KEVIN KEEGAN says he's enjoying being back in a tracksuit, even though Fulham's promotion dream is hanging in the balance. The former Newcastle manager goes to Grimsby's Blundell Park on Wednesday for the Cottagers' play-off semi-final second leg with his side having conceded a vital away goal in Saturday's 1-1 first leg draw.
"I like this. The Premier League may be what it's all about, but there's too much hype," he said. "This is real football. It's just like the real world. I'm happy here because Fulham is a happening place. I take my responsibility very seriously. I want to help this club achieve its dreams. It's an unusual club. We have the finance and there's even more money if we need it."
There was more gloom for Keegan yesterday, as it was revealed that big-name signings Peter Beardsley and Chris Coleman will both miss Wednesday's clash with hamstring injuries. That is a serious blow for the Division One hopefuls, already without front man Paul Moody, whose first-half dismissal on Saturday earns him a three-match suspension. But Keegan insisted: There's still everything to play for. Paul has apologised to the players, so that will have to do.

HEALD HAS BARNET BUZZING Barnet 1 Colchester 0 Division Three Play-Off Semi-Final First Leg DEFENDER Greg Heald got the only goal just after half-time to give Barnet a narrow advantage after the first leg of this Third Division play-off semi-final. Colchester, who finished fourth and were the division's second highest scorers behind champions Notts County, kept the Bees on the back foot for much of the first half, as they went in search of a precious away goal. The home side got to the interval at 0-0, though, and stunned United three minutes into the second period with Heald's opportunistic strike. The ball bounced around in the box and goalkeeper Carl Emberson could only punch it straight to Heald, who calmly tucked away his fifth goal of the season with a first-time shot. As the tension built in the second-half of what was already a pretty niggly match, tempers began to spill over. Home striker Sean Devine and Colchester defender Guy Branston had been involved in a running battle all afternoon and it finally erupted eight minutes from time. The pair clashed in the United penalty area as Barnet prepared to swing over a free-kick, sparking a mass scuffle, and both players were dismissed for violent conduct. BARNET: Harrison, Stockley, Harle, Heald, Howarth, Basham, Goodhind, Searle, Devine, McGleish (Charlery 65), Simpson (Manuel 72) Subs Not Used: Sawyers Sent Off: Devine (82) Booked: Howarth, Simpson, Manuel COLCHESTER UNITED: Emberson, Dunne, Betts, Skelton, Greene, Branston, Forbes, Buckle, Sale, N Gregory (Lock 75), D Gregory Subs Not Used: Duguid, Abrahams Sent Off: Branston (82) Booked: Dunne, Branston Att: 3,612 Ref: E K Wolstenholme (Blackburn)

BORO BURIED BY TORQUAY Scarborough 1 Torquay 3 Division Three Play-Off Semi-Final First Leg TORQUAY'S dream of booking their play-off place at Wembley in 10 days' time took a massive step forward when they demolished Scarborough with three spectacular goals. United rode their luck in a shaky opening, then settled down to a strong display which stunned Boro. The home side never recovered from a missed penalty in the 16th minute, when Gareth Williams' precisely hit spot-kick was saved with a fine dive to the right by keeper Ken Vasey, after Neil Campbell had been brought down. Six minutes later, Torquay took the lead when Rodney Jack blasted a 15-yard angled shot from the right into the back of the net, after being set up by Gary Clayton. Vasey made another brave save at the feet of Steve Brodie as he raced into the goalmouth, before Jason Rockett found the equaliser in the 40th minute from a cross by Williams. But Jon Gittens put United ahead again in the 62nd minute with his eighth goal of the season, chesting the ball over the line, after Alex Watson headed on Paul Gibbs' corner. Scarborough's misery was complete when Andy McFarlane was put through by Gittens in the 72nd minute and cracked the ball into the back of the net from the edge of the box. SCARBOROUGH: Elliott, Kaye, Sutherland (Atkin 75), Snodin (Robinson 60), G. Bennett, Rockett, Williams (T Bennett 45), McElhatton, Campbell, Brodie, Worrall Booked: Campbell Goals: Rockett 40 TORQUAY UNITED: Veysey, Gurney, Gibbs, Robinson, Gittens, Watson, Clayton, Leadbitter, Jack (Bedeau 67), MacFarlane (Thomas 71), McCall Subs Not Used: Hill Booked: Gibbs, Robinson, Watson, Gittens Att: 5,246 Ref: M E Pierce (Portsmouth)

top