AFC Rushden & Diamonds were punished by a clinical Peterborough Sports side as they were eliminated from the FA Trophy.
FIRST HALF
It didn’t take long for the visitors to strike first in the tie. As Diamonds struggled to clear from a corner, Maniche Sani pounced on the loose ball and fired Sports ahead.
The hosts responded well as they utilised the driving runs of Luke Fairlamb. The wing-back supplied some dangerous crosses which were cleared by the Sports rearguard. Diamonds also threatened with set-pieces but the deliveries were well dealt with by Lewis Moat in goal.
The second goal arrived in similar fashion to the opener. Diamonds failed to clear from a corner as the ball was headed back across for Dion Sembie-Ferris to finish.
Diamonds showed signs of getting back into the game. Another wicked Luke Fairlamb cross was turned behind and Patrick Casey was denied from close-range by an excellent Johnny Herd challenge.
Sports made their opponents pay for not taking their chances as they added a third just before the interval. The hosts broke forward with Maniche Sani whose shot deflected off the unfortunate Alex Collard and spun into the net.
HALF TIME: AFC RUSHDEN & DIAMONDS 0-3 PETERBOROUGH SPORTS
SECOND HALF
Sports made it four just moments into the second half. Maniche Sani skipped around Richard Walton and turned the ball into an empty net.
Diamonds refused to go down without a fight as they pulled a goal back just minutes later. Alex Collard towered above the opposition defence to head home from a corner.
The hosts took the initiative in the game and created a series of chances to bring the game back to life. Patrick Casey’s header was superbly saved just before Lorrell Smith drove his effort narrowly wide of the far post.
Sports managed to keep Diamonds at bay and made sure of the win late on. Jordan Nicholson speared his team forward on the counter-attack and slotted it past Walton to add the fifth.
FULL TIME: AFC RUSHDEN & DIAMONDS 1-5 PETERBOROUGH SPORTS
MAN OF THE MATCH: FERNANDO BELL-TOXTLE
ATTENDANCE: 252
MATCH REPORT: JOSEPH MCCORMACK
AFC Rushden & Diamonds
13. Richard Walton
2. Zack Reynolds
3. Patrick Casey
4. Ross Oulton
5. Liam Dolman (C)
6. Alex Collard
7. Fernando Bell-Toxtle
8. Jesse Akubuine
9. Tom Lorraine
10. Lorrell Smith
11. Luke Fairlamb
SUBS:
12. Matthew Slinn
14. Joel Gyasi
15. Chris Wreh
16. Prince Mutswunguma
19. Ryan Hughes
20. Will Jones
PETERBOROUGH SPORTS
1. Lewis Moat
2. Matt Miles
3. Johnny Herd
4. Brad McGowan
5. Richard Jones (C)
6. Daniel Lawlor
7. Dion Sembie-Ferris
8. Nick Sowden
9. Mark Jones
10. Maniche Sani
11. Joshua Moreman
SUBS:
12. Jordan Nicholson
14. Joshua McCammo
15. Paul Malone
16. Dan Jarvis
17. Mitch Griffiths
