Premier DnrkOoru Durxuik Shaitourna (8.0). by Don Hutchison's volley and Moncur's eager extra-time exploitation of an angled shot from the same striker that rebounded invitingly from the inside of a post. Once again West Ham were indebted to new faces introduced since the summer in hopes of alleviating a goal malaise that had made Harry Red-knapp's team the least productive in the land. Moncur and Hutchison are now the club's leading scorers with the princely total of two goals apiece and it was only the Cameroonian Charlie Nta- three defenders before scoring. Andy Cole, controversially omitted from the England squad this week, scored his 12th goal of the season as Newcastle won 1-0 at Barnsley, 3-1 on aggregate.

Newcastle gave a full debut to Paul Kitson and had Lee Clark making his first start for eight months after injury. Manchester United again risked the wrath of the Football League by fielding an unrecognisable side for the home leg with Port Vale. After playing a host of youngsters in the first game, United last night had just two players, Pallister and McClair, with regular first-team experience. They still won 2-0 for a 4-1 aggregate. Arsenal, too, could be in trouble for making seven changes to the side that lost in the Premiership last Saturday for their game against Hartlepool.

They won 2-0 for a 7-0 aggregate. Paul Cook became the second Coventry player sent off in 48 hours during last night's game with Wrexham. Gary Gillespie was dismissed at Leicester on Monday. Cook handled a shot on the line. Coventry held on for a 3-2 win, 5-3 on aggregate.

Le Tissier four goals tempted headed clearance to drive against the post; Moncur devoured the rebound. Moncur later produced a superbly chipped pass from which Marsh's shot hit a post and appeared to have crossed the line before Mehew cleared. Walsall's last hope evaporated with Potts's. tackle from behind on Lightbourne which earned the West Ham defender his fifth booking of the season. Wml Hami Mlklosko; Breacker, Whilbread, Potts, Rowland, Allen, Bishop, Marsh, Moncur, Hutchison, Chapman.

WalsaRi Wood; Ryder, Palmer, Watklss, Rodgers, Mehew, Peer, O'Connor, Marsh (Ntamark, h-t), Wilson, Lightbourne. Refereei Holbrook (Ludlow). leg. Troubled by a slight groin strain recently, he suffered worse damage. "I felt something go when I went to cross the ball.

A minute later I took a corner and it went completely." Among the Premiership fixtures Anderton will almost certainly miss are games with Leeds, Manchester City, Blackburn and Aston Villa. Yesterday, after what Ardiles described as "an embarrassing and amateurish per Rugby Union HEIN1KIN LKAOUKi First DMeloni Swansea 45, Bridgend 15. CLUB MATCH Hi Abertlllery 40, Aberavon 13: Maestog 10, Llanelli 44; West Hartlepool 54, Northern 12. Rugby League TOUR MATCH Leeds (2) AusbsHa (26) 48. Leadei Tryi Tail.

Ooab Cummins. Australia! Trfeei Et- tlnghausen 3, Langer 3, Menlnga, Menzles, Renouf. Ooalsi Furner 8 (18,581) STONU BITTER CHAMPIONSHIP Second Division Dawabury (16) 33, Carlisle (0) 30. Dews-buryi Trfeei Agar, Bates, Oelaney, Fisher. Longo, Marchant, Shane Williams.

Ooahu Agar 5 Carilslei Tries, Graham 2, Richardson 2. Ooalai Richardson 2 (1,012) Boxing COMMONWEALTH MIDDLEWEIGHT TITME (Wolverhamplon): Woodhall (Telford, holder) beat Le Blanc (Can) on points. Tennis AUSTRALIAN INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIP (Sydney): Second roundi Krajloek (Neth) bl Steven (NZ) 7-6. 6-3: Becker (Ger) bt Bryan (US) 6-4, 1-6, 6-0. TOULOUSa MEN'S TOURNAMENT! Pint roundi Second roundi Palmer (US) bt Hlasek (Switz) 6-2, 6-1: Laraaon (Swe) bt Matter (Br) 7-6, 6-4; Dolaltni (Fr) bl Rosset (Swlt) 6-1 5-7 6-2.

LTA AUTUMN SATBLLITB (Nottingham): kleni Second roundi OouM (GB) bt Davidson GB) 6-3. 6-1; RWaeaen (Neth) Mllllgan (GB) 6-3, 6-i; A Pratzaeh (Ger) bt Henderson (GB) 6-4, 6-4; Skooh (Cz) bl Ward (GB) 6-1, 6-2; Pate (Ci) bt Hand (GB) 3-6. 6-4, 7-6: Bohaffkee (Ger) bt Maclagan (GB) 5-7. 8-2, 6-3: Cowan (G8) bl Weal (GB) 8-4, 8-1; Create (Cro) bl Sanders (GB) 2-6, 7-8, 6-4. Womeni First round! I Taaeah (Fr) bt Ptasek (Den) 6-2.

6-4; Be Natala (II) bt Hand (GB) 6-2. 6-4; Cereten (Ger) bt Lamarre (Fr) 6-4, 6-2; Bond (GB) bt Hartserl (GB) 6-4, 6-2; Ward (GB) Roubanova (GB) 4-6, 6-2. 6-0; AM (GB) bt Olson (Oen) 6-7, 6-2, 6-3: Uehmen (GB) bt Dawson (GB) 7-5, 6-0; A SbJot (Get) bt Barabanachlkova (Bala) 8-4, 6-3. Romanians Dumitrescu and Popescu, on European Championship duty, for Saturday's home game against Queens Park. Rangers.

He is likely to be without Anderton for six further Premiership and Coca-Cola Cup games; and the winger will naturally miss England's meeting with Romania next Wednesday. Anderton, who signed a two-year extension to his contract earlier on Tuesday, left the field in the 20th minute of the Coca-Cola second Wloan (0)0 2,633 (agg: 0-8) A Villa (1)3 Lamptoy 43, 85 Whiltlngham 60 ANGLO-ITALIAN CUP International Stago Group A Atalanta (1) Hotta Co (0) 1 Rodroguez 33 Agana 70 12)3 10) 1 Mutch 32. 88 Scott 44 Venexla (1) a Rankino. og 37 Vieri, pen 58 Group MMdtsabrough (0) 1 Moreno 56 3,273 Ptaoenxa) (0) 1 Devitls, pen 65 MwH Utd (2) 3 Ward 8 Battersby 24 Scott 81 1,250 UdkwM (I) 1 Pllil 29 Ayew 78 2,375 Wolves (1) 1 Venus 28 Ceaena (0) 1 Hubner 64 Derby (0) 1 Williams 77 Aneona (1) 3 Bagllerl 29 Catanese 48 AngeUs 50 Stoho (0) 3 Downing 69 Biggins 73 Butler 74 BAQCUP Quartar-final MontroM (0) 1 Kennedy 98 (pen) 825 (aet; 0-0 at 90mln) Clydebank (0) a Flannlgan 112 Cooper 114 NORTH UN PREMIER LBUOUKi Accring-ton 1, Bishop Auckland 4: Boston 2, Guise-ley 2: Droylsden 2, Gainsborough Winsford Marina 2. Cupt Ffcat round! Caernarfon Tn 3, Mossley 0.

PONTINB LRAOUEi Pint DMeloni Sunderland 1, Stoko 0. Second Dhrisloni Blackpool 1, Man Bradford 2. Birmingham York 1, Preston 0. COMBINATIONi nrtti Norwich 2, Bristol Oxford 3, Bristol Tottenham 2, Luton Wimbledon 1, Brighton 3. Seoondi Batli 0, Cardiff 2: Exeter 2, Birmingham Hereford Torquay Plymouth 3, Yeovil 1.

MMIAMi Kalaerauutarn I. Munich 1. SECOND Division Brighton had the old warhorse Jimmy Case sent off but that did not stop them knocking Premiership Leicester City out of the Coca-Cola Cup at Filbert Street last night. They won 2-0 for a 3-0 aggregate victory. The Leicester manager Brian Little refused to blame tiredness because his players were forced to play 48 hours after a gruelling Premiership derby with Coventry.

He said simply: "It is the worst result in all the time I have been here." Case, now 40, was sent off for two bookable offences, kicking the ball away then delaying a corner three minutes from time. The punishment brought criticism of the referee Jim Rushton from the Brighton manager Liam Brady. "Jimmy is the oldest outfield player playing league football in England and he didn't deserve that sort of embarrassment," said Brady. "We were 2-0 up on the night and 3-0 ahead on aggregate at that stage. The referee could have used a bit more common sense to get Jimmy to hurry up." Case had been among Albion's heroes along with the defender Steve Foster, another survivor of Brighton's famous FA Cup run in 1983.

The Seagulls went ahead via Stuart Munday's 35-yard floater over Kevin Poole; Kurt Nogan then killed off City's revival hopes with his 12th goal of the season. Matthew Le Tissier gave Terry Venables a timely reminder of his rare gifts by scoring all four goals in Southampton's victory over Hudders-field at The Dell last night. It will surely give England's manager pause for thought as his most reliable scorer, David Piatt, and Darren Anderton will miss next week's friendly against Romania through injury. Le Tissier's best goal was his second, where he beat AFTER six years away Andy Thorn, a member of Wimbledon's 1988 FA Cup-winning team, rejoined Sam Ham mam's club yesterday on a free transfer from their Selhurst Park landlords Crystal Palace, writes Russell Thomas. The 27-year-old central de fender, out of first-team action for eight months, has battled back to fitness after a series of knee operations but has found Sport in brief Boxing Richie Woodhall from Telford did almost everything right but was taken the distance by the Canadian Jacques Le Blanc in retaining his Commonwealth middleweight title in Wolverhampton last night.

It was Woodhall's first fight for seven months after surgery on both hands but his dominance was measured by the scoring of the referee Dave Paris, 120-114 'A. Athletics The world and Olympic 100 metres champion Linford Christie, who vowed never to set foot in South Africa until apartheid was dismantled, is now ready to visit the country, writes Duncan Mackay. He could make his debut there next April. "We would love him to get involved in development in the townships," said Bernard Rose, chief executive of Athletics South Africa. Ice Hockey The Players' Association in the United States yesterday rejected the owners' latest proposal to end the stalemate that has postponed the start of the NHL season.

It was due to begin on Saturday. (uti at Mrnin; ago: 3-2).