Diamonds record another victory in pre-season.

By rob
August 1 2002

Rushden and diamonds recorded a well deserved victory in wednesday nights friendly at Nene park, over their division 2 opponents, Peterborough united, in a game that they controlled for much of the 90 minutes.

Starting line up for the diamonds:
Turley, Hunter, Tillson, Underwood, Sambrook, Gray, Mills, Hall, Talbot, Darby, Lowe.

Within a minute of kick-off rushden pushed forward, with Lowe on the receiving end of a good pass, in the Boro' box, only to be denied a chance by an off-side flag. They showed confidence in midfield, from the start, and passed the ball well on the newly laid pitch.
Good link-up play handed the ball to Darby, on 3 mins, but was fouled just outside the Boro' penalty area, Lowes free kick came close, but the Boro' keeped had read the ball well and had the goal attempt covered.

On 6 mins, the diamonds defence was cut open by Adam Newtons run from midfield, who found himself in space to shoot for goal, but his well struck effort was saved by Turley.

It was end to end stuff, and on 8 mins Hall came pressing forward down the right wing, and his cross found Darby unmarked but he was overstretched and couldn't make a decent enough touch to aim for goal, but the diamonds looked good and became in control of the game with the midfield coping well with anything that Peterborough had to offer, and on 11 mins Underwood came running forward on the left, made plenty of space for himself and hit a well executed shot at goal, only to see his effort cut out by a diving Boro' keeper who stretching hand pushed the ball away from the near post for a corner, the resulting corner taken well only for Lowe to head over the bar.

The division 2 team had a few chances, one coming in the 15th minute, when they were gifted a free kick within sight of goal, but the attempt was fired well over the Turleys goal and into the Debanke terrace.

Few real chances were created by both team after then, until on 33 mins an excellent run by Lowe with the ball made a clinical pass to Darby who’s shot beat Boro’ keeper, Mark Tyler, to hit the back of the net. 1-0 to the diamonds.

Within 2 minutes of Darby’s goal, the diamonds pressed forward again, after Boro’ lost possession in midfield, Hall was linking up well, running at the Boro’ defence, until Lowe found himself in plenty of space to blast the ball home. 2-0 to the diamonds.

Whether Tillson was not quite up to match fitness, or he took a slight knock but he was brought off the field to be replaced by Dempster, on 37 mins.

Hall was looking more confident on the pitch and was happy to show off some excellent ball dribbling skills, when he had possession, were no match for the Boro’ players that surrounded him, and once again he was able to feed the ball to Lowes feet, but his effort on goal was denied by the keepers hands.

Disaster almost struck in the dying seconds of the first half when Lowe made a rash challenge, flooring the opponent leaving him in agony. The referee was not impressed by Lowes challenge and advised him to leave the field before he was red carded, of which the Jamaican international duly obliged. If he’d had been red carded he would have surely faced a suspension in the first part of the new season.

HALF TIME: DIAMONDS 2 PETERBOROUGH UNITED 0

The second half began with Partridge replacing Lowe up front, and like the start of the first half, an early chance came for the diamonds, when Partridge found himself in space on the right, within sight of goal he struck the ball low, but his effort was just wide of the far post.

Although the diamonds controlled the game, Boro’ weren’t going to give up easily and few chances came from either side for a while, one notable was a mills effort that was saved by the keeper on 51 mins.

Underwood and Gray were replaced on 65 mins for Mustafa and Bell, and on 72 mins, Sollit came on for Turley, but this seemed to be unlucky as on 74 mins a free kick for Boro’ saw the ball ricochet around the crowded diamonds penalty area, and Andy Clarke reduced the deficit after he latched on to a free ball and fired into the net with ease. 75 mins saw Solkhon come on for Darby.

On 77 mins saw another Boro’ free kick nearly find the net but Sollitt dived to his right to push the ball away for a corner. This was the last real chance for either side.

85 mins saw Hall come off with a great round of applause, surely he had been the man of the match. Adams came on as his replacement. By this time the game was won and it was only a matter of time before the referee blew for full time.

FULL TIME: DIAMONDS 2 PETERBOROUGH UTD 1