NEW MILL 94 RES 1 DIGGLE 'A' 1
DIGGLE LINE-UP (4-4-2) - Gary Pemberton/ Danny Anchor, Stephen Chamberlain, Paul Godard, Tom Sarsons/ Gary Stott-Holt, Dave Walters, Adam Fitzgerald, Rhys Thomas/ Craig Brown, Jason Stone. SUBS: Ryan Fitton (for Brown), Howard Johnson (not used).
THE scoreline may read 1-1, but this felt like a defeat for wasteful Diggle.
The point was enough to take them back to the top of the table above Westend.
But this was a chance for Diggle to make a statement of intent against a New Mill side containing four or five first-teamers.
Don't get me wrong, Diggle dominated the game from 25 minutes onwards and created a host of chances. But chances don't win games, goals do.
Perhaps I am being too harsh on Diggle because the New Mill 'keeper made a number of outstanding saves.
But sod it, let's be harsh. Diggle should have won 6-1. They wasted the chances they made.
New Mill knew they were fortunate to have escaped with a draw.
They even questioned how many players in the Diggle line-up were normally first or second teamers. The answer, of course, was none.
This Diggle third team is crammed full with talent and ability and must win some silverware this season.
Anyway, that's the serious stuff out of the way. Diggle's players know they should have won. They will put things right in the coming weeks.
The match report for the game against Honley was a cracker. Shame hardly anyone saw it as editor Howard Johnson chopped it clean in half!
Suffice to say, the majority of it contained references to the White Hart, some totty and striker Craig Brown's handsome good looks.
But I have been given orders to talk about the football, so I best do that. I might get dropped against Uppermill on Saturday if I don't. Oh, hang on......
Diggle rolled into the hot bed of interbreeding that is New Mill (only kidding), where the sheep is king, confident that they could get their season motoring again after five gameless weeks.
Johnson and his assistant, ol' glass knee Alex Marsh, made two changes to the side that drew 2-2 at Honley.
Paul Godard and his eyebrows replaced veteran Kenny Simpson, with Dave Walters moving into midfield and Godard partnering Stephen Chamberlain at centre-half.
The other change was Gary Pemberton for John Pooley in goals.
Tom Sarsons and Rhys Thomas swapped roles on the left, with Thomas playing on the wing.
That Thomas was able to play at all is testament to the player's bravery, because he copped for a tasty right-hook (accidental apparently) from a delightful young lady in the Church Inn the night before.
The devastating Mike Tyson-like punch clearly affected Thomas though, as his decision-making throughout the 90 minutes was dodgy, to say the least.
For the first 25 minutes, Diggle, like Thomas, looked punch drunk. Although not as drunk as the referee who, it is fair to say, was pretty damn pissed.
He had a decent enough game, but if you shouted loud enough the decision would invariably go your way.
Anyway, Diggle looked like a team of strangers early on, and it needed a New Mill goal to kickstart them into life.
The goal was bad from a Diggle point of view. A slack pass in midfield fell to 'Mulletino Heat' in the middle of the park and, almost in slow motion, he strolled straight through the middle of Diggle's defence, which parted like a porn star's legs, and slotted past Pemberton from 12 yards.
Diggle slowly came alive and started to explore the wings with Thomas and Gary Stott-Holt, while Brown and Jason Stone battled away up front.
But there was still a threat at the other end, and again it was Diggle at fault. Captain Chamberlain dwelled on the ball and lost it to number ten who went clean through on goal.
But Pemberton spared Chamberlain's blushes with an excellent block.
Soon after, Diggle equalised through that man Stone, who lasered a low shot into the bottom corner from 25 yards. The New Mill 'keeper didn't move a muscle.
Half-time 1-1 and Diggle were told to get their act together in the second half.
And, to be fair, they did, as Pemberton was reduced to the role of spectator. But the goal wouldn't come for Diggle.
Stone hit the bar and the post and saw a couple of efforts whistle just wide. He also forced the New Mill 'keeper (a first-team 'keeper by the way) into a flying save with another laser shot that was heading for the top corner.
Thomas had an effort saved by the 'keeper after good work by Brown, before the big striker decided to do the can-can in front of goal rather than poke Stone's cross over the line.
Thomas saw another shot saved before having a goal disallowed for offside. The referee, sweating lager by this point, perhaps saw double in giving the decision, but there are conflicting reports as to whether Thomas was offside or not.
Then, controversy. With the clock running down Adam Fitzgerald was put clean through on goal, but just as he pulled the trigger and slotted past the 'keeper, the referee blew for full-time.
Diggle were deflated, but not as deflated as they were when told there was no food being put on by the home side's pub.
The one saving grace was Marsh winning a full-cooked breakfast in the raffle, but the tight sod ignored calls to go and put the grill on.
So it was back to the Gate, where this reporter badly needed a pint after a scary ride back on wet, slippy roads in Chamberlain's van. Chamberlain is nearly as bad a driver as Marsh.
Uppermill Reserves next in the cup - get them stuffed boys!
Man-of-the-match - Dave Walters.
