Four-midable Diggle back with a bang

AMATEUR FOTBALL: AFTER several weeks of inactivity due to waterlogged pitches, Diggle returned to action with a terrific 4-1 win over title hopefuls Shepley in the Huddersfield and District League’s Barlow Cup.

Steve Southern’s side were superior throughout the first-round tie, and went ahead when Chris Moore finished with aplomb after good work by Bevan Mayall and Jeff Whitaker.

Whitaker doubled Diggle’s lead early in the second half with a shot across the Shepley ’keeper, before Jake Jacobs touched home a cross for number three.

Shepley mustered a goal just after the hour mark, but Whitaker made the game safe with a long-range shot.

Neighbours Uppermill bowed out of the competition after they were beaten 1-0 at Heywood Irish Centre.

An injury to Adam Wilson forced a change after 20 minutes, and ’Mill made another reshuffle after half-time.

They fell behind moments later when a cross was turned in by the outstretched foot of one of their own defenders.

Uppermill piled on the pressure as they went in search of an equaliser and hit the crossbar twice, but they were unable to prevent their first defeat in seven games.

Four goals from John Hurst sent fourth-division Heyside crashing out of the Manchester Amateur Cup.

The hot-shot completed a first-half hat-trick and added another shortly after the restart as Heaton Mersey, from the Lancashire and Cheshire League, won 4-2. Nick Campbell (two) replied for Heyside.

Meanwhile, Jason Stone notched a treble for Diggle ‘A’, who overcame local rivals Uppermill reserves 5-3 in a hard-fought Richardson Cup tie.

Uppermill ‘A’ were also shown the exit door as they lost 3-0 to Berry Brow.

And a last-minute goal condemned Heyside’s second string to a 1-0 defeat at home to promotion hopefuls Honley in reserve division two.

In the Works League, Uppermill thirds lost 5-3 to Kirkheaton, but goals from Jeff Grace (two), Paul Figg, Michael Taylor and Ste Darraugh clinched a 5-0 victory for the fifths against Grange Moor reserves.

Honour in defeat as Uppermill bow out

UPPERMILL under-17s gave it their all in a 3-2 defeat at Wigton Moor in the West Riding Girls League’s Round Robin Cup.

Natalie Jennings, ’Mill’s stand-in goalkeeper, could do nothing to stop the hosts from going ahead, and they added a second on the counterattack.

But ’Mill, inspired by captain Ellie Stanford, refused to lie down and pulled a goal back through Sara Ryan’s delicate chip.

Stanford, Ryan and Jenny Irwin each hit the woodwork, but it was Moor who struck next, before Kim Buckley pounced to score ’Mill’s second after Ryan’s shot was parried by the ’keeper.