DIGGLE 3 SCHOLES 2
DIGGLE LINE-UP (4-4-2) - Gary Pemberton/ Scott Longley, Paul Godard, Billy Marshall, Rob Brooks/ Gary Stott-Holt, Dave Walters, Jason Stone, Rhys Thomas/ Craig Brown, Adam Fitzgerald. Subs: Paul Wood (for Brown).
NEWLY-crowned champions Diggle laboured to a 3-2 win over a determined Scholes side at Churchill.
Goals from Adam Fitzgerald (two) and Craig Brown ensured Diggle finished the season with a win and preserved their undefeated record.
Diggle were crowned champions of Reserve Division Two two days earlier when Upperthong failed to raise a team, giving Diggle three points.
The delighted Digglers received the league trophy from Captain Birdseye before the Scholes game, with Dave Walters given the honour of hoisting it aloft.
I say hoisting aloft, but he actually wasn't allowed because the base wasn't attached to the rest of the trophy. A piece of silverware to grace any trophy cabinet!
But perhaps receiving the trophy before the game had an adverse effect on Diggle. It was clear they had their minds on the celebration drinks planned for that night.
Incidentally, it's a very good job for some people (Paul Godard) that this is not a full match report. Note to Paul - the Hanging Gate bar is not a bed, and a shirt is not for catching sick.
Diggle started well enough and carved out some decent half chances before taking the lead through Fitzgerald's smart low finish.
It was 2-0 not long after when Brown slotted home from the penalty spot after Jason Stone had had his heels clipped.
But then Diggle went to sleep. They made the mistake of thinking it was too easy. That the game was won.
Scholes sensed this and fought back, mainly through a barrage of long balls that were giving Godard and Billy Marshall no end of trouble.
They managed to pull one back before half-time. The ball was flicked on and a striker slammed it home from 16 yards.
Half-time 2-1 and Diggle told each other to play like champions. They didn't and Scholes were soon level.
A mix-up between Gary Pemberton and Marshall gifted the ball to a striker and he slotted into the empty net.
In the end, Diggle's class just about shone through as a cross (and what a cross it was) from Gary Stott-Holt was nodded home by Fitzgerald midway through the second half.
Stott-Holt's exuberant celebration was fantastic to watch (complete with badge-kissing), and he delighted in telling everyone later on how good his cross was.
There was still time for Diggle to miss a penalty (their fifth missed kick in their last six!!). Rhys Thomas set off on a run down the middle that saw him beat three men before being upended by the 'keeper.
Fitzgerald, on a hat-trick, grabbed the ball but only succeeded in hitting a post. Scott Longley sliced the rebound wide and now owes Stone and Brown some money because he failed to score throughout the season.
The award for most bizarre injury suffered on a football pitch goes to Thomas, who was bitten by a dog as he wound up to take a throw in.
ANYWAY, CONGRATULATIONS LADS, WHAT A SEASON. THE INVINCIBLES! UNDEFEATED LEAGUE CHAMPIONS!!!
Man-of-the-Match - Scott Longley.
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