Wednesday July 21st - Brentford (HOME)
Friday July 30th - Brighton (HOME)
Saturday August 7th - Newport IOW (AWAY)

NON-LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL: PITCHER HITS DEBUT GOAL TO SINK WALES by Nicholas Harling

England 2 Wales 1

GEOFF Pitcher, voted man of the match for the liveliest contribution to Kingstonian's FA Trophy triumph at Wembley eight days ago, celebrated his international debut with a second goal for England in yesterday's non-league international victory over Wales at St Albans.

Pitcher, selected only because his club-mate, Gary Patterson, dropped out to become best man at the wedding of Cheltenham's John Brough, reacted quicker than any Welsh defenders when Warren Patmore headed down a cross from Cheltenham defender Chris Banks.

Cheltenham's influence on the match had begun when Neil Grayson, their outstanding striker, dispossessed David Barnhouse, who then brought him down to concede the 29th-minute penalty, swept in by Patmore, that gave England the lead.

Welsh striker Gary Shepherd launched himself into mid-air for a spectacular 53rd-minute goal that shook England out of their complacency.

The hosts thereafter hung on without too many more alarms, preserving their unbeaten record under manager John Owens.

ENGLAND: Book (Cheltenham); Banks (Cheltenham), Smith (Stevenage), Ryan (Southport), Williams (Nuneaton), Yates (Cheltenham), Butterworth (Rushden & Diamonds), Pitcher (Kingstonian), Womull (Dover), Patmore (Yeovil), Grayson (Cheltenham).
Subs: Gothard (Dagenham & Redbridge) for Book 84; Comyn (Hednesford) for Williams 74; Stott (Yeovil) for Yates 84; Howells (Cheltenham) for Pitcher 84; Charles (Hayes) for Womull 84.

WALES: Wager (Inter Cable-Tel); O'Brien (Cwmbran), Barnhouse (Carmarthen), Lima (Newport); Andrew Thomas (Connars Quay), Williams (Aberystwyth) Congerton (Colwyn Bay), Needs (Merthyr Tydfil), Lloyd (Caersws); Graham (Colwyn Bay), Shepherd (Merthyr Tydfi).
Subs: N Thomas (Merthyr Tydfil) for Wager 80; Anuerin Thomas (Aberystwyth) for Lima 46; Reynolds (Newtown) for Congerton 69; N Davies (Inter Cable-Tel) for Needs 59; M Davies (Cwmbran) for Shepherd 62.

Referee: A D D'Urso (Billericay).

STEVENAGE MAY BE SOLD TO BARNET by Mihir Bose

A letter is on its way to the Nationwide League asking permission for Barnet to take over Nationwide Conference club Stevenage Borough. The new club, to be called Barnet and Stevenage, would play in north London, with Stevenage's Broadhall Way ground being vacated. Barnet chairman Tony Kleanthous said yesterday: "Victor Green has told me that he doesn't have the finance to run Stevenage for another season. The alternative is to close Stevenage down."

When asked how much Green would want for Stevenage, he said: "It's very early to talk about figures. He has certainly not mentioned anything like UKP2 million." Last night Kleanthous was in talks with Steve Percy, the chairman of Barnet Supporters' Association, who have five per cent of Barnet. Percy said: "It's very early days but if by Barnet taking over Stevenage we can save Stevenage from being closed then obviously we would look at it. I've had a long conversation with the chairman of the Stevenage Supporters' Association and am aware of the feeling against Mr Green."

Mr Kleanthous added: "If the supporters of Stevenage are not in favour of it then we will not go ahead. The idea would be to have a club called Barnet and Stevenage and play for one or more years at Underhill and try to increase our basic attendance. It must be better than seeing Stevenage close down." Barnet are awaiting a Government decision on a plan to build a new ground at Copthall. Kleanthous said: "Our ground has been condemned by the Football League and we've got a year's extension to find another ground or be expelled from the League." Football League regulations would not allow the newly-formed club to play at Stevenage's Broadhall Way ground which has been the subject of a UKP2.5 million investment by Stevenage Borough Council.

Stevenage appeared to be in a healthy and much-envied state. The club have enjoyed windfalls of well over UKP1 million from player sales and an FA Cup run that culminated in two games against Newcastle. Gates are among the largest in the Conference.

Saturday July 10th - Chelsea
Monday July 12th - West Ham United
Tuesday July 13th - Southampton

(4-3-3) - Shuttleworth, Hedges, Kilgour, Forbes, Honor, Bailey, Cook, Dysdale, Sykes, Mehew, McGregor.

The new sponsors have been officially revealed as Grolsch and replica shirts are available from the club now. The ground capacity will be increased to 7,000 and all Football League deadlines will be met. The board can't communicate.