Heyside’s derby joy

ON THE SLIDE . . . Diggle’s Keith Martin (right) tackles Heyside’s James Leonard. PICTURE: TIM BRADLEY.

Heyside 3, Diggle 1

HEYSIDE were made to work hard by a plucky Diggle side in reaching the semi-final stage of the Huddersfield and District League’s Barlow Cup.

Diggle finally succumbed to defeat in the closing stages as Reece Hursthouse made it 3-1 to Heyside with seven minutes left.

The gamne was as intriguing as it gets, with sides from opposite ends of the Huddersfield League’s First Division, 20 points between lowly Diggle and title-chasing Heyside.

Heyside had a spring in their step at the start, providing fireworks as defender’s nightmare Mark Hopwood saw his close-range effort blocked by the outstanding Danny Fothergill in the Diggle goal.

Fothergill was to deny Heyside on several more occasions and can count himself unfortunate to emerge on the losing side.

And Diggle, too, will feel hard done by with the awarding of an early spot-kick against them after James Leonard went to ground from a seemingly innocent and legal-looking challenge.

Hopwood did the rest from the spot, giving Fothergill no chance with a powerful effort from 12 yards.

Heyside had the majority of possession up to the halfway mark and were overwhelmingly ahead in the number of chances created

But, given a combination of poor finishing and brilliant defensive and leadership qualities from Diggle’s Keith Martin – and of course shot-stopper Fothergill – a disciplined and determined Diggle outfit were always in the hunt.

A classic header from Leonard close to the hour mark to make it 2-0 could well have allayed any threat from Diggle. But three minutes later, waspish striker Nik Lishman took advantage of hesitant Heyside defending to score with the coolest of finishes from 16 yards.

These were nervy times for a Heyside team that played the kind of football that, just like Royton Town in the Premier Division of the FBT Manchester League, belongs at a higher level.

But the diminutive Hursthouse put the issue beyond doubt when he stooped to head home Daniel Dunn’s flag-kick.