Churchill was resplendent in the golden glow of a glorious autumn afternoon. Diggle would eventually secure the 3 points and on the balance of play they were probably well deserved, but they benefitted from a huge call by the referee when the game was 1-1 deep into the second half. More later...

There were a couple of changes to last week’s line-up due to injuries which allowed Johnson to make his first start of the season. The two Diggle strikers the set the tone in the opening exchanges peppering shots at the Slawit goal bringing a series of fine saves and a screamer that brushed the crossbar.

As in the previous meeting between these two sides, only a couple of weeks earlier, it was Diggle who dominated for 30 minutes with Brown & Hayes going close from short range and Chamberlain meeting a corner at the near post only for his effort to go wide.

Then Slawit earned a corner of their own following some neat inter-passing and from the corner their striker rose at the far post unchallenged to head them into the lead. It was against the run of play but Diggle again suffered from being profligate in front of goal. Diggle though stuck to the task and Brown benefitted from a moment of uncertainty in the Slawit defence to chip the keeper from 10 yards.

Half time 1-1

Stott-Holt was brought on for the hard working Walters, and when Fitton was shown yellow by an increasingly picky referee he was replaced by Simpson to protect Fitton from a possible red. Simpson went into centre midfield, Sarson pushed forward on the left with Stott-Holt filling in at left back.  Then came the incident which was significant to the outcome of the match...

Slawit No 8 was in an offside position but allowed his team-mate to burst through down the left wing and then joined the attack as the Diggle defenders tracked back. When the cross came in the No 8 put it away at the second attempt. The referee disallowed the goal for the original offside to the bewilderment of Slawit and the amazement of Diggle. Slawit did not get another chance.

With 8 minutes to go Diggle switched to 3-4-3, not willing to settle for a point and they were rewarded in the last minute when Fitzgerald chested down a Stott-Holt cross and poked the ball home.

Full time 2-1

MOM   Craig Brown