Two Academy teams through to JPL Finals to be held 9/10 May.
Please see this link for all the JPL semi-finals news.
AFC Rushden & Diamonds U12s 4 v 2 Cirencester Town F.C. U12s
Played at Aylestone Park F.C., Leicester
A perfect day for football and it turned out to be perfect day for Andy Peak’s AFC Rushden & Diamonds Academy promising U12’s team. Diamonds started the brighter, but went behind against the run of play following a counter attack by Cirencester, which led to them going ahead with a well taken goal, despite the best efforts of Josh in goal. Diamonds reacted well and their heads did not go down and this was rewarded when Ben Ashmead cut inside from the left outside the box and smashed an equaliser in over the opposition goalkeepers head. Cirencester were not going to give the game up though and after a period of continued pressure they scored from a free kick just outside the box. Half time was approaching and Diamonds kept pressing despite going behind for a second time. They were finally rewarded when a free kick outside the box was superbly dispatched by the Diamonds captain Ben. It was a great time to get the equalizer and the game was nicely poised at 2-2.
Following half time, Diamonds went on the break and Arek finished off cooly to make it 3-2 to Diamonds. Some resolute defending then entailed as Cirencester tried to get themselves back in the game, but the defence stayed strong. Diamonds scored their fourth of the game following a good finish from Will Jones. Cirencester kept trying hard, but the defense was well marshalled by Tom Walton and the game ended with a very well deserved 4-2 win for the Diamonds. This was a game that needed patience, passion, desire as well as a cool head and on the day. A superbly competitive game – well done to both teams.
JPL match report can be found here
AFC Rushden & Diamonds U13s 2 v 2 MK Romans
Played at the Malcolm Arnold Academy, Northampton
We welcomed MK Romans to MAA on a lovely sunny morning for a friendly.
The boy’s challenge was to run the whole game themselves including formations and tactics and who started. The subs were tasked with watching the game and feeding back and making any adjustments accordingly. This on the whole worked well and encouraged the boys to take individual and collective ownership and will carry on for the next Friendly against Kidderminster next week.
The game from start to finish was played in a professional manner and credit to both teams as we both looked to play attractive football.
The first period was even and it took Diamonds a while to exploit wide areas. The first time they did Robbie Meadows combined with the overlapping Ben Jackson well and a neat ball back to Meadows found him in space and he finished well to make the score 1-0.
MK Romans looked to attack in central areas and broke through a few times with Dan Edwards in the Diamonds goal making some good saves. Another breakthrough came in the third period when again Diamonds used the width, Carter Brophy unleashed a fantastic shot on the angle which beat the keeper but hit the bar falling kindly to Finlay Little who had followed up well to head the ball in to an empty net.
AFC could have gone on from this point but were guilty of overplaying and MK Romans took advantage and their striker finished well 2-1. Then with 5 minutes remaining a punt down the middle not dealt with let MK in again and another good finish made it 2-2.
Good game played in the right spirit. We wish MK Romans all the best for the rest of the season.
AFC Rushden & Diamonds U14s 1 v 5 Grantham Town F.C. U14s
Played at the Malcolm Arnold Academy, Northampton
This was a friendly verses a representative side of Grantham Town F.C. who play out of the Peterborough and District Junior Alliance League Division 1.
Coventry City F.C. U15s 0 v 2 AFC Rushden & Diamonds U15s
Played at Aylestone Park F.C., Leicester
JPL match report can be found here
