The unofficial AFC Rushden & Diamonds messageboard

sussexdiamond wrote: Wed Nov 28, 2018 10:53 pm Our big test is against the top half dozen where we have yet to pick up any points and have four of them to play in the next five weeks.

davealbon wrote: Wed Nov 28, 2018 12:54 pm It looked like being a really frustrating night last night; we came flying out of the blocks, but a lack of quality in and around the final third prevented the early goal our build up play deserved. For all our possession and pressure, we were actually lucky not to be at least 1-0, if not 2-0 down at HT given the chances Halesowen had, despite not being able to string two passes together.

We got a bit of luck with the deflection wrong footing their 'keeper for the opening goal, although Farrell's shot might just have crept in the other corner, and I don't think the 'keeper was getting there if it had. The second goal was superb though, brilliant work from Albie and a terrific finish from Shanks. I believe that's 80 for him now. And even after the ridiculous sending off, there was only one team that ever looked like scoring again.

It's really difficult to know what to make of this league. Third is surely a false position, and I don't expect us to be up at those dizzy heights for long, but we've got there despite a very inconsistent opening few months, and with a squad that is weaker than it was last season (no Ryan Robbins who regularly scored goals out of nothing, no Joel or Luke tormenting defences from the flanks, and less strength in depth). And given how poor most of our opponents have been (I've not seen every game but only Stourbridge have really impressed me, Tamworth and Rushall were a step up from last year, but not a significant one, everyone else I've seen have been no better than most SLD1 sides), you wonder if this step up really is as big as people made out. I'd be interested to see how teams in our league have stacked up against teams from other step 3 leagues in cup competitions.