In naming Mark Kennedy just 19 for his first taste of senior international football Charlton might have been

In naming Mark Kennedy, just 19, for his first taste of senior international football, Charlton might have been including Liverpool's protege in a five-a-side kick-about."This is an appropriate time, an ideal time, to play him," Charlton said. "He will either play crap, which I have seen him play, or he will play extremely well. That would leave Chris Coleman, Kit Symons and the sweeper, Adrian Williams, as the defensive triangle.WALES (European Championship Group Seven v Moldova, Cardiff Arms Park, tonight): Southall (Everton); Bowen (Norwich), Coleman (Crystal Palace), Williams (Reading), Symons (Manchester City), Pembridge (Sheffield Wednesday), Horne (Everton), Nogan (Reading), Rush (Liverpool), Hughes (Chelsea), Speed (Leeds).n Vinnie Jones, sent off in Wales' European Championship qualifier against Georgia in June, has been banned for five matches by Uefa in a major disciplinary crackdown yesterday.. No matter what talent you've got, what ability, if you haven't got a big heart it's a case of 'See you down the road, pal'."The road to Gould's immediate aim - good results in the European Championship to improve their seeding for the World Cup qualifying draw - will be travelled by a familiar cast, although the new manager did imprint himself on the line-up by giving Reading's 26-year-old striker Lee Nogan his first start.In training yesterday, Nogan played just behind Mark Hughes and Ian Rush, although that might have been a bluff as Gould also used a flat back four when his concern about Moldova's five-man midfield suggests he is more likely to pack that area by pushing Mark Bowen into the right side of midfield. "You can't always play well," he said, suggesting he had more than a passing knowledge of recent Welsh football history, "but you can encourage effort It's all about heart.

A good performance from the home side is not so much important as essential to restore interest as well as hope.Disillusionment has become so ingrained as Wales have slumped to the bottom of European Championship Group Seven, that it will be a surprise if the gate at Cardiff Arms Park breaks 10,000. The team has not won for a year, Gould is unproven as an international manager and, worse still, he is English. The age of Gould is not being met with hostility in the Principality, but with indifference.Still the new man knows enough about Welshness to appeal to the time- honoured commodity: passion. GUY HODGSON reports from Cardiff Wales have had more lows in recent times than a herd of cattle, but if you had to pinpoint a match when the heads were banging dressing rooms with greatest frustration, then the defeat by Moldova 10 months ago would be the natural choice.That 3-2 defeat was the darkest hour that led ultimately to Mike Smith's dismissal as Welsh manager, so there is a perverse neatness about Moldova ushering in the new dawn in Cardiff tonight with Bobby Gould as manager. The Benson and Hedges Cup finalists amassed 328 for 7 off their 50-over allocation and booked a date with Nottinghamshire in today's final by bowling out Durham for 276 in the 49th over.n The Hampshire batsman and club captain, Mark Nicholas, is to retire after 18 years with the club He will be succeeded by the vice-captain, John Stephenson..

But Mal Loye steered his team to victory, as he hit three sixes and two fours in an unbeaten 41, with four balls and six wickets to spare.The Sunday League's joint-leaders Kent moved into the final of the Tetley Bitter Trophy with a 52-run victory over Durham at Scarborough. Mike Gatting had seven fours in his 68 and Middlesex's total of 233 for 6.Rain took 12 overs out of the visitors' innings, and at 116 for 4 in the 21st over, Northamptonshire's success was by no means assured. Middlesex, who won the toss, had to endure a shaky start before Mark Ramprakash hit his first Sunday League century of the season, his 103 coming off 118 deliveries and including five fours and three sixes. But opener Nick Knight survived the problems, reaching an unbeaten 36 off 70 balls, and eventually saw his side home after the umpires had consulted both teams about the deteriorating weather.At Uxbridge, in a game that neither side wanted to play, Northamptonshire beat Middlesex, again on faster scoring rate. They batted in drizzle throughout their innings and reached a revised target of 110 in 32 overs with four wickets and 23 balls to spare to capture four points.It was no easy task on another unreliable Edgbaston pitch and there was a major flutter when they stumbled to 13 for 3 during a spell of 3 for 27 by Jonathan Lewis. ROUND-UP Warwickshire moved a step closer to their dreams of a second successive treble with a tense victory over Gloucestershire on faster scoring rate in a rearranged Sunday League fixture at Edgbaston. The NatWest Trophy holders moved up alongside Lancashire in third place and, with two games to play, they are two points behind the joint leaders, Kent and Worcestershire. The last-named took 10 wickets to win at Trent Bridge, the only victory in a three-match series, leaving cricket followers in both countries in happy anticipation of a great series to come in four years' time..

England drew the fifth match and took the series after having to call up, because of injuries, Kenny Palmer, now a Test umpire, then coaching in Johannesburg.There was one more series before the D'Oliveira explosion of 1969, South Africa flaunting their brilliant new stars Graeme Pollock, Colin Bland and Peter Pollock, in England in 1965. With a few words South Africa's captain Goddard ended a growing antagonism between the teams, insisting that his fellow captain be recalled. By lunch Trevor Goddard and Barlow had scored 118.England faced 390 for 6 declared and when Smith batted he left his crease to prod the pitch to find that Peter van der Merwe at slip had thrown the ball to the keeper, who had lifted the bails Up went the umpire's finger. The match was drawn.Thus the fourth Test, back in Johannesburg, provoked a flood of comment about sportsmanship, decline in morals, changing face of cricket etc etc (you read it all again every decade).What next ?For a start England's captain, Mike Smith, elected to field, the first such decision by England in South Africa since 1930. Barlow stood his ground, scored 138 in a total of 501 for 7 declared (and ensured South Africa would not lose with his 78 in the second innings).