The unofficial AFC Rushden & Diamonds messageboard

Well played Ladies, and thanks also for those that supported the raffle last night as well.
£60 was raised which was passed to the Ladies Team.

Thanks also to Glenis for covering the Tea Hut with the Burger Monster, and Dave for the excellent Teamsheets - I still have a few of these left for anyone that wants one.

Also thanks to Hayden for helping with the changing rooms after the game as well (left much tidier than when the lads have it I have to say).

Message from Roade Coach:

Spike..coach from Roade ladies...great game tonight.. both teams give it all ..both teams had lucky moments but I believe you earn those moments! tonight it seems was our night..another time maybe it wont be... thats football... Ive seen some of the post match comments..no need for them!!! great atmosphere thanks for great game!!

Regarding the message from the Roade coach... Unfortunately it goes both ways. We were aware of some poor comments from them before the game about how they were going to "smash us" and that we were crap. Think we proved them wrong there.

Cracking game last night girls , well played, as soon as the ball left your boot Claire it was only going one pace ( the back of the net) ,cracking goal and a great team performance and you were unlucky not to equalise.

I'm not sure what comments he's referring to, there are no derogatory comments on here. I also follow most of the girls on twitter and the over riding comments from them was one of disappointment, which is to be expected after a semi-final loss.

I don't think it's right to try to bring a great achievement from the girls (on both sides) down to that level and take away from a well fought game. If the Roade coach has any specific issues then he can contact me with his phone number and I'll happily talk through them with him as Head of Community Football.

The Ladies were gracious in defeat and kept smiling through the tears and I thought Roade were humble in the victory as well.

Our team will have learnt a lot from that, without a doubt more than they will have learned from some of the league games they have played this season. They will also have learned that they will be fine in the First Division next season.

They can finish the season on a high and it would nice to see a good few there as well.

Great night last night, and thanks to everyone concerned for making it happen.
Given that the team has barely completed their first season, I think it was a great achievement. This game is a yardstick as to how far the team has come in a short space of time, and shows that there is n`t a great deal of difference between the top teams in Division 1 and the Premier division. Generally, the better teams have a quicker standard of decision making, are more clinical in front of goal and have a bit of luck, and I think Roade showed that in this instance, but they were hanging on for the last twenty minutes. Nevertheless, good luck to them in the Final, they`re well organised and pacey up top so it should be a good game.
Our players should use this experience as a platform to build on for next season. I know they`ll be disappointed but I`m not. I`ve got another great memory to file away, and Claire can say she has scored a cracking goal in front of the De Banke, and you can`t buy those. #Greenwithenvy!!!

Diamond Warrior wrote:

Barton Raz wrote: I wonder when a ladies game in our county last had a gate to match that?

Arsenal v Forest at Steel Park last year?

possibly England Under19 women v Sweden Under19 women at Nene Park on 31/05/2006. I was there but cannot remember size of crowd.

BartonRaz wrote:I wonder when a ladies game in our county last had a gate to match that?

Sunday 18 August 2002 Nene Park - R&D Ladies 0 Tottenham Hotspur Ladies 1 (att 450) 8-)

But back to last night's game - the team have improved massively since that first League game against Billing seven months ago. After an initial nervous fifteen minutes last night, they matched their opposition and deserved to get something from the game in that final ten minutes or so when the ball hardly went out of the Roade half.

Well done to everyone, on and off the field, for making it a memorable evening.

Diamond Warrior wrote: Arsenal v Forest at Steel Park last year?

IIRC the crowd was in the region of 650-700 for that match.

Thanks for all the comments regarding the goal. Definitely not one of my best technically but the fact it was in a semi final with all the supporters celebrating it definitely puts it up there as one of my all time bests.

Wonder if we can beat 187 attendance for our league match where if we win we will win the title? I hear we are trying to get this down at the D&D on Sunday 21st April 2pm k.o