U.K. soccer snowed out

Press, 4 December 1978, Page 3

U.K. soccer snowed out

NZPA-Reuter London Snow, ice, and freezing temperatures severely disrupted British soccer on Saturday but London’s top team, .Arsenal, warmed up its fans with a hard fought win over the English first division leader, Liverpool. More than 30 matches in England and Scotland were called off because of the wintry conditions. Only five first division games were played while in Scotland no premier league clashes were possible. . With Everton, West Bromwich Albion, and Nottingham Forest all idle, Liverpool was hoping to increase its lead at the top of the table but Arsenal upset its plans. , . Arsenal, unbeaten at home in the league, had to win to stay in touch with the top teams and 51,000 fans turned up at Highbury to urge it on. The only goal of the tough encounter was a scrambled effort in the thirty-first minute: Frank Stapleton centred the ball and Liverpool’s Graem e Souness appeared to put it in his own net but Arsenal’s midfield man, David Price, later claimed the vital goal. It was Liverpool’s second defeat in 18 first division matches this season. It is now two points ahead of Everton, which has a game in hand. ENGLISH LEAGUE Division one: Arsenal 1, Liverpool 0; Bristol City 1, Derby County 0; Ipswich Town 2, Leeds United 3; Queen’s Park Rangers 1, Bolton Wanderers 3; Southampton 1, Birmingham City 0. Postponed: Aston Villa v. Coventry City, Everton v. West Bromwich" Albion, Manchester United v. Norwich City, Middlesbrough v. Tottenham Hotspur, Nottingham Forest v. Chelsea, Wolverhampton Wanderers v. Manchester City.

Division two: Brighton, and Hove Albion 2, Orient 0; Crystal

Palace 1. Newcastle United 0; Fulham 1, Notts County 1; Millwall 2, Cardiff City 0; Stoke City 0, Leicester City 0; Sunderland 5. Bristol Rovers 0; West Ham United 5. Cambridge United 0. Postponed: Burnley v. Luton Town, Oldham Athletic v. Wrexham, Preston North End v. Charlton Athletic; Sheffield United v. Blackburn Rovers. Division three: Brentford 1, Walsall 0; Exeter City 0, Southend United 0; Gillingham 0, Carlisle United 0; Oxford United 1, Rotherham United 0; Swansea City 4, Sheffield Wednesday 2; Watford 1, Mansfield Town 1. Postponed: Burv v. Blackpool, Chester v. Lincoln City, Chesterfield v. Swindon Town, Hull City v. Plymouth Argyle. Peterborough United v. Shrewsbury Town.

Division four: Doncaster Rovers 1, Rochdale 0; Huddersfield Town 0, Aidershot 0; Newport County 2. Darlington 1; Northampton Town 0, Portsmouth 2; Wimbledon 2, Halifax Town 1. Postponed: Barnsley v. Bournemouth, Bradford City v. Hartlepool, Reading v. Crewe Alexandra. Scunthorpe United v. Hereford United. Wigan Athletic V. Torquay United, York City v. Port Vale. SCOTTISH LEAGUE Premier division.—Postponed. Hearts v. Dundee United, Morton v. Hibernian, Motherwell v. Rangers, Partick Thistle v. Aberdeen, St Mirren v. Celtic. Division one: Clvde I, Clydebank 2; Dundee 1, Hamilton Academicals 1: Kilmarnock 0. Queen of the South 0. Postponed: Montrose v. Dumbarton, Raith Rovers v. Arbroath, St Johnstone v. Ayr United. Stirling Albion v. Airdrieonians.

Division two: Forfar Athletic 4, Cowdenbeath 2; Meadowbank Thistle 0, Alloa 1; Stranraer 2, East Fife 4. Postponed: Albion Rovers v. Queen’s Park, Dunfermline Athletic v. Stenhousemuir, East Stirling v. Berwick Rangers, Falkirk v. Brechin City.