Scanlan makes instant impact

Uppermill's Danny Gartside (right) challenges Highlanders' Mark Wiley

Uppermill 2, Lepton Highlanders 0

DARREN Scanlan — now there’s a familiar name — scored twice against defending champions Lepton Highlanders to give Uppermill their first win of the season in division one of the Huddersfield and District League.

More familiarly associated with Oldham Town, Scanlan was unable to make the long trip to Cumbria for Town’s Vodkat North-West Counties League fixture with Holker Old Boys because of work commitments.

It did, however, allow him sufficient time to get to Saddleworth and make his entry on to the pitch in one of the most unusual substitutions ever made.

Uppermill manager Paul Waterhouse, aware that Scanlan would be a few minutes late for the kick-off, named himself in the starting line-up, with Scanlan on the bench

Not only are Lepton the division-one title holders, they also boasted a 100-per-cent record from five previous matches.

But all that was about to change with the first-ever appearance in an Uppermill shirt of the prolific Scanlan, despite the fact that arguably the most feared marksman in local football has been registered with the club for two years.

Scanlan duly arrived with the game eight minutes old and didn’t even have time to sit on the bench as Waterhouse took himself off in what may or may not be one of the best tactical decisions ever made!

It wasn’t long before Scanlan found the target, his rasping drive from the edge of the Lepton penalty area following smart work from Nick Fitzpatrick.

But that wasn’t the only advantage that Waterhouse’s side had at half-time. Lepton were reduced to 10 men when an altercation with Uppermill’s Matt Jackson resulted in the visiting player receiving a straight red card.

Jackson was issued with a yellow card for his part in the incident, that colour turning red 10 minutes into the second period following a rash challenge on a Lepton player.

Waterhouse said: “We were under pressure for most of the second half but I would say that this was our best performance of the season so far.

“We had to adjust when Matt was sent off but, apart from one chance that brought a great save from our ’keeper Alan Scorer, we were rarely troubled.

“It is great to get our first win and it was an unbelievable feeling.”

That victory was secured seven minutes from time, when Scanlan got on the end of James Thompson’s cross to head home at the far post.

UPPERMILL: Scorer, Whittle, Sculley, Poulter, Jackson, Gartside, Taylor, Greenwood, Fitzpatrick, Thompson, Waterhouse. Subs: Scanlan, Bunn, Austin.