From: tjc@ecs.soton.ac.uk (Tim Chown)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.soccer
Subject: English News: Boxing Day results, tables
Date: 4 Jan 93 15:40:43 GMT


Premier:

ARSENAL 0-0 IPSWICH
Arsenal had to settle for a draw as Ipswich stretched their unbeaten
run to 12 games.  Ipswich goalkeeper Clive Baker
kept the Gunners at bay, superbly tipping over a Nigel Winterburn
effort in the first half.  Baker kept out a Steve Bould volley
after the break and Ian Wright was also unlucky not to score.
Ipswich, who have lost only twice in the League this season, found it
hard to create chances.

BLACKBURN 3-1 LEEDS UNITED
Sharp-shooter Alan Shearer grabbed another two goals to send Kenny
Dalglish's side into second spot.  Jason Wilcox fired Rovers ahead in
the eighth minute after latching onto David May's through ball.
Gary McAllister equalised for Leeds who have had a disastrous season
since winning the championship.  But Shearer, with his 21st and 22nd
goals of the season, had the last last laugh to put Blackburn within
three points of leaders Norwich.

CHELSEA 1-1 SOUTHAMPTON
A last-gasp equaliser from Eddie Newton salvaged a point for Chelsea
and kept their title aspirations on the boil.
Newton pounced in the 89th minute, holding off the attentions of John
Kenna to rifle home a low left-foot shot beyond the keeper.
Iain Dowie put the Saints in front after just two minutes, firing home
for his third goal in four games.  But after holding on for 87 minutes
they were cruelly denied the win.

CRYSTAL PALACE 2-0 WIMBLEDON
The Dons were given a lesson in finishing by their landlords as
Palace clocked up their fifth successive win.
The win moved the Eagles away from trouble, but as a result Wimbledon
were plunged deeper into the mire.  Chris Coleman fired the first after
three minutes and Gareth Southgate made it two before half-time.
Wimbledon's Brian McAllister was sent off five minutes from time to
make their misery complete.

EVERTON 2-2 MIDDLESBROUGH
Middlesbrough striker Craig Hignett repaid a slice of his transfer fee
by scoring his first two goals.  The 22-year-old, a #500,000 capture
from Crewe last month, was a thorn in Everton's side as Boro twice
came from behind to level.  Paul Rideout headed the home side
in front after 47 minutes, but Hignett pounced within two minutes.
Peter Beardsley's penalty looked to have given Everton the points, but
up popped Hignett to snatch a draw.

MANCHESTER CITY 2-0 SHEFFIELD UTD
David White struck twice to leave the Blades struggling in the
relegation zone.  The City winger beat the United
offside trap in the 20th minute and fired over the head of 'keeper Alan
Kelly from the edge of the box.  And White was again on hand in the
55th minute when he rose above the Sheffield defence to head home Rick
Holden's cross at the near post.  The visitors were unlucky not to
pull one back after 71 minutes when Carl Bradshaw hit the bar.

NORWICH CITY 0-0 TOTTENHAM
Table-topping Norwich saw their lead slashed after being held at
home by a resolute Tottneham side.  City failed to make late pressure
pay off but it was Spurs who looked more likely to score early on.
Neil Ruddock was unlucky to see his goal from a free-kick ruled out as
the referee was still organising the defensive wall.
Teddy Sheringham went close with the re-take while at the other end
Chris Sutton and Vinny Samways both squandered good chances.

SHEFFIELD WED 3-3 MANCHESTER UNITED
Eric Cantona salvaged a point for United as Alex Ferguson's men
stormed back from 3-0 down with an amazing second half performance.
David Hirst and Mark Bright hit the visitors with two goals in the
first six minutes and John Sheridan made it three on 62 minutes.
Brian McClair started the fightback with a header five minutes later
and he added another on 80 minutes.  Cantona grabbed the equaliser six
minutes from time from close range.

                  P  W  D  L  F  A PTS
 1 Norwich City   21 12  4  5 34 34 40
--------------------------------------
 2 Blackburn R    21 10  7  4 33 18 37
--------------------------------------
 3 Man Utd        21  9  8  4 25 17 35
 4 Aston Villa    21  9  8  4 31 24 35
 5 Chelsea        21  9  7  5 28 22 34
 6 Ipswich Town   21  7 12  2 29 22 33
 7 Coventry City  21  8  8  5 33 27 32
 8 Arsenal        21  9  4  8 23 21 31
 9 Manchester C   21  8  5  8 29 23 29
10 QPR            20  8  5  7 26 23 29
11 Liverpool      20  8  4  8 34 32 28
12 Middlesbrough  21  6  9  6 33 32 27
13 Tottenham H    21  6  8  7 20 26 26
14 Sheffield Wed  21  5  9  7 25 28 24
15 Southampton    21  5  9  7 21 24 24
16 Leeds Utd      21  6  6  9 33 37 24
17 Crystal P      21  5  9  7 28 33 24
18 Everton        21  6  5 10 19 26 23
19 Oldham Ath     20  5  6  9 33 39 21
--------------------------------------
20 Sheffield Utd  21  5  6 10 18 28 21
21 Wimbledon      21  4  7 10 26 33 19
22 Nott'm Forest  20  3  6 11 19 31 15


Division One:

BRENTFORD 2-1 DERBY COUNTY
Two goals in as many minutes took Brentford's unbeaten run to eight
games and ended Derby's sequence of seven consecutive away wins.
The Bees' remarkable run has lifted them from the relegation zone to
the fringe of the promotion race.  Joe Allon hit the first just before
half-time and Rams defencer Richard Goulooze then shot into his own net
Derby, who always looked dangerous, replied through Paul Kitson but
could not snatch an equaliser.

BRISTOL CITY 1-1 OXFORD
A catalogue of missed chances cost Bristol City dear as they dropped
more valuable points at Ashton Gate.  Oxford opened the scoring through
Joey Beauchamp after four minutes but spent much of the remainder of
the match on the defensive.  Leroy Rosenior levelled on the half
hour but City were unable to turn constant pressure into more goals.
When they finally did break through Oxford keeper Paul Reece was there
to deny Rosenior and Garry Shelton.

CHARLTON 1-1 WEST HAM
A late goal from John Bumstead denied West Ham victory in a hard
fought London derby at The Valley.  Julian Dicks gave the Hammers a
10th minute lead with a 25-yard free-kick that took a wicked
deflection before soaring in.  But Charlton came back strongly and
Bumstead fired in the equaliser with just 11 minutes left.
West Ham could have snatched it in the last minute, but Bob Bolder did
well to tip over Dicks' drive.

GRIMSBY TOWN 4-2 BARNSLEY
Grimsby ended their run of four straight defeats despite a brave
Barnsley comeback on a frozen pitch. Dave Gilbert put The Mariners ahead
after 50 seconds and Paul Groves made it 2-0 in the 32nd minute.
Barnsley however had the better of things but didn't score until the
72nd minute through Gerry Taggart.  David Currie hit an 80th minute
equaliser but Grimsby came again as Gilbert hammered home a 20-yard
free-kick and then set up Tommy Watson to volley home the winner.

NEWCASTLE 2-1 WOLVES
Newcastle extended their healthy position at the top thanks to David
Kelly's double strike.  The Magpies were forced to come
from behind after Paul Cook gave Wolves a shock 33rd minute lead.
Kelly grabbed the equaliser 10 minutes later and put Newcastle in
front with a scorching drive midway through the second half.
Wolves continued to make a fight of it, but class triumphed to put
United 12 points clear of the field.

PORTSMOUTH 4-1 BRISTOL ROVERS
Guy Whittingham bagged four goals for Portsmouth to end Bristol
Rovers' recent run of form.  Whittingham hit his first in the
12th minute when a fierce Chris Burns shot rebounded for him to
gratefully slot home.  He cashed in again eight minutes
later after a poor Paul Hardyman back-pass before John Taylor pulled
one back with a 25-yard shot.  But Pompey took command midway
through the second half with goals from Whittingham on 64 and 76 mins.

SOUTHEND 1-2 WATFORD
Watford made Southend pay for missed chances with two second
half goals at Roots Hall.  The struggling home side opened
the scoring after 21 minutes with an Andy Sussex penalty after Steve
Brown had been fouled.  Jason Soloman levelled a minute
into the second half after Gerard Lavin and Andy Hessenthaler work.
Ken Charlery wrapped it up for Watford from eight yards after 61
minutes.

TRANMERE ROVERS 1-1 MILLWALL
Tranmere kept their unbeaten home League record but Millwall made it
difficult and deserved their point.  Both sides played good football on
a tricky Prenton Park surface.  John Morrissey gave Rovers a 36th
minute lead with an angled shot and Ian Muir hit the post before Andy
May rattled the Tranmere bar.  The Lions equalised in the 48th
minute when Jon Goodman capitalised on a defensive error, and both
goalkeepers made crucial late saves to keep the game all-square.

                   P  W  D  L  F  A PTS
 1 Newcastle Utd  22 17  2  3 43 17 53
 2 Tranmere R     21 12  5  4 41 23 41
--------------------------------------
 3 West Ham       22 11  5  6 41 23 38
 4 Millwall       22  9  9  4 33 20 36
 5 Leicester C    22 10  5  7 29 26 35
 6 Portsmouth     22  9  7  6 38 26 34
--------------------------------------
 7 Swindon Town   21  9  6  6 40 36 33
 8 Derby County   22 10  3  9 38 29 33
 9 Wolves         23  8  9  6 34 28 33
10 Brentford      22  9  5  8 34 26 32
11 Charlton Ath   23  8  8  7 26 22 32
12 Grimsby Town   22  9  4  9 34 30 31
13 Peterborough   19  8  6  5 30 25 30
14 Watford        23  7  8  8 30 35 29
15 Barnsley       22  8  3 11 26 26 27
16 Oxford United  21  5 11  5 30 25 26
17 Bristol City   22  7  5 10 28 44 26
18 Sunderland     21  7  4 10 20 31 25
19 Bristol R      23  6  4 13 32 51 22
20 Luton Town     21  4  8  9 23 41 20
21 Birmingham C   20  5  5 10 18 35 20
--------------------------------------
22 Notts County   22  4  7 11 22 41 19
23 Cambridge U    22  4  7 11 21 40 19
24 Southend Utd   22  4  6 12 22 33 18


Division Two:

Stoke City extended their lead at the top to seven points after a
Dave Regis goal earned them a 1-0 victory over Reading at Elm Park.
Joint pre-season favourites West Brom go second with two Paul Raven
goals beating struggling Chester.  Brighton and Hartlepool climb into
contention with wins over Burnley and Hull respectively while Leyton
Orient were held 0-0 by Fulham.  Neither Rotherham or Port Vale
played due to the bad weather.


BLACKPOOL      3-3 BRADFORD CITY
Gouck 2, 87        McCarthy 28, 63
Eyres pen 45       Jewell 47

BOLTON         2-1 WIGAN
Walker 57, 63      Powell 41

BOURNEMOUTH    0-2 SWANSEA
West 58
Legg 59

BRIGHTON       3-0 BURNLEY
Nogan 19, 52
Crumplin 56

EXETER         2-0 PLYMOUTH
Whiston 4
Daniels 73

HARTLEPOOL     1-0 HULL
Johnrose 13

LEYTON ORIENT  0-0 FULHAM

READING        0-1 STOKE
Regis 36

WEST BROM      2-0 CHESTER
Raven 24, 76

                   P  W  D  L  F  A PTS
 1 Stoke City     21 13  6  2 37 19 45
 2 WBA            21 11  5  5 34 19 38
--------------------------------------
 3 Leyton Orient  21 11  3  7 33 24 36
 4 Rotherham      20 10  6  4 29 21 36
 5 Port Vale      20  9  8  3 35 21 35
 6 Brighton       21 10  5  6 31 24 35
--------------------------------------
 7 Hartlepool     20  9  6  5 26 21 33
 8 Bolton W       20  9  5  6 37 21 32
 9 Stockport      19  9  5  5 35 23 32
10 Bradford City  21  9  5  7 32 35 32
11 Swansea City   21  8  7  6 27 19 31
12 Fulham         22  7  9  6 28 30 30
13 Burnley        21  8  6  7 25 28 30
14 Plymouth A     21  8  5  8 23 28 29
15 Exeter         21  6  8  7 26 30 26
16 Reading        21  6  7  8 29 25 25
17 Bournemouth    21  5  9  7 16 21 24
18 Hull City      21  6  5 10 27 33 23
19 Wigan Ath      21  6  5 10 25 33 23
20 Preston        20  6  4 10 29 39 22
--------------------------------------
21 Chester        21  4  4 13 26 42 16
22 Mansfield      20  4  4 12 20 39 16
23 Blackpool      21  2  7 12 24 39 13
24 Huddersfield   20  3  4 13 16 36 13


Division Three:

York City came from three goals down at Cardiff to draw 3-3 and go
one point clear of gameless Barnet at the top of the table.
Walsall go third after a Dean Smith goal beat Torquay but Shrewsbury's
progress was halted by a late Derek Hall equaliser at Hereford.
Two goals in the final two minutes by Steve Richards rescued a point
for Doncaster against Halifax.  But Gillingham are now four points
adrift at the bottom after a Kevin Hulme hat-trick gave Bury a 4-1 win
and Northampton beat Colchester.

CARDIFF        3-3 YORK C
Hall og 31         Blackstone 51,54
Gorman 35          Barnes 59
Stant 45

CREWE          0-1 WREXHAM
Bennett 65

GILLINGHAM     1-4 BURY (see 312)
Smith 56           Hulme 14, 78, 90
Sonner 29

HALIFAX        2-2 DONCASTER
Megson 9           Richards 89, 90
Thompstone 73

HEREFORD       1-1 SHREWSBURY
Hall 88            Worsley 75

NORTHAMPTON    1-0 COLCHESTER
McParland 23

ROCHDALE       2-0 SCUNTHORPE
Whitehall 30
Flounders 44

TORQUAY        0-1 WALSALL
Smith 19
McDonald sent
off

                   P  W  D  L  F  A PTS
 1 York City      19 12  4  3 39 22 40
 2 Barnet         19 12  3  4 35 20 39
 3 Walsall        18 10  2  6 37 31 32
--------------------------------------
 4 Shrewsbury T   19  9  4  6 25 22 31
 5 Rochdale       19  8  6  5 37 30 30
 6 Wrexham        19  8  6  5 30 26 30
 7 Lincoln City   18  9  3  6 22 19 30
--------------------------------------
 8 Cardiff City   19  8  5  6 33 26 29
 9 Scarborough    18  8  5  5 31 30 29
10 Crewe A        18  9  1  8 33 29 28
11 Chesterfield   18  7  6  5 24 23 27
12 Colchester Utd 20  8  1 11 32 39 25
13 Bury           20  7  4  9 29 35 25
14 Scunthorpe Utd 19  7  4  8 23 24 25
15 Doncaster R    20  6  7  7 21 26 25
16 Carlisle Utd   18  6  4  8 27 27 22
17 Darlington     18  6  4  8 24 24 22
18 Halifax Town   20  5  5 10 27 33 20
19 Torquay Utd    19  6  2 11 19 30 20
20 Hereford Utd   19  4  6  9 23 32 18
21 Northampton T  19  5  3 11 22 35 18
22 Gillingham     20  3  5 12 20 30 14



GM Vauxhall Conference:

BATH          2-1 KIDDERMINSTER
Withey 32         Hadley 22
Crowley 47

BOSTON        2-1 WELLING
Moss 47           Dennis 76
Jones 86

BROMSGROVE    2-2 FARNBOROUGH
Whitehouse 56     Leworthy 58
Crisp 81          Coles 60

DAGENHAM & R  1-1 YEOVIL
Blackford 3       Sanderson 39

SLOUGH        2-1 MERTHYR
McKinnon 22       Williams pen 47
Sayer 86

WOKING        0-3 WYCOMBE
Guppy 34, 46
Scott 86

                   P  W  D  L  F  A PTS
 1 Wycombe W      22 16  3  3 58 15 51
--------------------------------------
 2 Slough Town    19 12  3  4 33 21 39
 3 Bromsgrove     21  9  8  4 31 23 35
 4 Dagenham & R   20  9  7  4 36 19 34
 5 Telford Utd    21  9  6  6 33 32 33
 6 Gateshead      19 10  2  7 29 27 32
 7 Bath City      19  8  6  5 31 19 30
 8 Stalybridge    22  7  9  6 29 28 30
 9 Yeovil Town    20  8  4  8 27 26 28
10 Kettering T    22  8  4 10 35 37 28
11 Farnborough    23  7  6 10 42 48 27
12 Woking         21  8  3 10 31 40 27
13 Northwich Vic  20  7  4  9 28 29 25
14 Welling Utd    24  6  7 11 38 49 25
15 Witton Albion  19  5  9  5 27 25 24
16 Kidderminster  18  5  7  6 19 20 22
17 Macclesfield   18  7  1 10 22 26 22
18 Merthyr T      19  6  4  9 21 37 22
19 Altrincham     18  5  6  7 19 23 21
20 Runcorn        22  5  5 12 25 46 20
21 Stafford R     15  4  5  6 18 23 17
22 Boston Utd     22  4  5 13 22 41 17



DIADORA LEAGUE Premier Division

   Aylesbury       3-2  St Albans
   Basingstoke T   OFF  Bognor R
   Bromley         2-2  Dulwich H
   Carshalton A    2-1  Sutton U
   Enfield         1-0  Stevenage
   Grays Ath       2-1  Wivenhoe
   Harrow Borough  1-1  Hendon
   Hayes           0-0  Yeading
   Kingstonian     3-1  Staines T
   Marlow          1-4  Chesham U
   Windsor/Eton    1-2  Wokingham

HFS LOANS LEAGUE Premier Division

   Accrington S    6-1  Emley
   Barrow          2-0  Fleetwood
   Bishop Auck     1-1  Goole
   Chorley         OFF  Horwich
   Frickley        OFF  Whitley Bay
   Leek            OFF  Gainsborough
   Matlock         OFF  Buxton
   Mossley         0-1  Droylsden
   Southport       0-0  Marine
   Winsford        OFF  Colwyn Bay


BEAZER HOMES LEAGUE Premier Division
  
   Atherstone      OFF  Corby T     1
   Bashley         3-0  Waterlooville
   Burton A        OFF  VS Rugby    2
   Chelmsford      1-1  Cambridge C
   Dorchester      0-1  Weymouth
   Gloucester      OFF  Trowbridge
   Halesowen       OFF  Cheltenham
   Hastings        2-0  Crawley
   Hednesford      OFF  Worcester
   Solihull        OFF  Moor Green