HEYWOOD SPORTS discovered their scoring touch as Diggle were on the end of a 9-2 thrashing.

Both teams finished joint second in Division I last season but a change of name to Heywood Irish Centre seems to have improved their fortunes.

Hat trick heroes were Darren Henighan and Adam Bell, while Matt Tattersley added a brace and Matt Jaggar chipped in with the ninth when he waltzed through a static defence to finish neatly past the bewildered keeper.

Diggle had taken an early lead from a corner before goals by Henighan and Bell gave Heywoods a 2-1 advantage but this was cancelled out when Diggle grabbed an equaliser after a breakaway.

Heywood Irish dominated the second half and as Diggle tried to provide some resistance, referee Glyn Askham, from Australia, who was officating while on holiday visiting relatives in England, took a strong hold of the game.

Britannia made it won one, lost one, drawn one, when they lost 2-0 at home to Slaithwaite United 2-0.

The Salendine Nook-based side had a psychological advantage over their opponents, having won both games between the sides last season when they were crowned champions, with United runners-up.

But, if the Colne Valley side’s confidence was low it didn’t show.

United dominated the first half playing up the slope and opened the scoring with a header from veteran Peter Beardsell.

Sports got back into the game in the second half but never really threatened Chris Kilner’s goal.

United were content to play on the break and the tactics paid off when Ryan Eastwood converted a penalty to ensure victory.

Two clubs seeking their first wins were Honley and Netherton, and in the end it was the visitors to Neiley Playing Fields who went home rejoicing with a 4-2 win, thanks mainly to a McCreadie hat trick.

Uppermill dented champions Newsome WMC’s 100% record with a 4-1 win at Newsome High School.

Newsome were on top early on and Uppermill’s stand-in keeper Blackburn pulled off a string of fine saves before the visitors took the lead through Jacobs.

And they doubled their lead when Fitzpatrick thundered in a 25 yard shot, but the home side hit back two minutes before the break when McKenzie scored from 20 yards.

The second half was very similar to the first with keeper Blackburn denying the Newsome strikeforce and then Uppermill hitting back with strikes from Squibs and Jacobs.

Berry Brow kept their unbeaten record intact in style against Moldgreen.

The Division II clash ended in a 6-3 victory for the hosts, who were exhilarating in the second half – including a four-goal blitz in the space of 25 minutes.

Anthony Dobson opened the scoring for Brow in the eighth minute with a fine volley from 25 yards but Moldgreen were level on 19 minutes through Patterson.

The visitors then had a chance to take the lead from the penalty spot but wasted the kick.

Ben Dobson restored Brow’s lead 41 minutes showing quick reactions from five yards out but again Moldgreen levelled through Short.

It was a different story after the break as Brow took command.

Adam Fell scored with a fine shot from 25 yards which opened the floodgates.

New striker Simon Davies scored twice in the space of six minutes before Andy Roberts gave Brow a 6-2 lead with a bullet header from a corner.

Moldgreen did hit back with a goal from Storey but the home side never looked in bother.

In Division III Lamb Inn, formerly Sikh Leisure, maintained their unbeaten tag with a 2-0 win over Grange Moor, who are still seeking their first victory.

The visitors to Liley Lane were more lively than the home side and scored through Levi Maturine following a great run from defence by Joseph.

Lamb were more dominant in the second half and the win was sealed by Brandon Simpson.

Middle-of-the-table Cumberworth and Heyside grabbed a point each as they drew 1-1 at Crown Field.

Very few chances were created as the defences held the upper hand, and it was 75 minutes into the match before Cumberworth’s Dickinson put in a long shot which was only parried by the keeper, leaving John Garthwaite to convert.

But they held the lead for only two minutes before Michael McCabe’s bullet header levelled the scores in a very competitive game well refereed by David Hey.