RDFC took a deserved 3-0 win over a full-strength Posh side at Nene Park on Saturday. The hot weather of the past week had abated, so a decent match was possible.

Nine of the starting 11 have started all three friendlies so far, with new signing Michael Rankine taking the number 7 shirt previously worn by Jackson and
Tomlin. Triallist Goalkeeper Nicky Eyre made his first appearance in a Diamonds shirt.

For this game the Diamonds wore Red - so the omens were good, but the Posh showed a tinpot tendency by taking the field with no names or numbers on their shirts. Additionally Posh appeared to have bamboozled the Stadium Announcer with their team selection, so some time had to be spent establishing that ex-Diamonds Richard Butcher, Trevor Benjamin and Guy Branston were in the starting line up.

The Diamonds started on top, and remained that way throughout the game, with a succession of attacks seeing a couple of great attempts on goal from Tom Shaw, plus another from Daniel Chillingworth following a great run. Chilli was continuing the good form of the previous game, as were most of the team. We also saw the rare event of a short corner almost paying dividends via a move that obviously came direct from the Notts Forest old-boys. Such was the dominance that Wayne Hatswell started to get further and further forwards, and had one great shot which unfortunately was too close to the goalie. Another Hatswell attempt following a corner seemed to be cleared off the Posh Line by our own Leo F-W !

The Diamonds were playing a great passing game - although when they needed an outlet there was always the running of Michael Rankine or the power of LF-W. One great move involving Chilli led to Rankine being clean through but he rather panicked when he saw the whites of the goalposts.

Finally Diamonds got the goal their performance in the first half deserved. Marcus Kelly showed great vision (and no little skill) to find his overlapping fullback on the left - Paul Watson, who whipped in a great cross for Leo Fortune-West to rise above the static defence and head home.

The only real scare for the Diamonds at the other end was when Marcus was watching Newton on the wide left, but Watson failed to spot Yeo nipping in behind him - and only a dreadful attempt prevented a possible equaliser.

We also learnt that Glenn Wilson has a pretty decent throw (although obviously that was put in the shade by Jude Stirling when he came on last in the game).

Jon Ashton continued to impress greatly in his role just in front of the back 4, and his height was an added defence against any hoof tactics from the Posh.
Marcus Kelly showed the sort of commitment we know he is capable of, combined with greater vision than we've seen before, and Tom Shaw continues to impress with every game, so the midfield looked pretty solid.

For the second half the same team took to the field, and the domination continued. Michael Rankine was showing some great touches for a big man (cliche alert !), linking up well with the central midfield, and even dummying the fullback on one occasion. Both the two Diamonds full backs got further and further forwards as the game went on, and produced pretty decent crosses at the end of their runs.

Finally the second goal came, after a poor clearance from a set piece fell to Jon Ashton just outside the area, and he flicked the ball over the advancing defence to Michael Rankine, who ran in and had a simple tap in. The controversy was that LF-W was a mile offside in the centre of the goal when this happened.
It's a chance to discuss that old favourite - the "not interfering with play" concept - but suffice to say, I'd have been exceptionally annoyed to see such a goal given against us. Mind you, the lino on the North Stand side had been using his flag rather enthusiastically throughout the half, so perhaps he knew what he was doing.

Chilli continued to show the sort of passion we had hoped to see last season, but perhaps he won't get away with patting a ref's balding pate after he's just been lectured in a league game !

After the second goal, Posh had their best spell of the game, as the substitutions upset the rhythm for a while, with the entire front three and Tom Shaw all being replaced - by the "short but nippy" strike force of Tomlin, Jackson and Berry, plus the first appearance of the season for Dave Savage. This was only punctuated by former Diamonds favourite Guy Branston berating the ref at every opportunity about the "offside" goal.

However, despite this, Diamonds could easily have had another goal with both Berry and Rigby hitting the woodwork before they finally did get the deserved third when, with Branston down with cramp, Berry made a great run (down the left for a change), and hit a great cross for Simeon Jackson to slot home.

As with the previous two games, there were no alternatives for the back four on the bench, so they all played the full 90 minutes - this must be an area that needs attention before the start of the season.

All in all, another excellent team performance. It is difficult to pick out a man of the match - or indeed criticise anyone for their contribution. We can't get too excited, given this was only a friendly - but we certainly don't take any negatives from the game.

The attendance was 1197, with 232 Posh Fans - who almost brought a flag apiece.

Teams

RDFC : Nicky Eyre, Wilson, Watson, Ashton, Hope, Hatswell, Rankine, Shaw, Fortune-West, Chillingworth, Kelly. Subs Savage, Tomlin, Jackson and Berry for three frontmen plus Shaw, then Pearson and Rigby for Kelly and Ashton

Posh : Tyler, Newton, Plummer, Arber, Branston, Day, Butcher, Holden, Yeo, Benjamin, Opara (subs Crow, Richards, Stirling)