Rugby Town 1 RDFC 6
A healthy crowd at Butlin Road saw the Diamonds record a comfortable victory
against their Southern League opponents in the final pre-season friendly before
the big kick-off against Crawley Town next Saturday.
Ex-Diamonds assistant Billy Jeffrey’s side contained a few familiar faces with
Jason Taylor, Delroy Gordon and Farhad Afandiyev lining up against their former
side.
Diamonds started brightly with a succession of corners in the opening minutes,
but it was Rugby who opened the scoring in spectacular style. Former Diamond DELROY
GORDON, playing at right-back, turned Paul Watson inside out in the third
minute before curling a wonderful left foot shot past the despairing dive of
Nicky Eyre from 20 yards.
However just 4 minutes later the Diamonds were back on level terms. After a
cleared corner was put back into the box, Chillingworth and then Rankine had
shots saved by the home goalkeeper before LEO FORTUNE-WEST poked home
from three yards.
Rushden were now on top, and could have gone ahead just two minutes later, when
Wayne Hatswell flashed a header wide from Kelly’s cross from the left.
After a few tough challenges by the Rugby midfield on Chillingworth, the
Diamonds striker responded in a positive manner by giving Diamonds the lead
after 18 minutes. Leo Fortune-West found himself with the ball in the Rugby area
before delivering a cross for DANIEL CHILLINGWORTH in front of goal who
somewhat clumsily scored off his knee.
Diamonds went further clear just four minutes later with arguably the goal of
this pre-season. MARCUS KELLY turned wonderfully in midfield before
spotting Afandiyev off his line, and with Cantona-like precision he delightfully
chipped the ball over the former Diamond’s head. A truly wonderful goal from
the talented midfielder.
On a decidedly dodgy pitch Diamonds passed the ball around with ease and created
further chances in the first half to extend their lead but to no avail. Rankine
volleyed over when well placed, and Chillingworth poked wide after being played
through the middle with only the keeper to beat.
HALF-TIME 3-1
Diamonds came out for the second half with an unchanged team, while Rugby
replaced two including Afindiyev, and it was his replacement who was called on
early to make two terrific saves. Firstly he acrobatically turned
Chillingworth’s volley around the post, before having to make another good
save, tipping over a header from his own defender.
Eyre was called into action minutes later from the resultant counter-attack. The
lively David Stone rushed past Wilson but Eyre got down low to save well.
Diamonds went three goals ahead in the sixty-second minute, when DANIEL
CHILLINGWORTH emphatically smashed the ball home on the volley after the
ball kindly fell to him in the six yard box.
The goal signalled to Hart that it was time for wholesale changes, and he thus
replaced the entire midfield and attack.
With the game now almost won, and with so many new faces in the team, the game
sank into a quiet spell. Some nice movement from the new front three of Berry,
Jackson and Tomlin caused the home defence problems, but Diamonds were unable to
create any real chances.
Rugby came close to pulling a goal back in the 73rd minute when Stone hit the
angle of post and crossbar, but it was Diamonds who wrapped up the game with two
late goals.
Soon after Hatswell blazed over when only two yards out, GREG PEARSON (85
minutes) put the Diamonds 5-1 ahead with a well controlled volley into the top
corner. Then only a minute later SIMEON JACKSON made it six. Picking up
the ball at the edge of the area he clinically turned his man before firing past
the dive of the Rugby goalkeeper.
There was just enough time for Jason Taylor to hit wide past Danny Crane who had
replaced Eyre before the referee brought the game to a close, much to the relief
of the home team.
FINAL SCORE DIAMONDS 6-1 RUGBY
Diamonds;
Eyre, Wilson, Watson, Hatswell, Hope, Kelly, Shaw, Ashton, Leo Fortune-West,
Rankine, Chillingworth. Subs - Grainger for Wilson (71 mins), Crane for Eyre
(73mins); Berry for Kelly, Tomlin for Chillingworth, Jackson for Fortune-West,
Savage for Ashton, Rigby for Shaw, Pearson for Rankine (all 63 minutes)
Match Report : Philip Jenkins
For the latest betting odds visit Labrookes for live in game betting. |
|
|
|
