St Albans City 1

Walton & Hersham 1

Swans shrugged off the disappointment of Bank Holiday Monday's 1-0 home defeat by fellow strugglers Hampton to put on a great display at high-flying St Albans City on Saturday.

The home side had gone 12 matches unbeaten in the Ryman League and had suffered just a single defeat in 20 games.

Acting management team Mark Hill and Trevor Baron kept faith with Monday's side, with Tommy Williams replacing Luke Dowling at left back the only change.

Walton's defence absorbed some initial home pressure but the home defence was constantly troubled by Swan's quick breaks.

Swans' defence were playing superbly and Delroy Preddie in goal was rarely troubled. But they failed to find the net with chances from Ellington and Rake.

With a minute of stoppage time played in the first half Walton got the goal they merited, as Nathan Ellington, sent clear by Ross Pickett, shrugged aside keeper Newell to slot home.

In the second half Swans again had the better chances, but could not find the net.

This proved costly as Haworth burst through a square Swans' defence, beat Preddie and rolled the ball home.

Swans still looked the most likely winners and it came as a shock when the home side were awarded a contentious penalty with 15 minutes remaining.,

Haworth again ran into Swans' area but was going nowhere when he tumbled over theatrically, the referee relying on his assistant to give the penalty decision.

Justice was seen to be done, however, when the usually deadly Clark hit the crossbar. And in the dying minutes Johnson and Williams almost snatched it for the Walton side, who would have settled for a point before kick-off.

What a turkey!

Cobham 3, Viking Sports 1

Probably the most welcome event of the afternoon was the referee's final whistle to end this lethargic post-Christmas encounter.

Goals from dependable Terry Gale, for once not with his head, Chris Osbourne and reserve team player Chris Nobbs, virtually killed off the game by the 13th minute. Had the home team converted half of their chances double figures would not have been out of the question.

It was fortunate for the team that their ever vocal manger Caller was away. Surely he would have had a major cadenza with the manner in which his team performed.

Viking scored a soft consolation goal near the end.

Mass brawl ends match

Charlton Ladies 1

Hampton Ladies 2

(Match abandoned, 77 mins)

There is an old joke that someone went to a boxing match and an ice hockey game broke out. Well I went to a football match and a fight broke out that caused the referee to abandon the game.

Although it takes players to start a fight, the root cause of violence was the inability of the referee to exercise proper control of this South East combination match.

The referee failed to stamp on early trouble and the match exploded in the 77th minute. Hampton took a 39th minute lead through Julie Shingler after a long period of pressure.

A couple of Charlton players were spoken to by the referee for disputing decisions.

Hampton had the benefit of the sloped pitch and a strong wind in the first 45 minutes but were only able to go in 1-0 ahead at half time. Playing up the slope in the second Hampton conceded an early equaliser but then took the lead again in the 52nd minute through Susie Wells and were looking good for the win.

Shortly afterwards Hampton's Mel Whittle was booked for a foul, undoubtedly the correct decision. Then Sally McCowan was elbowed in the stomach by a Charlton player who was only given a yellow for her violent conduct.

In the 75th minute Kerry Knott replaced Michelle Bolton and then a minute or two later she was cautioned for a late tackle.

Knott was then struck from the side by a Charlton player, in full view of the referee, and all hell let loose as players from both sides waded in, some as peacemakers.

The referee, instead of imposing his authority, abrogated it completely, picked up the ball and walked off abandoning the game. Several Charlton players refused to join their colleagues after the game and remained talking with the bemused Hampton players still left out on the pitch.

BOWLS

Wynne it

Wynne Richards, England international and member of mid-Surrey (outdoor) and Cambridge Park (indoor), is through to the quarter finals of the World Indoor Singles and Pairs Championships at Potters, Great Yarmouth.

Wynne is partnered by fellow international Greg Harlow from Cambridgeshire. They are seeded 6th.

Cross-country

Runners set off across country

Two Belgrave internationals began 1999 on a winning note with triumphs as far afield as Durham and Stoke-on-Trent.

Spencer Barden, wearing the Belgrave vest for the first time, was the controversial winner of the men's middle-distance three kilometres cross-country race at the BUPA Great North Meeting at Durham.

He swept home in 8 min 31 sec, two seconds clear of Blackheath's Dave Heath, when the race leader, John Mayock from Cannock finished a lap early.

Former Kingston College student, Sam Haughian, found it hard going as he finished 10th in 8:45.

Back to full fitness after injury, Belgrave's Mike Miles won the New Year 10 kilometres race at Stoke-on-Trent more than three minutes ahead in 31:46.

Teddington-based marathon international, Richard Nerurkar, finished down the field in the IAAF World Cross Challenge Race at Durham. He was 29th in 29:34, more than two-and-a-half minutes behind race winner Milion Wolde of Ethiopia.

Nerurkar is not race fit after a month's altitude training in Kenya.

Ranelagh's former London marathon winner, Hugh Jones, also made a prize winning start to 1999 as he was the first veteran runner to finish in the National Playing Fields Association 10 kilometres road race in Hyde Park. He was seventh in 32:55.

Herculean efforts as the wind blows

Despite blustery conditions, records went tumbling in the annual Hercules Wimbledon seven miles road race in Wimbledon Village.

Thames Hare and Hounds' runner Larry Matthews took around a minute off the race record, crossing the line in 34:59.

He finished clear of Oxford University runner Jeremy Bradley (36:07), with Thames' Wayne Oxborough third in 36:38.

Finishing fourth and taking the Lauriston Runners Club title was Sutton's Tim Beer in 37:00 with Hercules Wimbledon cross country captain Richard Xerri next, 12 seconds later.

Hercules Wimbledon's Grenville Tuck was the first veteran over 45 to finish in 39:21 with Barnet's Liam O'Hare beating Hercules Wimbledon's Dennis Williams by just five seconds to win the over 50 prize.

Hercules Wimbledon's Estle Viljoen smashed the women's course record with 42:38 while Falklands veteran Keith Spacie from Thames Hare and Hounds set new over 60 veteran figures of 46:06.

Thames' Madeleine Watson completed the record rush with 50:45 in winning the veteran women's section.

Hercules Wimbledon's Jerome Brooks took second place when he ran as a guest in the Metropolitan League race at Ruislip Woods.

He finished the five and a half miles in 29:45, four seconds behind winner Steve Sharp of Puma TVH.

Hockey

It's looking good for Surrey's finest

Surrey clubs can all look back on a satisfactory first half to their league campaign as they prepare for the resumption this weekend.

With all senior leagues being reduced to a maximum of 12 teams next season it is vital for a high postion this season.

Following a 1-1 draw at Wokingham and a 4-1 home win over Old Whitgiftians Wimbledon lie second in the 20-team South Premier League, but a full seven points adrift of leaders Fareham.

Newly promoted Old Cranleighans, with a 2-0 win at Anchorians and 4-1 home victory over Herne Bay, are eighth. But they have three points deducted, subject to appeal, for a non-appearance at High Wycombe. The fixture, is played this Saturday.

Also playing, at Purley Walcountians, are Richmond, currently ninth with 15 points, and three games in hand, the other two being at home to Anchorians (on Sunday January 17) and Beckenham (date to be decided). That last fixture had to be abandoned before Christmas, prior to Richmond losing 0-2 at former national league side City of Portsmouth.

In the 19-team Hants/Surrey Regional League Old Georgians are top with a maximum 30 points from 10 games, following successive wins at home to Camberley and away at Barnes and at home to Oxted before Christmas.

Epsom are second, also on maximum points, but from one game less, following wins at London University and at home to Spencer before Christmas. This Saturday they play their outstanding fixture at 15th placed Dulwich.

The other Surrey side in this league, Oxshott, lie seventh with 17 points from 10 games, following a win at Portsmouth and at hapless Camberley before Christmas.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.