CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Work together in secret to check over a steeple (8) 5 Have little time to get things wrong in panic (6) 9 May meet up on a run, being good with numbers (8) 10 Even chance for both teams at the start of a game (4,2) 12 Rush to pay a fee on demand (6) 13 Do the Spanish object to European establishment? (5) 16 About to play a game of golf (6) 17 Rule, eg, over volunteers returning to gain control (8) 20 Family day, up to a point, showed their humanity (8) 21 I’d dropped out of pile-up with stress (6) 23 Join forces with a small group of soldiers, at the end (5) 25 When at university, have a go after a disturbance (6) 28 Old song began to boost everyone, at short notice (6) 29 Fellow can embrace a head girl giving to charity (8) 30 Regretted having to keep quiet, in haste (6) 31 Worried over a top goalkeeper on side, being upset (8)

DOWN

1 Told one’s unable to speak the jargon (4) 2 In North America, state one’s designation (4) 3 On leave, he had first night on old temple in Athens (9) 4 Is about to get right flask for a laboratory 6) 6 Back the French to work with energy, then go off to the match (5) 7 Peasant took a first degree, but was sent down (10) 8 Stands in for one about to press enter (10) 11 Left continually at the bar (5) 14 Old newspaper 19 down featured an epidural (4,6) 15 Areas of growth in the country (10) 18 In turn, ace was played, although not sure about it (9) 19 Did a small girl follow other children? (5) 22 Small steamer working with some force is quite powerful (6) 24 It can take a very long time, at the end, to blot things out (5) 26 Did first mate on a ship fail to take a catch? (4) 27 After a good evening, initially, daughter is getting on a bit (4)