FA Cup Preliminary Round – AFC Rushden & Diamonds 1 Bedford Town 1

Last gasp AFC Rushden & Diamonds kept their FA Cup hopes alive with an 87th minute equaliser against Southern League Central side Bedford Town at the Dog & Duck on Saturday afternoon. They now travel to Bedford on Tuesday night for their first away cup replay.

Bedford deservedly led 1-0 at half-time after a swift breakaway following a botched Diamonds free-kick just outside the Bedford area. Robert Parker slotting home on 41 minutes. Diamonds pressed throughout the second half without much joy before second half substitute Matt Gearing stooped to head Russ Dunkley’s flick-on from just 5 yards in front of a delighted Peter De Banke Terrace. Bedford pressed themselves in a frenetic last 5 minutes but Diamonds held on to earn their first ever away cup replay. Liam Dolman was a commanding presence at the back throughout the match and was awarded Man of the Match by big game sponsors Hevey BS.

Manager Andy Peaks made two changes from the team which beat Peterborough Northern Star so impressively last week. Elliott Lamb-Johnson returned in place of Matt Gearing who dropped to the bench, and Richard Bunting returned in place of Adam Confue who had been taken ill on the morning of the game. Tom Lorraine joined Matt Gearing, Sam Brown, Jason Turner and Rhys Redding on the bench.

Diamonds started brightly in breezy conditions with Fazel Koriya firing in a first minute cross that Ling just missed with an attempted acrobatic volley. Then on 4 minutes Dunkley made himself a great chance forcing his way past a defender on the far post to meet a deep Henderson free-kick with a firm header which just cleared the bar.

There was excellent link up play between Koriya and Dunkley in these early stages with both players finding space to get in dangerous crosses but the Bedford backline were clearing the 18 yard box comfortably which would be a feature of a strong defensive performance from the Southern League Central side.

They held possession and moved the ball well themselves throughout with one flowing move on 8 minutes resulting in a great ball in behind the Diamonds defence that Henderson deftly turned wide while facing his own goal. Another side to side move on 8 minutes put Neil King in space 25 yards out and his crisp low drive was seen just wide by Matt Finlay in the Diamonds goal.

Bedford started to dominate possession in this middle period of the half with Josh Winters twice opening up the Diamonds defence. First racing onto a neat through ball turning in the box and only being denied by a last ditch challenge by Arron Parkinson. And then twisting and turning into the penalty area, getting to the by-line just 6 yards from goal and cutting back for what seemed like it was going to be a tap-in only for Jack Ashton to somehow clear.

Diamonds were treated to another fabulous driven 40 yard ball from the impressive Liam Dolman on 25 minutes picking out Elliott Lamb-Johnson on the right wing who controlled instantly and hit an early cross that just evaded Russ Dunkley.

Diamonds had a couple of dangerous free-kick positions late in the half and it was from one of these that Bedford finally took the lead on 41 minutes. Lamb-Johnson dummied the shot on goal from 25 yards and slid the ball sideways to Bunting but over hit-it. A Bedford defender pipped a stretching Bunting to the ball, and suddenly Bedford had men over on a quick break, made worse for Diamonds when Dolman fell trying to make last ditch challenge. Bedford worked the 3 on 1 break that resulted well with Robert Parker slotting home from 15 yards.

It was an unfortunate way to concede but a fair reflection on the first half. Diamonds very nearly equalised though right on half-time with Dunkley chesting down a cross from Ling and hitting an acrobatic volley from 18 yards just over. Diamonds entered half-time with just 10 on the field after seeing Arron Parkinson leave the field cradling his arm after falling awkwardly.

Half-time : AFC Rushden & Diamonds 0 – Bedford Town 1

Sam Brown replaced Arron Parkinson at half-time moving to his customary left-back position with Jack Ashton moving into centre half alongside the impressive Liam Dolman. On 48 minutes Brown had his first long throw flicked on by Dunkley into space in the box that a diamonds player couldn’t get quickly enough into and was cleared for a corner. This was a pattern to be repeated a number of times in an improved but frustrating second half for Diamonds.

Elliott Lamb-Johnson continued to run at the Bedford defence and on 49 minutes seized on good work from Russ Dunkley down the right moving into the box and shooting low from 18 yards straight at Bedford keeper Lee Crockett.

Koriya had Diamonds best chance of this period on 61 minutes when a corner was flicked on and he found himself in space on the far post just 4 yards out but somehow managed to head back across goal rather than hit the target.

Bedford were pretty comfortable defensively throughout the second half though and content to hold their lead and hit on the counter attack which they did quickly and dangerously. They had the ball in the net on 66 minutes after a swift move opened up Diamonds down the right hand side with an early cross turned home by Scott Cross but Diamonds were saved by the assistant’s flag for offside.

Manager Andy Peaks made his two remaining substitutions midway through the half with Matt Gearing replacing Richard Bunting and Jason Turner replacing Elliott Lamb-Johnson. It certainly energised Diamonds as they pressed for the equaliser. Gearing running at the Bedford defence won a free kick on 70 minutes that he took himself hitting a deep ball that both Ashton and Henderson came close to getting on the end of.

Bedford came close to clinching the tie on 72 minutes as another quick through ball saw Tom Rawlings run through on goal only for Finlay to rush out to block with a suspicion of handball outside the area. Bedford appeals were waived away and Finlay survived.

Long throws from both sides of the field and free-kicks always looked the most likely way for Diamonds to break this solid Bedford defence. The play became more frantic in the closing stages as a fantastic 761 crowd urged Diamonds on for the equaliser that would give them a first ever away replay and it finally came on 87 minutes. This time Dolman’s flick-on of a Henderson throw from the right fell to a Diamonds player, Matt Gearing flicking home from 5 yards in front of a delighted Peter de Banke terrace.

There was still time for a feisty finish with Jordan Jarrold and Scott Cross both booked for Bedford for denying Diamonds attacks, but it was Bedford who pushed really strongly in the 5 minutes added time. Ashton was booked for denying Bedford a chance to break and a number of dangerous balls into the box were cleared by the Diamonds defence before the referee blew the final whistle.

Final Score : AFC Rushden & Diamonds 1 – Bedford Town 1

It was a dramatic finish to a game that Bedford will feel they should have won. Diamonds struggled to make clear-cut chances against a composed Southern League Central side and they will be relieved to have stayed in the competition while not at their best. Arron Parkinson’s injury will be a worry as they head for Bedford’s The New Eyrie ground on Tuesday night for a first ever away cup replay.

Man of the Match awarded by main sponsors Hevey Building Supplies : Liam Dolman

Attendance: 761

Match Report : Paul Judd

Updated player profiles with appearance and goalscoring details are now available.

 

Match Gallery courtesy of Stephanie Webb Photography Copyright Stephanie Webb Photography ©2014