Watkins on the mark by Nicholas Harling

AN APOLOGY of a goal that was entirely in keeping with a game that was dying on its feet enabled John Owens to extend his unbeaten record as manager of England's semi-professional team last night at the Drill Field, home of Northwich Victoria. Dale Watkins beat Dutch goalkeeper Michael Schoemaker in the 88th minute from close-range only because Watkins totally miskicked an inviting cross from Marc McGregor following a left-wing move also involving Kevin McIntyre. Schoemaker had only been tested once before when Watkins surged on to a shrewd pass by Simon Wormull after 75 minutes. England, pinning their faith in square passing when the percentage ball upfield was not on, had seldom moved the sparse crowd of 1,150 from apathy. Watkins, who curled an earlier effort just past the far upright, did at least look a shade sharper than his strike partner Warren Patmore. The Yeovil striker was guilty of England's worst misses from crosses provided by Simon Marples before being substituted.

Lippiatt plans rescue mission

COUNTY Cup competitions supply Nationwide Conference clubs with a reliable source of silverware and are accorded due respect in the Non-League Directory. Yet only rarely do they provide occasions to excite even the most ardent supporter. The meeting between Kingstonian and Woking in the Surrey Senior Cup semi-final tonight might go against the trend as it marks a swift return by Colin Lippiatt, the new Woking manager, to Kingsmeadow.

Kingstonian's approach to the tie, however, is overshadowed by the imminence of their FA Umbro Trophy quarter-final against Southport on Saturday and Lippiatt's by the need to be pragmatic. "I'll be sending a mix-and-match side," he said. "I promised the players when I took over that I'd take a look at them all and the match gives me the perfect chance."

Lippiatt has been through the experience of an almost immediate reunion with a former club already this season. No sooner had he joined Kingstonian in October as assistant manager to Geoff Chapple, with whom he had worked for ten seasons up to 1997 at Woking, than his new side came up against Yeovil Town, where he had been head coach.

It is not something that Lippiatt has time to dwell on, because his job is an urgent one: to steer Woking out of the relegation zone in the Conference and back to the position that they enjoyed in his time at Kingfield with Chapple. Regular FA Cup runs, three FA Trophy triumphs at Wembley and two second-place finishes in the Conference made the Surrey club a force through most of the 1990s.

The club has settled its financial difficulties by selling the freehold of adjacent land occupied by an indoor tennis centre to Woking Borough Council and has appointed Dave Hooker, formerly the commercial manager at Bishop's Stortford, with a brief to increase off-the-field revenue and cut down on overdependence on erratic gate receipts.

Lippiatt, however, has no money available to spend on new signings, hence his keenness to assess fully the squad that he inherited from Brian McDermott, who was dismissed last week. "We've got the transfer deadline coming up on the last Thursday of the month and I have no option but to move players out if I wanted to bring anyone in," Lippiatt said. "The guidelines I was given did allow me to go out and get two loan players."

He has moved swiftly to bring in Barry Miller, the former Farnborough Town defender, from Gillingham and Julian Charles, 22, a forward sold by Hampton and Richmond to Brentford last December. They played their part in Woking's 2-1 win away to Telford United on Saturday, their first in the league since January 3 - when they won at Kingstonian.

The stringencies under which Lippiatt, who prefers to work part-time, must operate - on a three-month contract to the end of the season - contrast with the position of Jake King, who returned yesterday as manager of Telford.

When King left for Shrewsbury Town 2 years ago, the future for Telford was uncertain. Now they have the backing of Andy Shaw, a millionaire, who has promised wholesale development of the Bucks Head ground and the resources to recruit a full-time squad.

Chapple still favourite to come home

GEOFF CHAPPLE is the man Woking want to lead their revival. Although Colin Lippiatt has been charged with the immediate task of keeping the Cards in the Nationwide Conference, the man who enjoyed 13 glorious years at Kingfield up to 1997 is still likely to return. The main question is when - it could yet be before this season is out or, perhaps more likely, at some stage in the summer. Brian McDermott's sacking this week, with the club third from bottom of the Conference and out of the FA Trophy, provoked fierce speculation from supporters and heated up weeks of rumblings and rumours. Biggest obstacle to Chapple's return is that he is in the first season of a new five-year deal at Kingstonian, Woking's Conference neighbours to whom he fled three years ago when refused a contract by Woking's then chairman Jon Davies. And the Cards simply do not have the money to buy him out of it thanks to their extensive financial problems, which are forcing them to sell the freehold of land adjacent to their ground.

Both Chapple and the club have strongly denied any move to bring him back to Kingfield. Current chairman John Taylor said: "Geoff is always going to be associated with us after the success he enjoyed and in my opinion it would be wonderful if he did come back, although others might have different opinions. "But at present he is a non-starter because he has a five-year contract with Kingstonian. "Of course any manager can always come and speak to us." And for his part, Chapple said: "I've had no contact with Woking whatsoever. "If they approached me they would have to put in seven days notice of approach. "Everything else is pure speculation. It's well known that I loved being manager of Woking and we had some wonderful times. "You never say never." Board meetings were due last night at both Kingfield and Kings-meadow, where Chapple is now a director.

There have been stories of troubles at Ks off the field this season and it was recently reported that managing director Chris Kelly had offered his resignation only to withdraw it. If Chapple were to head home, he could virtually name his terms, particularly with regard to power and responsibility. His return would create massive interest among fans plus non-league football in general. And after the successes of the past, the big man is inextricably linked with not only the club but the town. By the summer, the result of Woking's bid to stay in the Conference will be known, while Chapple may also be waiting to see the result of elections to the club's board. And with holders Ks in the FA Trophy quarter-finals, he remains on course to win the competition for an extra-ordinary fifth time. Taylor admitted the decision to sack McDermott and assistant Kevin Hill had been done with a heavy heart: "It was difficult and all the more so because they are both such nice men. "We had to do something, having felt we owed it to Brian to give him the chance of staying in the FA Trophy. "But it was even bleaker and after a gathering on Monday we felt we had to change direction. "There are one or two things still to be deter-mined but we expect Colin Lippiatt to be with us and possibly longer.

"We looked at half-a-dozen people and have had calls showing interest. "Colin has the same budget as Brian but has the extensive contacts to make use of the five loan signings we still have available this season. "If he wants to bring in new players on permanent transfers though, then he will have to move others out. "That situation has not changed." Chapple shared the sadness over McDermott's departure: "I'm very sorry for Brian because he is such a thoroughly decent bloke. "I was instrumental in getting him there and he has worked his socks off for the club, just as I did. "It meant a lot to him and after Saturday he must have felt terrible." Lippiatt and Chapple have been in partnership twice before at Woking and when the new Cards boss was asked if it would be rekindled in the near future, he said: "I have no comment".

Bad luck rains down on England by Nicholas Harling in Padova

Italy (1) 1 England (1) 1

JOHN OWENS extended his unbeaten record as England's non-League manager to five games in the Euganeo Stadium yesterday but the outcome for the visitors should have been better. England, leading by Dale Watkins' 18th-minute goal, were apparently sauntering to a comfortable victory when Mark Smith made no allowance for the surface which had deteriorated after soaking up copious rainfall during the day's incessant downpour. Smith's 32nd-minute back- pass failed to carry to goalkeeper Steve Farrelly, who came out but could not prevent the ball rebounding off him to Simone Cavalli who scored easily. Taking extra care when he attempted a subsequent back pass, Smith watched in agony when it plopped into the path of Cavalli who would have netted again but for Farrelly's outstretched legs. Substitute midfielder Stewart Drummond almost won the game for England but he was denied by Alessandro Ruggini's spectacular one-handed save.

Italy: Ruggini; Bruni, Notari, Gobba (Morelli 55th); Puleo, Serra (F Coppola 60), Stampetta, De Liguori (L Coppola 71), Savini; Cavalli (Araboni 59th), Iaquinta (Sanguinetti 84). Booked: Bruni

England: Farrelly (Sollitt 84); Goodliffe (A Smith 80), M Smith, Ryan; Marples (Cousins 80), Pitcher (Drummond 84), Butterworth, Patterson, Underwood; Watkins, Patmore (McGregor 75).

England held as Smith sticks in mud by Christian Bright in Padua

Italy semi-professional 1 England semi-professional 1

Mark Smith, who is normally a model of reliability, committed the uncharacteristic mistake here yesterday that cost England's semi-professional team the victory they undoubtedly deserved.

In normal conditions the back-pass struck by the Stevenage centre-half in the 32nd minute would have had no trouble reaching the goalkeeper Steve Farrelly. Unfortunately for Smith, the relentless day-long downpour had made the surface unpredictable and the ball slowed fatally, allowing Simone Cavalli a strike on goal. The ball ricocheted off the advancing Farrelly and, to England's horror, it fell conveniently for Cavalli to tap in, cancelling out Dale Watkins' goal for England 14 minutes earlier.

"That goal was down to a mistake which was down to the pitch," said the England manager, John Owens, exonerating Smith who, nevertheless, almost presented the Italians with a second identical goal six minutes after the restart. This time his under-hit back-pass squelched to a full stop. Cavalli would have cashed in again but for Farrelly's outstretched legs.

Smith, who redeemed himself with one last-ditch tackle on Vincenzo Iaquinta, was with those exceptions his usual masterful self in England's defence, which only came under sustained pressure when Italy pressed for a late winner.

Watkins had shot England ahead when Paul Underwood's cross was deflected into his path. Warren Patmore then twice almost exploited crosses from England's wing-backs.

Italy, whose coach, Roberto Boninsegna, had selected his team from Under-21 players in Serie C, gave the crowd more to cheer in the second half but England held firm.