PREVIEW: AFC Rushden & Diamonds (A)

Where:

Hayden Road Sports Ground, Hayden Road, Rushden, Northamptonshire, NN10 0HX

When:

Tuesday 4th of March 2024 (7.45pm KO)

After a weekend without a match, the Reds will make, yet another, trip to Rushden, hoping we actually get to play this time. When the fixture was initially scheduled, Rushden were in the midst of a run of ten games without a win. However, they are unbeaten in five since then, winning four matches and pulling away from a relegation battle.

Quorn’s Form:

Let’s skirt over the County Cup semi-final and just focus on the league, I think we’ll all be happier that way.

AFC Rushden & Diamonds’s Form:

Diamonds turnaround began with a 2-1 victory away to Coventry Sphinx at the start of February. They followed that up with a 1-0 win at home to another side at the wrong end of the table in Rugby Town. An impressive 2-1 triumph on the road at playoff chasing Sporting Khalsa preceded a 2-2 draw at home to Hinckley LR and Saturday saw a 1-0 win at Boldmere St. Michaels. At home Diamonds have won six, drawn three and lost five, scoring 24 and conceding 23.

One to Watch:

Nathan Burrows joined Rushden a month ago from United Counties League Premier Division South side Northampton Sileby Rangers. Burrows scored an incredible 123 goals in 124 appearances over the last 3 and a half seasons for Rangers. That record includes 22 in 25 for Sileby at Step five this season. He’s hit the ground running at Hayden Road, scoring in three in his two appearances there.

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.