The unofficial AFC Rushden & Diamonds messageboard

Wonderful day for us - stroll to a 5-0 win, rousing minute's applause for Dale, Yaxley lose 2-0, Huntingdon struggle in a 3-3 draw at Thurnby Nirvana and Holbeach can't get their game on and slip further behind.

Pressure will be on Holbeach to play catch-up - and quickly. They face an interesting dilemma in the new year when they'll have to start their necessary ground improvements to meet Step 4 requirements, and their motivation to invest in this (and the time they do it) might be affected by the gap between them and us. It's currently 11 points. If you were the money man, would you spend all what's required in Jan/Feb if the gap remains that big, or would you be tempted to save the cash for later in the season or even next year when winning the league might be more feasible? It's about perception I guess and how they feel about their chances of closing that gap, but it just goes to show how important it is to get the points on the board and for that postponements like today are the last thing they'd want.

I agree it was a great day, only negative was the low crowd, but it was of course cold and we've only got 1 more weekend before Christmas after this one so perhaps understandable. Obviously it was worrying to see Matt injured after the 2nd goal, but because of him being down the players got to join in with the applause as well which was fantastic to see, another excellent tribute to Dale

Its a very nice gap right now, long way to go, but it really is ours to lose now isn't it and we didn't even play that well today, we didn't need to really, not saying we played badly of course, we were very solid and took our chances, just it was such a stroll going forward that we didn't need to be at our best. Fair play to Harrowby for having a go in the second half, just a shame their shooting was atrocious!!

Olly wrote:I agree it was a great day, only negative was the low crowd..

Let's not keep on crowing about the 'low' attendance. There will be clubs at Step 4 level where the Chairman would be doing double head over heels if their attendance was 228 never mind 428!

As DC said the other month the attendance is 'what it is' and it was decent in my opinion.

It will be interesting to see todays crowds for Step 3, 4 and 5. I bet we are in top 5.
The idea of crowds being down because of Xmas should not be so much of a problem with so many people buying via the Internet and shops open 24/7.

Come 5.0pm on the 1st of Jan we could be a minimum 14 points clear, as our rivals have only 1 or 2 games between now and then.

Holbeach have to play Cogenhoe (a) and Wisbech (h). If they drop just 2 points we will be 16 points clear if we win next three games .....Heres hoping.

Trek wrote:

Olly wrote:I agree it was a great day, only negative was the low crowd..

Let's not keep on crowing about the 'low' attendance. There will be clubs at Step 4 level where the Chairman would be doing double head over heels if their attendance was 228 never mind 428!

As DC said the other month the attendance is 'what it is' and it was decent in my opinion.

Well put Trek. I will poke the next person to complain about a crowd figure over 250 in the eye

A word about the ref today - I thought she was excellent !! Got a couple of decisions wrong I thought, but I'll give her them!! Overall one of the better refs we've had this season !!

I was surprised Harrowby didn't employ the spoiling tactics that worked for much of the game at their place - but perhaps the weak referee that day let them get away with a lot more than today's ref, who was certainly one of the better ones we've seen this season - as were the linesmen too. We'll certainly miss Adam Confue next weekend, and it will be a shame if Matty Gearing is unable to play, as he's really getting back to last season's form.

sussexdiamond wrote:It will be interesting to see todays crowds for Step 3, 4 and 5. I bet we are in top 5.

1.) Maidstone 1,711
2.) Stamford 819
3.) K*ttering 607
4.) Margate 494
5.) Diamonds 428

Just. Can't be bothered to trawl through all Step 5 attendances but the other Step 5 side who get large crowds - Worksop Town - only managed 338 today.

It was Stamford's first game in their new stadium today so that explains their attendance.

The biggest Southern League Premier (Step 3) attendance today was 286 at Dorchester Town. There are no well supported clubs in that league so you see some awful attendances. 9 clubs average under 200 and the worst is Cirencester who are averaging 127 so far this season. 6% up on last season!

Because of the FA Trophy there were only 4 games played at Step 2 today. Our crowd was bigger than 3 of those.

I agree thought the ref was good. Much better than the usually tripe around here, :lol: :lol:

Can we have you every week.

updiamonds wrote:I agree thought the ref was good. Much better than the usually tripe around here, :lol: :lol:

Can we have you every week.

Lets be fair it was an extremely easy game to referee. Granted she got everything right, however I'm still waiting for my sandwich!