PREVIEW: AFC Rushden & Diamonds (A)
Where:
Hayden Road Sports Ground, Hayden Road, Rushden, Northamptonshire, NN10 0HX
When:
Saturday 25th of January 2024 (3pm KO)
Quorn are back on their travels this weekend, heading south to Northamptonshire as they take on AFC Rushden & Diamonds. Whilst they finished in the relegation places last season, Diamonds received a reprieve due to Loughborough Dynamo’s withdrawal, remaining in the NPL Midlands. Whilst the Reds crushed Rushden by an aggregate score of 12-1 last season, their first meeting this season was far from easy.
Quorn’s Form:
After the home defeat to start 2025, the Reds bounced back with a battling 1-0 win away to Sporting Khalsa and a comprehensive 4-1 win at home to Boldmere St. Michaels last weekend. Quorn are back at the top of the form table with five wins from the previous six, but will be desperate for another three points to keep the pressure on Corby Town before the six-pointer with the Steelmen next weekend. Ryan Beswick’s side will need to keep their focus on Rushden first though, after being so close to slipping up against them earlier in the season.
AFC Rushden & Diamonds’s Form:
Following a 2-1 midweek defeat at home to Coventry Sphinx, Diamonds are firmly rooted to the foot of the form table, picking up just one point from their previous six outings, a 1-1 draw at Loughborough Students on New Year’s Day. Rushden have actually gone 10 games without a win, a run dating back to a 3-1 victory at home to Coleshill Town on the 9th of November.
That run has seen seven defeats, away to Racing Club Warwick (5-1), Worcester City (3-0), Lye Town (2-1) and Sutton Coldfield Town (2-1). The other three defeats were at home to Darlaston Town (1-0), Corby Town (2-0) and Coventry Sphinx. The few bright spots have been away draws with Grantham Town and Loughborough Students as well as a 1-1 draw at home to Wellingborough Town. In the current stretch they have conceded 19, scoring just six.
One to Watch:
Charlie Green is the only player to have scored more than once in the past ten matches. Jamal Adams remains top-scorer for the Diamonds, and scored at The Stotto Stadium earlier in the season, but Green is the man of the moment. In 28 appearances the defender has scored six times, but missed the match at Farley Way back in October.
Last Time: Quorn 2-1 AFC Rushden & Diamonds (12/10/2024)
Kobe Hall became an instant hero in his first appearance at the newly titled Stotto Stadium. The Kidderminster Harriers loanee came off the bench to score twice at the death and snatch a dramatic victory.
AFC Rushden & Diamonds looked the better side throughout the first half an hour and deservedly took the lead in the 17th minute, when Jamal Adams, a former teammate of Quorn Player/Manager Ryan Beswick, steered in a composed effort.
Rushden went close shortly afterwards, hitting the post as the hosts struggled to get into the game. It took until the half hour mark for the Reds to muster much going forward, Beswick had a shot from a free kick that went over and Paddy Webb was denied by Ben Heath when he took on an audacious effort.
A double substitution at the break brought about a change of formation, but Adams was causing problems again from the restart, hitting the post as Diamonds continued to have the better of the chances.
Jack York and Cain Noble came close to restoring parity, but it was looking as though it wasn’t going to be Quorn’s day and the unbeaten start to the season would come to an end. The game turned in the 70th minute with the introduction of Hall, his link up with Zak Goodson created the best chance of the match for the hosts, up to that point.
Hall did have the ball in the back of the net in the 85th minute, but the assistant’s flag was raised quickly, ruling the forward to be offside. Goodson contributed yet another assist, crossing into the box for Hall to glide in and finish as the clock hit 90 minutes.
Beswick almost found a winner in the 95th minute, but his volley crept just inches over. Hall would have the final word though, smashing in the winner in the 97th minute as the home faithful went wild.
Tickets:
Adults: £12.00, Concessions (over 60s, students): £9.00, Under 21s: £7.00, U18s: £3.00 & U8s: Free
AFC Rushden & Diamonds have advised the following:
“There will be hot food and drinks and the bar will be open. Programmes are digital. We are aiming for a cash-free environment so ask all supporters to pay by contactless card at the turnstile and once inside the ground if possible.”
Travel:
Take the A6 south to the A46. Join the M1 south, exiting at junction 19, onto the A14, heading east. Remain on the A14 until the southern side of Kettering, exiting at junction 10 and heading south on the A6.
Remain on the A6 through the villages of Finedon and Irthlingborough. At the island with the A45, continue straight on the A6 Rushden and Higham bypass, leaving at the third island, the third exit onto Newton Road. Follow the road past the cemetery, and take the sharp right hand turn immediately after the Risdene Academy onto Hayden Road. The ground is approximately a quarter of a mile on the left. Parking is severely limited outside the ground.