We may only be a couple of days into 1999 but already it has proved to be a more successful year on the goal-scoring front for Lee Power, the former Irish youth, under-21 and B international forward.

When he equalised for Halifax Town, where he is on loan from Plymouth, against Shrewsbury on Saturday it was his first goal since August 3rd, 1997, when he helped Hibernian beat Celtic 2-1 on the opening day of last season. Halifax needed a second equaliser three minutes from time when their player-manager Kieran O'Regan (who won four Irish caps back in the early 1980s when he was a Brighton player), playing his first game since the end of October, scored from 25 yards to win his side a point.

Also in the third division, Alan Lee's loan spell at Torquay United took another eventful turn when he was sent off for two bookable offences in their 1-1 draw at home to Brighton - the Aston Villa striker had been booked twice and scored twice in his previous five games for the club. Lee, who had been booked for a trip on Jamie Moralee in the 34th minute, was dismissed 60 seconds later in when he went in late on defender Michael Bennett.

In the FA Cup Kevin Nugent scored his sixth goal in eight games (having only scored two in his previous 19) when he earned Cardiff a replay against Yeovil with an equaliser six minutes from time at Ninian Park while Robbie Keane took his tally for the season to 13 with two goals against Bolton to put Wolves through to the fourth round. In Scotland Alan Kernaghan was one of St Johnstone's scorers in their 4-1 win against Aberdeen. On New Year's Day Spurs forward Neale Fenn and winger Peter Gain (both of whom have under-21 and B caps) joined Lincoln City on loan, but not in time to play in Saturday's FA Cup defeat by Sunderland.