The Reserves title challenge is most definitely back on after this excellent win against Diggers at their superb Cramlington ground.

Before the game, Manager Pollard stressed the vital nature of this clash - a loss today would leave Garnett seriously off the pace; as it was the win was priceless, especially with other teams at the top dropping points. This was also a big win against a team still fancied to be in the reckoning come the spring.

Pollard had also been a tad disappointed with the team's work-rate, ever since the excellent 3-0 win over Newcastle City. The players responded superbly to his call for more graft, and with the luck favouring us for the first time in a few weeks, a great start was made, with three goals inside ten 1st half minutes.

The first quarter was even, with Diggers pacy front two, and strong running from midfield looking threatening. However, once Garnett began to defend with more depth, and get the banks of four behind the ball when not in possession, Diggers breaks and long through balls began to be snuffed out.

Diggers had quite strong claims for a penalty turned down following Taff's traditional early 'reducer', but this break was just what Garnett needed to get going. Following excellent passing, Wonders broke free, his shot rebounding to safety off the inside of the post. Garnett were not to be denied however, as front two Collins and Robinson began to give the Diggers defence a tortuous time. Three goals followed as Garnett were able to pierce the square Diggers defence at will (no doubt helped by the fact that, unlike almost every other team in the league, Diggers did not benefit from the attentions of a flag-waving 'assistant referee').

The first came from a low shot from the ever-willing ROBINSON, at last earning reward for his selfless team play. COLLINS then squeezed one home from a tight angle and WALKER soon slotted home following excellent approach play, again involving the lively Collins. The game was almost over already, when ROBINSON added a fourth just before half-time, profiting from some slack defending by the shell-shocked Diggers back line.

At half time manager Pollard stressed that the first ten minutes would be crucial in quelling the inevitable Diggers fight back, but sure enough, a reply soon followed, as Garnett failed to defend with depth, and were caught out by an excellent run and finish from the Diggers striker. The next twenty minutes saw Diggers rally, and put the Garnett defence under pressure. However the back four held firm, and began to show clear signs of really coming together as a tight defensive unit. Garnett always looked dangerous on the break however.

Hopkins replaced Corcoran on the left; the latter had given an excellent, harrying and lively display, until the night before caught up with him on 50 minutes. Collins, who had ran his socks off was also replaced by ROSBACH, who was almost instantly in the action to prod home from close range following a good move down the left. I'm sure everybody in the club hopes Kenny can shake off his injury problems and have an uninterrupted run of games.

Next HOLMES, who had knitted things together neatly with good work rate in the midfield got on the score sheet, his 20 yard shot flying into the net as the keeper lost his footing in the boggy goalmouth. Diggers pulled another one back, before an excellent move involving the irrepressible Wonders, who must have covered every blade of grass, picked the ball up in midfield and played it forward to sub Pollard, whose intelligent flick found Hopkins. Garnett veteran Hopkins then accelerated into the area, before turning and picking out a cut back to housemate HOLMES who slotted home with aplomb, to finish the scoring at 7-2.

An excellent (and very well refereed) game came to a close shortly after, the quality of the attacking play from both sides being a credit to the league. However ,the challenge for the Reserves is to maintain the work rate and graft which gave them the platform to play such good football (which was also helped by the excellent Cramlington surface) for the rest of the season. Last time we produced as good a display (the 3-0 win vs. Newcastle City), the subconscious feeling was that we just had to turn up after that to stroll our way to the league. Hopefully the poor run that we have now emerged from should have destroyed the notion that anything other than fully committed performances will be required to win any match in this league, never mind just the big games against the top teams. Manager Pollard said, "If this excellent display can be produced week in and week out, then this could well be a successful season. All I'd say to the lads is, you've shown you can do it once, can you do it again? It's up to you."

Team: F.Hepburn, P.Miller, R.Turner, M.Wonders, T.Webb, A.Alexander ©, L.Walker 1, B.Holmes 2, S.Collins 1 (K.Rosbach 1), D.Robinson 2 MOM (M.Pollard), D.Corcoran (G. Hopkins)