The second round of the Richardson Cup saw Diggle Reserves travel to Shepley for their first game of the New Year. The lads had not played a competitive game since the middle of November so it was going to be a test of their fitness and desire. Due to lads being injured, the reserves were going into the game with a bare eleven, further testing the lads fitness, but they seemed well ‘up for it’, especially sporting the new strip of black and red.
Surprisingly it didn’t take too long for Diggle to shake off the cobwebs and started the game very well. To their credit Shepley also started the game well but it was Diggle who opened the scoring through centre forward Matthew P Taylor opening his account for the New Year.
Shepley failed to use the slope of the pitch to their advantage during the first half and any half chances they did manage to create were easily dealt with by a very well organized Diggle defence with Joe and Chris Mopping every loose ball up like a pair of brand spanking new Vileda Mops!
Matthew P Taylor stooped to head home his second during one of Diggles many attacking spells and the score remained 0-2 until the interval.
The performance of the first half meant Ady had a pretty easy task of talking to the lads during the break but it was clear the next goal was going to be crutial, as a goal for Shepley would put them back in the tie but a goal for the Dig should put the game to bed.
With the slope now in Diggles favour and the lads eager to impress the second half saw Diggle really go on the offensive. A cleverly placed ball to the back of the post of the Shepley could not be dealt with forcing one of their back 4 to use his hand to prevent a certain third goal for Diggle, luckily the ref was well placed and awarded the penalty, which was swiftly put away by Leyland Mayall.
Continuous pressure saw Diggle extend their lead even further with Matthew P Taylor getting his hat-trick and Leyland Mayall grabbing his second for the day.
The most comical moment of the game came from centre half Joe ’It’s the climb, Mceldery’, who’s flying scissor kick may not have been the most elegant and his landing certainly lost him marks unfortunately was not on target! Better luck next time for Joe!
5 goals to the good and the game was won but Diggle or to be more accurate, Ben, had one last trick up his sleeve! Bens ‘disguised cross’ fooled everybody and planted itself in the back of the net! Perhaps he could have claimed it was not intentional if he hadn’t apologized for such an appalling cross, the moment the ball let his foot!
The one sour moment of the game, perhaps born out of frustration for the home team, saw one of the Shepleys midfielders sent off with a straight red for a wreckless lunge from behind on winger Scoltock. Just incase anybody cares, I’m fine thank you J
Well done lads, Quarter finals to come and am sure continued success in the league!
Report by Stephen Scoltock
