CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Be well-connected and involved in a match (3,7,2)

8 Was there too much expected? Yes, it’s behind schedule (7)

9 Nominate old man to get back on a stage (7) 11 Spent a long time in underground cells, at the end ... (4)

12 ... but moderate approach, at the end, may bear fruit (10)

14 Did a top bowler run up, at last, in a casual manner? (6)

15 Learned about Premier game being prolonged (8)

17 Having turned from a direct line, one left contaminated (8)

19 A polite request for first payment on rental agreement (6)

22 Train up saver to use some accounts (10) 23 Did a left-winger, in short, move at a steady pace? (4)

25 Academic learned how to become well-read (7)

DOWN

1 He gathered in the crops with good trainee, right away (7)

2 Turn back to correct direction (4) 3 Some of the ladies managed to have high standards (6)

4 Leading player, at some stage, is quite appealing (8)

5 Old vaulted passage could be abandoned (10)

6 Joining up with small military group, in good order (7)

7 Get frustrated when the cards fail to match up (4,8)

10 On course for me, on Sunday, to join the fashion gurus (5-7)

13 Elite is expected, initially, to concentrate on one area (10)