AFC Rushden & Diamonds Ladies came close to an upset in the League Plate Semi-Final on Wednesday evening in a narrow 2-1 defeat against Roade. A fantastic crowd of 187 witnessed the game against the League 1 title chasers and were rewarded after 19 minutes when Diamonds went in front, Claire Stancliffe firing home from the edge of the box into the roof of the net.
Although it was against the run of play, Diamonds looked more composed on the ball as the half progressed, but were pegged level a minute before the break when a shot from distance deceived keeper Gemma Newson. Diamonds were awarded a penalty after April Malin was fouled shortly after the restart, but Fiona Strathern’s spot kick struck the crossbar and was cleared away. The miss proved to be costly as Roade Ladies got what proved to be the winner on the hour.
Diamonds: 24/Gemma Newson, 2/Elise Young, 3/Tash Lowe, 4/Emma Morris, 5/Kerry Lawrence, 6/Lauren Perkins, 7/Alex Bartlett, 8/Claire Stancliffe, 9/April Malin, 10/Cat Sealey, 11/Kelly Rust, 12/Megan Watkins, 14/Naomi Dwane, 15/Jenna Looker, 16/Harriet Clarke, 17/Fiona Strathern.
Roade: 1/Elise Hazel, 2/Jasmine Harwood, 3/Rochelle Swaine, 4/Laura Messenger, 5/Claire Swift, 6/Hayley Goody, 7/Danielle Charlton, 8/Lorna Jones, 9/Amy Milligan, 10/Ella Castka, 11/Nia Barford, 12/Sharn Rowlands, 14/Shanae Hazel, 15/Marie Cocker, 16/Holly Brown, 17/Tyler Felton.
Attendance: 187
Diamonds Player of the Match: Elise Young
For AFC Rushden & Diamonds Ladies stats see here, and for the fixtures and results see here.
Images courtesy of Mal Swinden ©2013 Malcolm Swinden Photography
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