The unofficial AFC Rushden & Diamonds messageboard

Agree that Wilkinson needs to be dropped, his defending in recent weeks has been dreadful. While Gordon's not the best going forward he is a far superior defender. I would hope Hally is back on Saturday, maybe allow Leslie to drop into CM. I agree with the comments on Pinder, think it's time to give him a start.

Whilst I agree that Matt Pinder looks a good prospect, I don't think he could be regarded as a solution to our problems up front for the rest of the season. He looked really lively when he came on, but at that point Tommy Berwick had run himself into the ground, so there was no chance to see how well they might link up. We urgently need to find a partner for Tommy Berwick whose play will mean they complement each other, including reading each other's runs so we don't get caught offside so often.

Hopefully saturday will see the squad strengthened by returns of Dolman, Bunting, Hall, and Herbert.

I certainly agree that Dolman needs to come straight back in as his authority alone makes all the difference. As good as Lorraine has played in midfield we still need Bunting.

Is that the closest we have ever come to losing a 2 goal lead?

updiamonds wrote:The Southern League website states we were 1-0 down to Hanwell (when we never were) how weird and funny is that.

https://www.southern-football-league.co ... al/results

makes you realise how good the UCL website was/is.

They've been moaning on the NLM forum about how poor the Southern League website is for many months now. On Saturday it wouldn't even load up and this is, apparently, a regular problem.

I tend to use the Football Web Pages site.

I see Andy Gooding was left out of Poppies squad last night, would do a job at this level no doubt!

Groundhopper report:-

We were spoiled by the unseasonal temperatures at Cricklefield the previous night as much chillier (but more than enough drama to ensure that thoughts of the cold were kept at bay) at....

Hanwell Town 1 v 2 AFC Rushden & Diamonds - Southern League Division 1 (Central)
Prog 40 pages £1.00 - Att 122 - Admission £8.00

... Should really consider trips to Reynolds Field more midweek. Simple to get to, just ten minutes walk from Perivale LU. Decent clubhouse (where if you want serving at the bar, you have to ring a bell), well stocked tea bar, with a cup o' rosie coming in a china cup and they served Pukka Pies (no sign of a veggie option though) and easy to get back from as back indoors at RM17 just a shade after 23.30. Stand is a little off centre but still simple enough to obtain a decent vantage point. Ground gives the impression that it is well looked after. Though the pitch which was a stodgy side of heavy is one cloudburst away from an invasion of Warthogs.

Decent game too, with the visitors very very fortunate to come away with the win, which sends them to the top of the Division 1 Central table. With a team full of experienced players, a promotion push is the least to be expected but for much of this contest they were on the backfoot.

Almost a spectacular opening with the Hanwell defence frozen at the start allowing Berwick a clear run on goal, however, his angled shot was dramatically cleared off the line. Hanwell though assumed the ascendancy with ease and were unlucky not to take the lead when a free kick from Buckley came back off the bar and then a cross from the right was met by a header from the unmarked Manu at the back post who inextricably directed his header wide.

We were at times mystified by the referee who seemingly had the eyes of a hawk who on numerous occasions when both teams took corners, pushes or shoves that nobody else seemed to see. Rather impinged on the flow of the contest. Though Rushden then took the lead when a corner (which for once did not end with the referee blowing for an offence) was not properly cleared allowing Berwick lurking on the edge of the area and his powerful drive flew past Herdman at knee height into the corner.

Either side of half time, Hanwell had a lot of possession but were unable to translate possession around the penalty area into anything more threatening, In contrast, Rushden were more dangerous on the break and nearly doubled their advantage when a shot from Berwick which initially was heading in the direction of the goal then ended up a inch or so away from the far post.

Half way through the second period and Rushden scored a second which seemingly made the game safe, with Gordon squeezing a shot wide of Herdman at the near post after a flick on from Lorraine from a corner. However, within a minute Hanwell had reduced the deficit with Vincente volleying spectacularly past Finlay with an effort which if miscalculated and not kept down would have ended up in the car park.

For the last 20 minutes, Hanwell pushed forward but were let down by them wasting opportunities. A free header for Kinnane was directed over the bar, but in the 95th minute Vincente was felled in a not particularly dangerous position by the byline and Hanwell had a penalty. Problem was that Vincente is not their regular penalty taker and sent the resultant spot kick at least a yard wide. The Rushden supporters who made up a fair proportion of the crowd were relieved, though directed a large amount of chagrin in the direction of the referee, whose addition of 7 minutes stoppage time seemed from my angle to be at least 3 minutes more than should have been added.

Yet to use a much used cliche, that good teams accrue 3 points when not playing at their best and this was the case on this occasion.

What's wrong with the audio on the interviews ?? All ok with match commentary - but the audio on the interviews is inaudible??

Sorry that's my fault I had so little time this week to this I didn't change the audio on the interviews. Try it now jim