This was a comprehensive display of strength, ability and, above all, teamwork. On a blustery afternoon the Diggle players were good enough to knock the ball to feet and pass their way into the opponents half and in doing so created a host of chances. Wooldale, in fairness, started brightly enough and contested well in the opening half hour, but Diggle scored from their first two clear chances in the 12^th and 14^th minute. Stone sprung the offside trap to beat the keeper from an acute angle and then the same player found a slide rule pass to put Sarson clear through.

Wooldale launched a couple of through balls but found the Diggle keeper, Pooley, in fine form coming early off his line. Diggle then scored another two goals in quick succession just before half time, the first from Fitzgerald (in imperious form) and the second from Stone. ‘Dale briefly threatened from a corner just before the whistle but Diggle went into the break four goals to the good.

Half time 4-0.

Swallow replaced Finnegan and Brookes came on for the battered-looking Longley for the second half. Diggle began to exploit more and more of the space that was now opening up as Wooldale’s spirit was sapped. Stott-Holt and Simpson kept bossing the midfield and Sarson was a clear and present danger down the left. Fitzgerald would add two more goals to his tally and Stone joined him with his own hat-trick; Swallow was the other scorer. McVeigh made his first appearance coming on for the last 20 minutes.

Full time 8-0

MOM  Adam Fitzgerald