Below-par Diggle are grateful to strike pair

THE Mount Pleasant squad for the final: Harold Holburt (manager, back, left), Don Graham, Glen Holburt, Dave Whitehead, Phil Mullington, Phil Horner, Rick Pearce, Tony Hilton, Malcolm Campbell (assistant manager). Paul Fogo (front, left), Paul Brears, Gordon Brown, Mike Hilton, Dave Henry, Seamus Casey, Alan Keeling.

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DIGGLE FC are up to third place in division one of the Huddersfield and District League — but they are still 10 points adrift of runaway leaders Lepton Highlanders.

Steve Southern’s side made it three straight wins with a 2-1 defeat of Wooldale Wanderers, but they did not impress after they took a first-minute lead.

An interchange of passes with fellow frontman Matt Taylor saw Ben Goodge fire home, but the visitors dominated the next 20 minutes.

Wooldale drew level and should have added a second as Diggle struggled to contend with a diet of long balls.

The hosts improved after the break, and Goodge and Taylor linked up again to restore Diggle’s lead. This time Taylor raced clear to score after good work by his strike partner.

Meanwhile, a combination of wayward finishing and indecisive finishing saw Heyside slip to a 3-2 defeat at home to Grange Moor in division three.

Trailing 2-1 at half-time — J Taylor cancelled out an early Moor effort — Heyside bossed the second period, only to be hit on the break.

A J Ryder strike reduced the arrears with 10 minutes to go, but they were unable to find an equaliser.

In reserve division one, Diggle enjoyed a 2-1 victory at Berry Brow Liberal Club and Uppermill recorded an impressive 4-1 success at Honley.

Heyside’s hopes of a fourth straight win in reserve division two were dashed when they went down 3-0 at lowly Slaithwaite United.

Behind at the break to a disputed penalty, Heyside wasted two gilt-edged chances to draw level before a brace of goals in the last 10 minutes sealed their fate.

Uppermill ‘A’ also had an afternoon to forget as they succumbed 6-0 to Shepley.

Results are —

Division one: Diggle 2, Wooldale Wanderers 1; Uppermill P New Mill 94 P.

Division three: Heyside FC 2, Grange Moor 3.

Reserve division one: Berry Brow Lib Res 1, Diggle Res 2;

Honley Res 1, Uppermill Res 4.

Reserve division two: Diggle ‘A’ P Scholes Res P; Shepley Res 6, Uppermill ‘A’ 0; Slaithwaite Utd Res 3, Heyside FC Res 0.




Lancashire and Cheshire League

Victoria hit the heights



OLDHAM Victoria, who celebrate their Silver Jubilee this year, are the leading local team in the Lancashire and Cheshire League.



A 3-1 win over VIP FC lifted Vics above AFC Oldham 2005 in division two.

Meanwhile, Daniel Squibbs was the star of the show as Santos reserves came from behind to beat their Milton counterparts 2-1 in division ‘C’.

The ’keeper made a string of fine saves after the home side went ahead in the first half and kept Milton at bay in the second period.

Phil Cartmill was also inspired as it was his quick free-kick which brought Santos level with 15 minutes to go, before he supplied the through ball for Danny Hicks to score the winner.

The other fixtures involving local sides fell victim to the cold snap.




Ashton Sunday League



THE Ashton Sunday League resumes this weekend — weather permitting — following their Christmas and New Year break.






Crompton on a high



HIGH Crompton maintained their title challenge in the D&J Builders (North West) Ltd Oldham Sunday League Jack Abbott premier division with a 4-0 win over Failsworth Athletic at Clayton playing fields.



While Crompton manager Stuart Lomas may have one eye on the crown, his other goal is to win the Manchester County FA Sunday Cup.

The next stage of that competition is on February 1 when Lomas’ side travel to play Urmston Meadowside in the quarter-finals.

Lomas said: “I’m happy with things at the moment — who wouldn’t be when your side is challenging for domestic honours and also going well in an outside cup.

“We are all looking forward to February and this is another milestone for the club. It is the furthest we have ever been in the competition.”

Despite the emphatic scoreline against relegation-haunted Athletic, Crompton didn’t always have things all their own way in the only known fixture to go ahead in the league last weekend.

A 10th-minute Danny Higgs effort separated the two sides at the break, and it wasn’t until around the hour mark that Crompton doubled their advantage through Kris Bocking.

Lomas added: “Our second goal was definitely against the run of play and I think it killed Failsworth off.”

Late goals from Anthony Duffy and Danny Trainer only served to rub salt into Athletic’s wounds.

Full marks must go to both teams and referee Jason Keast for getting the game on in the first place.

A frozen surface at New Barn playing fields saw the players and match officials move a few miles down the road to Clayton, where the pitch just about took a stud.

HIGH CROMPTON CC: Pearson, Lewis, Thomson, Smith, Roberts, Bocking, Keating, Higgs, Ashton, Duffy, Trainer. Subs:Wade, Mulholland, Wiley, McCabe.

FAILSWORTH ATHLETIC: Fitton, Robinson, Cain, Harrop, Stockwell, Gibson, Ashworth, Simpson, Helme, Eyre, Callaghan. Subs: Olive, Les, Cooper, Maidment, Wildbore.

Referee: J Keast.




Pleasant memories!



AMONG the spectators at the Athletic v Leyton Orient game at Boundary Park over the Christmas period was Harold Holburt.



Renowned for his management style with several local sides in the 1970s and ’80s, Holburt was on a scouting mission on behalf of Sheffield United, who are due to face Orient in the third round of the FA Cup.

Holburt believed in treating the amateur players like professionals and he enjoyed considerable success with Mount Pleasant in the Manchester League.

In 1983, prior to the club’s appearance in the final of the Manchester County FA Challenge Trophy against Maine Road, Holburt arranged for Mount’s players and coaching staff to have a pre-match breakfast at the Spotted Cow pub on Middleton Road.

Danny Ferguson was then the landlord of the Spotted Cow and was also the president of the Mount Pleasant club.

For the record, the pre-match meal was poached eggs on toast!

Don Graham played semi-professional football with Barrow in the Northern Premier League, while Phil Mullington famously scored for Rochdale in a 1-1 draw against Norwich in an FA Cup tie of the early-1980s.

Dave Henry was once an apprentice professional with Athletic and Alan Keeling now works for Manchester County FA.

Malcolm Campbell replaced Holburt in 1984.




Defeat dents Hollinwood’s title aspirations



HOLLINWOOD have suffered a setback in their bid for the Bridgewater Office Supplies Manchester League premier division title.



Paul Bennett’s side were beaten 4-0 by Wythenshawe Amateurs in the only top-flight game to get the green light.

Victory for Hollinwood would have seen them climb to second place, a point behind Springhead.

Instead Hollinwood remain fifth and have played more matches than any of their championship rivals.

Springhead, meanwhile, are hoping their West Riding Challenge Cup tie against Golcar goes ahead on Saturday.

The match was postponed last weekend and the Ashfield Crescent will lose home advantage if the game, the venue of which has still be decided, is called off for a second time.

Results are —

Premier division: Wythenshawe Amateurs 4, Hollinwood 0.

Division one: Manchester Juniors 0, West Didsbury 0..

Division two: Gregorians Res 1, Elton Vale Res 1.

Division three: Gregorians ‘A’ 3, Atherton Town Res 2; Hollinwood Res 7, Stand Athletic Res 2; Walshaw Sports ‘A’ 2, Stockport Georgians ‘A’ 1.

All other fixtures postponed.