TEAM: 1. Gaz McWatt; 2. Pete Jones; 3. Murray Hill; 4. Jake Jacobs; 5. Joe Wolfenden; 6. Lee Rainford; 7. Gareth Chew; 8. Keith Martin; 9. Leland Mayall; 10. Jeff Whittaker; 11. Wayne Broadbent; 12. Mark Jackson; 13. Lee Clarke; 14. Chris Moore.

QUOTE: "It's good - but it's not quite right." - Roy Walker, 'Catchphrase', London Weekend Television (1990s)

"So c'mon and let me know......Should I stay or should I go...." (The Clash, 'Should I Stay or Should I Go').

Having endured the previous 2 weeks' frustration against Cumberworth and Hepworth (thank god there's no more 'Worth's' in our division), it was good for Diggle to get a win under their belts.  However, as per the quote from TVs Roy Walker, Diggle were good, but there is still something missing before we can get too excited about the season ahead.

With 5 changes from the previous week's game (some enforced, some made on purpose), Diggle knew that they could not carry on being so wasteful in front of goal as they had been in the previous 2 games.  Their opponents, Wooldale, had had a mightmare start to the season; their goals against tally looking worryingly like some of the numbers we saw in last year's banking crisis.

Perhaps there was a large dose of fate attached to this game as well, (for those that believe in fate).  Diggle's hero in this game was super-striker-sub Chris Moore who came off the bench to grab a hat trick for his side.  However, his presence at the game was in much doubt as the player was asked to be sub for the 4th game in a row.  Ever honest and to the point, Moore felt badly treated to not have been given a start yet this season.  He questioned whether he should look elsewhere for his football and whether he was part of the Manager's plans.  A Manager-to-player heart-to-heart followed and Moore duly took the bench for the match, agreeing to apply some extra patience to his wait for a 1st team start.

More of our hero later....

Diggle began the match well and the pattern for the next 90 minutes emerged:

Diggle trying to breakdown an 11 man defence.  The home side played some brilliant football in the opening 45 minutes, and if marks are to be awarded for artistic impression then Diggle should be amongst the honours this year.

However, those people at the FA haven't changed the laws of the game just yet, so we have to stick to the old rule of scoring goals to win matches.

For a change, the Diggle management couldn't complain about poor finishing, but the fact remained that for all their territorial control Diggle could not manage a goal in the first 45 minutes of this match.

Opportunities came quite frequently (without, to be fair, Diggle ever looking like running up a cricket score), with the first falling to Leland Mayall - called up to the first team for his experience and acute finishing skills.  Mayall showed determination running onto a long ball that caught Wooldale square.  Mayall chased the ball down and with a very narrow angle managing to clip a shot onto the bottom of the left hand post of the Wooldale goal.  Very good effort.

Minutes later, a clever free kick from Chew found Broadbent in the Wooldale area (their defence caught square again).  Equally cleverly, Broadbent headed the ball back across goal to the far post.  Mayall and Whittaker had cleverly (it's not often you get 3 'clever' words in one paragraph about Diggle FC) positioned themselves at the far post, about 10 inches off the 'Dale goalline.  The two strikers (maybe auditioning for a Chuckle Brothers 'to me, to you' job) then, somehow conspired to put the ball wide of the post to give 'Dale a very narrow escape.

Broadbent was next to go close as he picked up a loose ball from a Diggle corner and sent a thunderous shot against the Wooldale crossbar - so powerful in fact that it bounced away for a Wooldale throw in.

Diggle flattered to deceive on numerous other occassions, but could find no goal.  The football - at times - was a joy to watch, although clever defenders will be happy to watch pretty football that is 30 yards from goal and a succession of square passes.  Full back, Jones and Hill, showed well in this period of football and all 4 midfielders played their part in some attractive passing moves.

At the other end, Wooldale found it hard to get forward in numbers, and the Diggle goal was never truly troubled in the first half.  Wooldale, a young side learning their way, battled hard but were intent on keeping the score down rather than creating much in the way of scoring opportunities.

As the second half began, Diggle began to show the first signs of anxiety, and their football lost its fluency, as they resorted to long hopeful balls which Mayall and Whittaker were not best equipped to deal with.  Wooldale looked reasonably comfortable, and the Diggle management had that familiar weary "what the f**k do we have to do to score a goal" look about them.

Enter, Mr Christopher Moore. On the hour mark, the Diggle management decided that a change of approach was needed.  The proverbial coin was tossed and Leland Mayall was the man unlucky enough to be brought off. (Mayall had had a very steady game, but had not had the bounce of the ball needed to give him a clear-ish shooting chance).

Within 5 minutes, the change was rewarded.  The incredibly hard working Wayne Broadbent set off on another right wing run, and his low cross into the box was met by Moore close to the 'Dale nearpost.  The little striker managed to get a touch on the ball and his effort skimmed into the Wooldale goal. 

The goal lifted the tension and Diggle began to revert back to their previous attractive football.  They didn't have long to wait for their second goal, and it was Moore again who provided the touch of quality needed.  Moore's second goal was a real solo effort as he took the ball on a twenty yard run into the 'Dale box before driving home a shot into the bottom right corner of the 'Dale goal.

Moore completed his hat trick on 75 minutes when he converted a penalty following a foul in the 'Dale box.

Almost single-handedly Moore changed the game around and has clearly justified a starting position for next week. 

As the game reached its climax, Diggle poured forward, created chances, but couldn't add to their tally.  Full credit to the Wooldale defence and keeper who continuously threw their bodies in the way of Diggle shots, when it would have been easier for them to throw the towel in.

Wooldale managed only one real attempt on the Diggle goal and that came in the final minute of the match.  The previously flawless Rainford slipped back into his pre-Diggle days and dived in to a tackle, leaving him helpless on the ground, and leaving the Wooldale striker with a one on one situation with Diggle keeper McWatt. McWatt bravely won the chase for the ball; danger over; final whistle.

3 nil to Diggle.

It is clearly going to be a long season for Wooldale.  However, there was much to admire in their attitude and determination, and they really did keep working hard until the final whistle.  Come next February, March, April, their young players will be wiser and harder, and they should be better players for this difficult period they are going through.

Diggle played some great football, but their lack of goals (relatively to chances/opportunities created) remains a worry. There wasn't a poor performing player on the day, and each looked comfortable with the ball at his feet. Hill and Jones broke well from full back - two classy footballers.

Rainford, now he has grabbed a first team shirt, looks unlikely to let it go in a hurry.  Wolfenden returned from almost a year's worth of first team exile and he played supremely well - shame you are at that wedding next week Joe!

Chew was (almost) back to his best - bossing midfield and showing creativity with every touch.  Martin was full of industry and given his careful and simple use of the ball, has taken on board the 'take 2 touches message' from his manager. Broadbent and Jacobs played their part as well - the former has reached peak performance very quickly; while there is still much more to come from Jacobs.

Mayall and Whittaker worked hard and contributed to Diggle's success.

Jackson and Clarke (nice to have him back) gave useful cameo roles as subs, whilst Moore stole the show. 

Moore showed a real hunger for the game and set out to prove - and did prove

- his point.  He showed the sort of urgency that we need from the whole team if we are to be successful. We aren't too sure about his goal celebrations - for all 3 of his goals, running away on his own to a mythical Main Stand to acknowledge the adoring crowd.  Maybe in those dreams eh Chris?

Another week, more difficult conversations, more frustration, but a win....phew.