DIGGLE are five points ahead of Netherton in Division I with the latter having a game in hand.

They have yet to face each other in a League fixture but, last week, they met in the Barlow Cup quarter finals in what turned out to be an exciting encounter, Netherton going through 3-2 with two late goals.

Diggle took a two-goal half-time lead and the difference between the sides was still two goals as the game entered the final 15 minutes.

It then changed when the Diggle keeper let a tame shot from Andrew Haigh beat him.

This encouraged Netherton, and wide man Tom McCreadie had a hand in the two late goals that gave Netherton victory.

Firstly his low cross was met by substitute Danny Rogers for the equaliser and, with four minutes to play, anotherŠsimilar cross led to a Diggle defender turning the ball into his own net.

Despite the many recent postponements, this win means Netherton, last year’ s Barlow Cup winners, are now through to the semi-finals.

Two Groom Cup matches were played and both ended with the away side winning 5-4.

Shelley won the trophy last season and are still on course to hold onto it following their 5-4 win at Moldgreen Con.

The other match concerned two of the bottom three in Division III, Paddock and Upperthong.

Paddock have only one point to their name in the division and Upperthong’s record is not much better – the only points they have managed to pick up was when they beat Paddock 4-3.

Upperthong started the best and took a 2-0 lead with goals from Anthony Maher and Richard Haigh. Paddock worked their way back and deservedly pulled one back just before half time with a goal from Mick Johnson.

Steve Smith restored Upperthong’s two goal advantage but still Paddock had not given up. With three goals from Paul Jackson, Simon Hirst and Jonathan Dearnley their comeback looked complete when they led 4-3, but then it was Upperthong’s turn to fight back.

Sam Buck equalised seven minutes from time and then Gareth Myers settled in Thong’s favour. He latched onto a through ball, let it bounce once and volleyed into the net.

The most unusual game of the day and probably of the season so far was in the match at Heyside.

Their Reserves were at home to Netherton Reserves in the Richardson Cup. The game had 18 goals.

The score after 90 minutes was 6-6 and very early on in extra-time, Netherton raced to a 9-6 lead. Heyside then scored their seventh but Netherton responded with another two to give a final score of 11-7 to Netherton.

With one team being excluded from the league, the result is that only one side will be relegated from Division II and III. At this stage, it looks likely that it will be either Honley or Wooldale who will be facing the drop from Division II.ŠThey both have three points from eight games and are only five points adrift of Royal Dolphins.Š Wooldale have achieved all their points by way of draws and last week’s 2-2 draw at Westend could prove valuable – although there are plenty of fixtures to play. Looking closely at the tables, which have had little movement over recent weeks, deserved mention should be made of Skelmanthorpe and Slaithwaite Reserves. These are the two teams who have still to be beaten in a league fixture – the former have had seven league fixtures to the latter’s 11.