Daily Post

Harrison Is in Khan's Corner

Audley Harrison will fly to Greece this week to lend his support to Britain's sole boxing representative, Amir Khan. The 17-year-old is bidding to emulate heavyweight champion Harrison's achievement when he won a gold medal at the Sydney Olympics four years ago.

O'hanlon Grabs Five to Boost Leaders

OLD XAVERIANS accounted for Moor-field by 45 runs to keep top place in the Brombor-ough Paints Merseyside Competition. Paddy O'Hanlon led the way for the Old Boys with a 5-25 haul. Second-placed Mossley Hill lost by three runs against the Merseyside Commonwealth. Ed Herbert made 33 for the winners and took 3-13.

Oulton Recover Poise to Wreck Challenge

OULTON Park recovered after two damaging defeats to virtually end Chester Boughton Hall's ECB Premier Division title bid in the Murray Smith Accountants Cheshire County League. Oulton ran up an impressive 208-5, with 50 from Danny Leech, 45 to Paul Berry and an unbeaten 36 from David Jones. Chester's batting collapsed to 112 all out, teenager David Shewring, top-scoring with 30. Another teenager, spinner Andy Wilgose took 4-30 and Danny Jones 3-19 as Oulton established a 46 points lead over C...

Hesketh Collapse As Impressive Run Ends ; First Division

FLEETWOOD HESKETH'S impressive five-match run came to an abrupt end at Worsley despite chasing a modest 156 (47. 4 overs). Zimbabwean Richard Sims was the dominating force with 70 in Worsley's total, with Jamaican David Bernard (4-23).

Swift Strikes Against Leaders to Put Ainsdale in Title Contention

AINSDALE won by six wickets at leaders Wavertree to throw the Bromborough Paints Merseyside and Southport Alliance title race wide open. The seasiders now trail Wavertree by just five points. Defending champions Rainhill lost ground as they fell at home to lowly Aigburth by 29 runs. Fourth-placed Parkfield Liscard also failed. Skipper Dave Newcombe, with 43, and Mal Swift, with 6-62, were the players to star for Ainsdale. Rizwan Saeed with 39 and 5-53 and Gareth Williams unbeaten on 55 were b...

Heartbreak Ending to Lancashire Cup Hopes

LANCASHIRE suffered the heartache of a one-run defeat in Saturday's Twenty20 Cup semi-final at Edgbaston. Lancashire bats man Chris Schofield was run out off the final delivery attempting a second run which would have brought the scores level with holders Surrey -- and victory for his side by virtue of having lost fewer wickets.

Spinner Hopes to Wipe Out Lara's Trouncing

GARETH BATTY is determined to exorcise the ghosts of Antigua after being recalled by England for the third Test against West Indies. The Worcestershire offs pinner was yesterday included in a 13- man squad for the game starting on Thursday at Old Trafford, increasing England's options for a spin-friendly surface.

Wenger's Deadline for Vieira Decision

ARSENE WENGER last night insisted Arsenal would not stand in the way of captain Patrick Vieira leaving the club if he is not committed to the Premiership champions. Wenger, speaking after Arsenal's 3-1 Community Shield victory over Manchester United at the Millennium Stadium, said: "If Patrick is focused to leave there will be an open door".

It's so Haphazard and Hesitant ; Arsenal 3 Manchester United United Defending Cause for Concern As Reyes Shows Up Faults in Season Opener

WIN without Patrick Vieira? Arsenal may yet have to confront that worrying scenario on a long-term basis, but they proved it is at least possible on a one-off occasion in a Community Shield triumph inspired by Jose Reyes. Whether Vieira's absence from the side is more long-term than his current thigh injury remains to be seen as Real Madrid and Arsenal continue their summer battle of wills over his future.

Airbus Crash to Quayle Hat-Trick ; Airbus Uk . . . 0 Northwich Vics . . . 3

NORTHWICH completed their pre-season friendlies at Broughton with an impressive victory over the League of Wales' newly-promoted club. Vics' hero was striker Mark Quayle, who scored a fine first half hat-trick before being substituted by delighted manager Steve Burr.

'Saddened' Blatter Proposes Reform of Calendar

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has claimed he may intervene to limit the number of matches in domestic leagues as he believes that footballers play too many games. Blatter believes many players were jaded during Euro 2004 and reckons the answer lies in reducing the number of games.

Embattled Swede Boosted by Owen's '100% Support'

LIVERPOOL striker Michael Owen fears Sven-Goran Eriksson could walk away from his position as England coach if he continues to be hounded over his private life. Eriksson was found to have "no case to answer" following the investigation into the Faria Alam scandal which has engulfed the Football Association over the past few weeks.

Comment: Premiership's Old Guard Have Some Bigger Fish to Fry

IT was lovely to have a fast, fiercely-competitive but largely clean contest deciding the destiny of the FA Community Shield at Cardiff -- although Chelsea might not see it that way. Fair enough, neither Arsenal nor Manchester United were exactly desperate to take the trophy home with them. They have much bigger fish to fry.

Coleman Gets No Joy From Return

THERE was an unhappy return to Haig Avenue for former Southport striker John Coleman as the team which he now manages, Accrington Stanley, were beaten in the final pre-season friendly for both sides. Things looked bad for Southport in the opening half hour as they struggled to come to terms with some accurate football by their full- time opponents, but once Port had taken the lead the visitors faded.

Cammell Laird . . . 6 Burscough Xi . . . 0

THE home side were ahead after just 32 seconds as Michael Wait failed to cut out a cross, leaving Ronnie Morgan with an easy finish. Morgan was again on target for Lairds on 11 minutes and Burscough almost replied with a header from Ryan Bowen but four minutes before the break the former Burscough striker completed his hat-trick.

Chester Prove Their Point On Return to League Duty ; Notts County . . . 1 Chester City . . . 1

AT the start of their momentous Nationwide Conference championship winning season last August, Chester City opened their campaign with a draw in the humble surroundings of Broad Hall Way, Stevenage in searing temperatures of nearly 100 degrees. On Saturday in the more salubrious Meadow Lane stadium, where the barometer was at a similar high to 12 months ago, City chiselled out another opening day stalemate -- but the similarities end there.

Mathias: I Would Love to Be Handed Dev a Job

CHESTER CITY caretaker manager Ray Mathias hopes that he can prove to the chairman Stephen Vaughan that he is the man to take the club forward. The former Tranmere Rovers and Wigan Athletic manager guided his charges to a hard-fought draw at Notts County on Saturday on their return to the Football League.

Musical Chairs the Name of Game but Feuding Is Not Fair On Moyes ; Everton 2 Real Sociedad 2 Fear and Depression Surrounds Everton's Future

GOODISON'S Main Stand was closed on Saturday to allow four weddings to take place in the lounges below. There was no funeral on the pitch, but that didn't prevent Everton's bitter divorce overshadowing David Moyes' attempts to move forward yet again. No-one expects Bill Kenwright and Paul Gregg to stroll down the aisle for the common good of Everton together having decided to fiddle long after Rome began to burn.

Fry-Up in the Heat Sees Off Rovers ; Peterborough 1 Tranmere 0

BARRY FRY and Brian Little were among a minority in tipping Peterborough to be a force in League One this season. The bookmakers had not been engaged by the idea, preferring instead to quote the Posh among the most likely candidates for relegation. One or two may begin to reconsider if Peterborough can regularly hit the level of performance that saw off the challenge of the promotion second favourites at London Road.

Blues Boss Won't Be Tempted to Rush Rooney Back

DAVID MOYES insists he'll resist temptation to rush Wayne Rooney back into Premiership duty as he prepares to join the chase for Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy. Rooney remains an integral part of the Everton manager's plans for next season despite speculation linking him with Real Madrid and Manchester United, plus his refusal to give an answer on the club's pounds 13m contract offer.