HONLEY 2 DIGGLE 2
DIGGLE LINE-UP (4-4-2) - John Pooley/ Danny Anchor, Dave Walters, Ste Chamberlain, Rhys Thomas/ Gary Stott-Holt, Kenny Simpson, Adam Fitzgerald, Tom Sarsons/ Jason Stone, Craig Brown.
SUBS: Rob Brookes (for Sarsons), Ian Swallow (for Stott-Holt), Paul Godard (for Simpson), Ste Finegan (not used).
GOALS - Stone (28, 52).
In short, Diggle should have won and extended their lead at the top of the table. There are two reasons why they didn't.
First, some horrendous decisions from the home referee (more on that later) and Diggle's own inability to finish the numerous chances they created.
Diggle started slowly but gradually came into the game. Perhaps their best chance fell to veteran Kenny Simpson. Left-back Thomas beat his man and pulled the ball back to the midfielder but his left foot shot was tipped over by the Honley 'keeper.
Honley then had a goal disallowed for offside before taking the lead on 23 minutes as one of their strikers fired home from 12 yards from a right-wing cross. Diggle's defending was sloppy, to put it mildly.
But five minutes later they equalised. Dangerman (and perhaps slightly balding) Jason Stone turned sharply and drilled a shot into the bottom corner from about 25 yards.
Diggle began to put the pressure on and started passing the ball about. Stone hit the post and a number of chances were either saved or went over or wide.
Half-time teamtalk consisted of insisting we must improve and we should be more up for this.
And, with the bonus of a slight downward slope, Diggle did improve and took the lead in the 52nd minute as Stone slammed home from three yards after a game of pinball in the box.
But, again Diggle went sloppy, and two minutes later Honley levelled. Number ten ghosted in between Ste Chamberlain and Thomas to nod home.
But still most of the pressure was on the Honley goal. Stone saw an ambitious overhead volley tipped over and Thomas saw an effort saved.
A succession of corners also failed to break Honley's resistance before the referee took centre stage.
The unfortunate Diggle man was Dave Walters, who had been imperious throughout the game and was a good shout for man of the match.
The ball bounced up and hit Walters on his shoulder/chest. I believe the referee admitted not having a clear view of it, but he gave the penalty anyway, to Diggle's anger and bemusement. Fortunately Pooley made a super save from the spotkick.
Then, up the other end and with Diggle on top, the referee failed to give the clearest of clear penalties you are ever likely to see.
Ian Swallow was all set to head home a right-wing cross when he was assaulted by a Honley defender, who presumably has designs on the Great Britain wrestling team at the 2012 Olympics.
The defender grabbed hold of Swallow and threw him to the floor. And this isn't being written with rose-tinted glasses. It was a penalty, without doubt. The referee's decision was ridiculous.
Diggle went with three up front as they chased the victory but they didn't get the goal they craved.
Some may not agree, but Honley were not as good as their second-placed position suggested. Diggle should take them apart in the return game at Churchill, when the Yorkshire side won't have the luxury of a 12th man.
But Diggle know there is a lot of room for improvement and they certainly need to be on their game this Saturday when Westend visit the land of worthy saddles.
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