Two-goal Nathan puts the boot in

Uppermill 2, Diggle 3
NATHAN Boote scored twice against his former club as Diggle claimed bragging rights against Uppermill in Huddersfield and District League Division One at Greenfield Paper Mill.

Unable to establish himself at Uppermill, Boote signed for Diggle at the start of this season and was clearly in the mood to put one over against his old club.

Boote struck twice in 10 second-half minutes to put Diggle 3-0 ahead.

And despite a late rally from the hosts, it was solid defending that helped secure three points for the visitors and put a smile on the face of manager Richard Devy.

Devy said: "On the balance of play we deserved to win, but we were grateful to our goalkeeper John Pooley who pulled off some fine saves early on as Uppermill piled on the pressure.

"At 3-0 up they came back into the game but we defended really well as a unit, something we have been doing for much of this season.

"We have lots of games in hand on the teams above us with eight home matches still to play, and while our league position is a little false, you still have to pick up points from those matches."

Diggle will play those remaining eight home games at Marsden's Fall Lane ground, starting on Saturday with the visit of Newsome.

Devy added: "Work on our regular home pitch at Churchill playing fields is under way and we reached an agreement with Marsden to play there.

"It won't be too much of a disruption for us - in fact we are looking forward to it as Marsden's is a West Riding Premier Division standard set-up."

Uppermill manager Simon Tait said: "We could have been 3-0 up early on but it just wasn't to be our day. Full marks to Nathan (Boote), he is a good lad."

Pooley was the Diggle saviour in those early, anxious moments, denying Jake Jacobs and Kristian Ventress twice to preserve the goalless scoreline.

Diggle took the lead when Matt Taylor's diving header from a Matt Jackson free kick close to half-time thundered into the net.

More good work from Taylor enabled Diggle to double their advantage after 53 minutes when his low cross was bundled home from close range by Boote.

And it was Taylor again who was the architect of Diggle's third goal, winning the foul inside the Uppermill box for Boote to convert from the spot.

Uppermill rallied and Mark Jackson's fine individual goal in the 71st minute, when the midfield man burst past three defenders before firing the ball home, was certainly a lifeline.

Gareth Chew watched in agony as his effort struck the Diggle crossbar shortly afterwards, before substitute Jack Shaw's 20-yards drive arrowed into the top corner with 15 minutes to go.

But Diggle stood firm to claim maximum points.