Spirit key to cup success

HERE WE GO . . . Kirkheaton skipper Mick Maddigan (front, left), Huddersfield and District League chairman Frank Beaumont, junior football official Eric Kershaw and Diggle captain Danny Cheetham hold the Barlow Cup with both teams looking on, ahead of last night’s final.

FOOTBALL:

DIGGLE scored two goals in the first half of extra-time to clinch Barlow Cup glory at the Galpharm Stadium last night.

Substitute Steve Scoltock and Jamie McFarlane struck for the Huddersfield League Division One outfit, who overcame a dogged Kirkheaton Rovers side 4-3.

Diggle, who previously won the competition in 2002, fell behind in the eighth minute when defender Ryan Hewitt’s sliced clearance went in off unfortunate ’keeper Gareth McWatt.

They drew level after 15 minutes — Kelvin McWatt nodded in at the far post — but then had a huge let-off when Ben Sykes sent a penalty high over the crossbar following a foul by Hewitt.

Matthew Taylor put Diggle in front just before the half-hour, only for Sykes to atone for his earlier miss with a fabulous volley in the 58th minute.

Diggle nosed ahead in extra-time through Scoltock, who got on the end of Boote’s cross, before McFarlane’s header made it four.

Rovers, from Division Two, refused to throw in the towel and set up a grandstand finish when substitute Liam Dobson grabbed a third.