[ Sat 25th Apr ] v Cogenhoe Utd, KO 3pm UCLP HOME

[Formic]

No - see my edit above.

OK. I thought we might combine the award April/May as we've done in past seasons when there were many postponements in one particular month but I accept your rationale for wrapping up the award after the Cogenhoe fixture. ;)

It was discussed but there were also other logistical reasons so it made sense to do it this way. There will of course be the usual Man of the Match award in the Potton game (although I accept that isn't chosen by the fans).

[updiamonds]

It would be nice to get over 100 points for are final league game.

3-1 Diamonds.

[sussexdiamond]

Clever piece of psychology by Cogenhoe manager? Announcing he is leaving them just before their final game of the season against the Champions.

[Olly]

Could be, we already knew this would be a challenge what with their position in the table and the fact they beat Wisbech last week, but this probably adds even more incentive for them to upset the champions on the final day of the season, so it will depend on our attitude going into the game, if our attitude isn't right today, I can easily see us drawing or losing, but I'm sure the players will know that and hopefully they'll put in a performance of champions to see off the UCL

While we've certainly had an enjoyable and memorable 3 years in the UCL, god will I be relieved to see the back of it and no more trips to places like Long Buckby or village teams with 5 fans when we move up to the SL.

[BartonRaz]

Entertaining way to end the season. Couldn't quite get over the 100 point mark but personally I was more bothered about the unbeaten home record.

There were some poor performances from us all over the park, but who cares? Cogenhoe were a very decent side and were very unfortunate not to beat us. The decision to award us the first penalty for the foul on Gearing has to be one of the worst refereeing decisions i've seen in a long time. It happened right in front of me and I almost fell about laughing along with everybody around me.

[Olly]

Well it was a shame we didn't make 100 points, but still an entertaining end to the season, Cogenhoe had a great second half, but I always felt we'd manage to preserve that unbeaten home record this season and we did with the 2 pens (even though I didn't think the first one was a pen), this group of lads have always had a great never-say-die attitude and I wasn't the slightest bit surprised they got the late equaliser to make it 3-3. Yet another desperately strange and poor refereeing performance though, some bad decisions on both sides, hope the standard at least goes up a little bit in the SL.

Well, what a season, I wonder what the odds at the start of the season would have been for us, Corby and the other team to all win their respective leagues, I know many on here don't care much for any of the other local clubs, but I'm still pleased to see a good year for non league Northants football. Can't wait to kick off the new season at a higher level, don't know why, but I fancy an away game to kick it off

[Olly]

Oh and well done to Jack Ashton for winning Fans' POTS, thoroughly deserved, I was torn between him and Dolman and went for Dolman in the end, but it was unsurprisingly close as both would have been deserving winners really, really hope to see both of them in the centre of defence again next year and both have experience of that level so they'll be good I'm sure.

[Formic]

I wonder how long the ref had been in charge of a whistle - I think we'd previously only seen him as a linesman.

I would have taken a draw before the game, and once again we showed our resilience by getting the two equalisers. I think the ref felt he owed us something as he had let their players off for constant dissent yet chose to book two of ours.

It was a good way to close out the league season, albeit without the chance to see the players doing their lap of honour, and great credit must go to all those on the club board that have made this possible, as well as the players and management. It was also good to see the volunteers getting some credit in the programme too, even if there were a couple of names missing from the list who have contributed so much to the website this season without choosing to be one of the high profile "media team".

Perhaps the players might go on to win the UCL Cup and give us a lap of honour with that...

[Formic]

Mal's pics are added to Paul's Match Report - http://www.afcdiamonds.com/afc-rushden- ... e-united-3

[davealbon]

The decision to award us the first penalty for the foul on Gearing has to be one of the worst refereeing decisions i've seen in a long time. It happened right in front of me and I almost fell about laughing along with everybody around me.

I was behind the same goal, but slightly to the side, and thought it was a stonewall penalty (as did several people around me). Although one defender slid in and took the ball superbly, it looked to us like a second defender dived in alongside him and took out Gearing at almost exactly the same time. It will be interesting to see it again on the highlights.