Cup KO for Diggle in dramatic tie

AMATEUR FOOTBALL: THERE was honour in defeat for Diggle in the Huddersfield FA Challenge Cup.

Steve Southern’s side were beaten 5-4 after extra time by Marsden, who hail from the West Riding League premier division.

In an incident-packed clash — both teams finished with nine men — Diggle recovered from two goals down to draw level at 2-2. Jeff Whittaker and Chris Moore were on target.

A shock was on the cards when Ryan Hewitt put Diggle in front in the second half.

But a skirmish, which resulted in three red cards being shown, with one for Marsden, turned the tie on its head.

Marsden equalised with 10 minutes to go before nosing in front in extra time.

Diggle were back on level terms when Geoff Whittaker converted a penalty.

But Marsden, who had a player dismissed in the spot-kick episode, broke away to score a last-gasp winner.

Meanwhile, Uppermill are up to fourth in division one after a 2-1 win at Cumberworth.

Heyside maintained their promotion push in division four — they are second in the table — with a 3-1 defeat of Flockton.

Behind to a 20th-minute goal, they equalised courtesy of a James Davis effort on the stroke of half-time.

Heyside took a deserved lead after restart with a Carl Winstanley strike, before a Michael McCabe goal sealed victory.

The stand-out tie in round two of the FA Junior Cup saw the reserve sides of Diggle and Heyside go head to head.

And it was Diggle who progressed thanks to a 5-1 win. Courtney Atkinson scored the consolation goal.

Results —

FA Challenge Cup, round two: Marsden (WR) 5, Diggle 4. FA Junior Cup, round two: Diggle Res 5, Heyside Res 1. Division one: Cumberworth 1, Uppermill 2. Division four: Heyside 3, Flockton 1. Reserve division one: Uppermill Res 7, Heywood Irish Centre Res 1. Reserve division two: Meltham Athletic ‘A’ 1, Diggle ‘A’ 2; Uppermill ‘A’ 1, Slaithwaite Utd Res 4.


Taylor’s double lifts North Star

HEAVY snow in the morning failed to stop North Star Athletic and Crompton and Royton from pulling on their boots in division two of the D&J Builders (North-West) Ltd Oldham Sunday League.

In the only game to go ahead, North Star recorded their third league win in 17 attempts to move out of the bottom two.

Lee Taylor (two), Tom Sellers and John Ryder were on target in the 4-0 triumph.


Royton on the slide
THE wheels appear to have fallen off the AFC Royton bandwagon in the Rochdale On-line Alliance.

Top of the table three weeks ago, they now sit fourth after three straight defeats, the latest being a 4-0 reverse at Whitworth Valley reserves.