Match abandoned after horror injury

Jeff Whitaker: broken leg

FOOTBALL:

DIGGLE’S Huddersfield and District League Division One game at Berry Brow was abandoned after 75 minutes when striker Jeff Whitaker suffered a broken leg.

With the scoreline at 2-2, Whitaker went down in agony following a challenge.

He sustained a broken fibia and tibia in his left leg, and was taken to Huddersfield Royal Infirmary after a 30-minute wait for an ambulance.

Whitaker has since undergone an operation on the injury, and hopes to be able to leave hospital soon.

Diggle secretary Mark Smith said: “It was a terrible thing to happen and we all wish Jeff a speedy recovery.

“Fair play to the Berry Brow lads. They all tried to help keep him comfortable while we waited for the ambulance to arrive.

“All we could really do was keep him warm and talk to him, but luckily one of their players also knew first aid, so he was able to put Jeff in the right position and make sure no further damage was done.”

Danny Tomlinson and Steve Scoltock netted for the visitors.

A league meeting next Thursday will establish whether the match will be replayed, or if the 2-2 scoreline will remain.

Uppermill came away from Netherton with a 2-0 victory in the Huddersfield and District FA Challenge Cup second round.

After long spells of possession without reward, the breakthrough came in the 70th minute.

Dave Taylor lobbed the ball into an empty net after the Netherton goalkeeper flapped at a Nick Fitzpatrick delivery.

With three minutes remaining Simon Tait’s men ensured progression to the quarter-finals when Dave Rigby volleyed home from 25 yards.

Uppermill will face Hepworth United in the next round — the same opponents awaiting them in the third round of the Barlow Cup.

Heyside eased to a 5-0 win at the expense of Brook Motors in Division Three.

A Ryan Rafferty strike ensured the hosts were ahead at the interval.

A comfortable second period saw Jake Warburton and James Taylor score two goals apiece in the final 20 minutes.

The second string continued their good run with a 6-2 win at Upperthong in Reserves Division Two.

Steven Partington produced a hat-trick, and was joined on the scoresheet by Carl Warburton, Chris Taylor and Matthew Nokes.




ROYTON FC finally saw off dogged Fitton Hill Rangers in the D & J Builders (North-West) Ltd Oldham Sunday League’s Challenge Cup courtesy of a 6-3 win.



One of the shocks of the third round saw Rangers, fighting for survival in the Jack Abbott Premier Division, hold the top-flight leaders to a draw.

But Royton were determined to leave nothing to chance in the replay, with Robert Quinlan, Wayne Dean and Luke Fletcher scoring two goals apiece.

In reply, Paul Badby notched a brace and Nathan Roseweir scored.




Chaddy End also progressed, after edging out Coppice United ‘A’ 3-2.



Top-flight league action saw third-placed Rifle Range Reds roar to a 4-1 win at Khartoum Northern thanks to a Nathan Eastmond brace and further efforts from Nathan Barker and Ashley Young.

FC Carsons defeated High Crompton 5-0.

On the mark were Michael Seers, Michael Brady, Lee Scanlon, Mark Terris and Jonathon Munson.

Ryan Hobin and C Dean were at the double as Red Star beat FC Broadgate 6-0. Mark Shaw and Mick Booth also netted.




CHADDDERTONIANS lost 3-1 to Rochdale St Clements in the Lancashire Amateur League Premier Division. Failsworth Dynamos beat Old Blackburnians 5-2.