Western Morning News, The

Football Association to Watch Film of Yates' Indiscretion

The Football Association has confirmed that it is investigating an alleged headbutt by Kidderminster Harriers manager Mark Yates on Exeter City winger Lee Elam following Saturday's Nationwide Conference encounter at Aggborough, writes Stuart James. The Grecians won the game 2-0, with Elam instrumental in the victory by scoring one and setting up the other for Jon Challinor. However, it appears he was headbutted by Yates at full-time, which left him sporting nasty black eye.

Tisdale Keeps the Faith for Visit of Sparking Diamonds

Exeter City manager Paul Tisdale will keep faith with the players who have picked up maximum points from the Grecians' last three league games when Nationwide Conference action resumes at St James' Park against Rushden & Diamonds tonight. Tisdale has seen his side pick itself in recent weeks with 1-0 wins over Stafford Rangers and Woking followed up with a fantastic 2- 0 win at the Conference's form team, Kidderminster Harriers, on Saturday.

Atkins Is Most Resilient On Punishing Pendennis Course

Competing in the Evolution class on a 1988 250 Honda, local resident Phil Atkins was overall winner of the Pendennis motorcycling club's three-hour clubman's Enduro at Scorrier near Redruth over the weekend. He completed 14 laps of a punishing four-mile circuit at Radnor Downs, as did Geoff Varker, Paul Warman and Alan Blake in the up to 225cc class, Mark Lanceley and Ben Golley in the 250cc four stroke class and Matt Sweeney in the over 250cc four-stroke class.

Raiders On Course for Home Edge

Plymouth Kularoos Raiders' hopes of clinching a home-court edge in the play-offs received a real injection at the Pavilions on Sunday. Raiders jumped from sixth to fourth in the BBL Championship following an emphatic 82-66 victory over London United.

Colchester Have Earned Right to Be Respected

Plymouth Argyle find themselves two places and eight points behind Colchester United, tonight's Coca- Cola Championship opponents at Home Park. Those statistics might well have caused considerable alarm to supporters of the Pilgrims, had they been told back at the start of the campaign what the table would look like in February. In the event, trailing in the slipstream of the eager Essex side is nothing to be embarrassed about.

Watford Lie in Argyle's Way

It's Watford. The Barclays Premiership's bottom club stand between Plymouth Argyle and a return to the semi-finals of the FA Cup. The Pilgrims' one and only past excursion to the last four of the tournament came in 1984, when it was Watford who halted Argyle's march towards Wembley with a 1-0 last-four victory at Villa Park. Yesterday's draw for the quarter-finals of this season's competition reunited the Devon men and the Hertfordshire outfit.

Hornets' Priority Is Premier Survival

For Watford, staying in the Barclays Premiership this season is likely to be a far bigger priority than making a big effort to win the FA Cup, writes Rupert Metcalf. The Vicarage Road outfit, who will meet Plymouth Argyle in the quarter-finals of the Cup next month at Home Park, were playing Coca- Cola Championship football along with the Pilgrims last term. They won the promotion play-offs, after finishing third in the table, to seal a return to the top flight after a six-year absence.

Cup Draw Gives Pilgrims a Great Chance to Progress

Fans of my old club Plymouth Argyle may be disappointed to draw Watford in the FA Cup because it isn't a glamour tie, but it gives them a great opportunity of getting to the semi-finals and, when you get that far, anything can happen. The fact that Argyle are at home is fantastic for them, because I don't think anyone would relish going down to Home Park at the moment with a full house.

Angus Returns to Boost Gulls for Dale Trip

Torquay United will be able to welcome back central defender Stevland Angus for tonight's Coca-Cola League Two trip to resurgent Rochdale. While basement side United, six point adrift at the foot of the League, lost 1-0 to second-placed Hartlepool United at home on Saturday, Keith Hill's Dale were winning 2-1 at play-off chasing Notts County.

Loan Star Best Gets Ready to Bid Farewell to Glovers

Yeovil Town striker Leon Best will make his final appearance in a Glovers' shirt tonight as the Somerset side look to maintain their excellent away form at local rivals AFC Bournemouth. Best has enjoyed a highly productive spell since arriving on loan from Coca-Cola Championship side Southampton, scoring nine goals in only 14 appearances, but he will return to the south-coast club after tonight's game having completed a three-month stay with Yeovil.

Blades Can Sharpen Skills in Westcountry

I was really pleased for two of my young lads, who went out on loan to Westcountry clubs last week. Young Lloyd Kerry was different class on his Torquay debut on Saturday, by all accounts. I'm just disappointed that he didn't score, but, talking to Curley [the Gulls' head coach Keith Curle], he was delighted with him.