Polished Diamond’s gem of a winner
Reporter: Matthew Chambers
Date published: 03 January 2012
Photo: Pictures by GARETH LOWE.
ATHLETIC winger Luca Scapuzzi (hidden) is mobbed by his team-mates after scoring his side’s first equaliser against Notts County.
ATHLETIC 3, NOTTS COUNTY 2
ZANDER Diamond struck a late winner as Athletic turned around a losing position at Boundary Park.
Lee Hughes put the visitors ahead with a close-range header and after Luca Scapuzzi had levelled with a smartly-taken effort, a deflected Neal Bishop shot gave Martin Allen's visitors the advantage entering the interval.
Athletic had struggled to break down the stubborn visitors until Filipe Morais — a replacement for Scapuzzi, a move unpopular with some in the crowd — saw his cross fizz into the net off the far post off after 70 minutes.
Morais also had a hand in the 86th-minute winner, his corner headed back into the danger-zone by Jean-Yves Mvoto at the far post for Diamond to poke home from close range, registering a first goal in English football.
