Diamonds moved into the play-off places with victory at Barwell in an entertaining clash on Saturday afternoon.
The visitors could have been 3-0 up within the first ten minutes as Liam Dolman was denied from a quick free-kick, Nathan Tshikuna had a strike tipped onto the bar and Alex Collard saw a header kept out. Barwell came back into the half with James Rowland hitting the side-netting from a promising position, and further chances saw Max Brogan denied by a strong save and Collard make a goal-saving block. Rushden’s Connor Furlong also had an effort held following a jinking run and then a fizzing strike cleared off the line.
Chances remained aplenty in the second half as Tshikuna had an attempt saved, AJ George saw a deflected strike loop over and home skipper Brady Hickey smacked the woodwork. It was Rushden who took the lead though when Ty Deacon kept his cool to slide home after a long ball over the top and, after some home pressure, the striker doubled the lead by slotting a low effort under the keeper. There was just enough time for Ben Stephens to pull one back, but Diamonds had done enough to clinch the three points and move into the top-five.
First half
After Tuesday night’s Hillier Cup semi-final success over Bugbrooke, manager Peaks reverted back to the same starting eleven that had been defeated at third-placed Rushall the previous Saturday. There was a place amongst the substitutes for new signing Shane Bush, a defender who had joined from Biggleswade Town earlier in the day.
The hosts, nicknamed The Canaries, had played their opening 16 league games of the season away from home whilst a new 4G playing surface had been laid at the UK Flooring Direct Stadium. Since completed, they had played 12 consecutive home matches and sat 12th in the table having only lost one of their last seven. Diamonds entered the contest in sixth, level on points with Alvechurch in fifth and with two games in hand. They had won six of their last eight and nine of their last 12, with their away record being the fifth best in the division before the start of play.
Referee Mark Pearson got the game underway and, after less than two minutes, Diamonds almost had the lead. They won a free-kick just ahead of the halfway line, and Liam Dolman stepped forward to quickly loft an effort towards goal to try and catch Liam Castle off his line. However, the home keeper just got back in time to tip the effort behind.
Moments later, they came even closer as Nathan Tshikuna cut in from the left before curling an effort towards goal from the edge of the area. It looked in all the way, but Castle leapt up to tip the strike onto the bar and it ricocheted to safety. Rushden’s quick start continued as they then won a corner on the left, and the delivery to the back post saw captain Alex Collard rise highest only for his downward header to be saved by Castle’s feet.
In an action-packed opening to the match, Barwell had threatened a few minutes before Collard’s chance when midfielder James Rowland was fed into the right-side of the area. He shot towards the near post, but it hit the side-netting. They continued to respond well to Diamonds’ pressure as they won three corners in quick succession, with one of them leading to Max Brogan hitting an effort that was deflected over.
The Canaries were finding success from working the ball quickly in midfield and finding their overlapping full-backs, and it took some excellent defending from the covering Ben Diamond to stop the league’s top-scorer Ben Stephens after a cross from the right. The Barwell striker then shot into the side-netting before being denied by a crucial Collard block in the midst of the six-yard box with Dean Snedker beaten.
The visitors, as they have done in recent matches, looked a constant threat on the counter-attack. One such moment saw winger Connor Furlong sprint forward, cleverly jink into space on the right and stubbed an effort towards the near post that Castle held. Play swung down the other end, and marauding full-back Lucas Powell thrashed over when in a promising position after being played through. Dolman was also required to make an important clearance after a searching cross in from the right.
Just before half-time, Rushden twice came close to breaking the deadlock. Firstly AJ George won a corner following a quick break, and the resulting delivery was cleared to the edge of the area as far as Furlong. His first-time effort flashed past a few players but was cleared just ahead of the line. Then, on the stroke of the interval, Dolman sprayed a pinpoint diagonal pass out to the right wing where Furlong seized onto it. He sprinted into the area and laid it back to the arriving Diamond, but the midfielder leant back and his effort flew over the bar.
Half time: Barwell FC 0-0 AFC Rushden & Diamonds
Second half
Like in the opening 45 minutes, the away side began the half swiftly. Less than a minute had elapsed when Tshikuna found space to hit a powerful effort from outside the area. Castle initially parried it and then dived onto the loose ball. Shortly afterwards George tricked his way inside from the left before seeing a low strike deflected narrowly up and over the bar.
Diamonds continued the pressure as Ty Deacon cleverly fed Furlong who had timed his run perfectly, but he was unable to keep his half-volley down as it soared off-target. Deacon then almost found the net himself as he was close to latching onto a Collard flick following a corner, but Castle gathered the loose ball.
The pattern of play was similar to that of the first half as, following the initial dominance, Barwell then fought back and showed threat themselves. A loose ball dropped for captain Bardy Hickey just outside the area, and his side-footed effort cannoned back off the bar before the danger was cleared away.
Rushden responded to the let-off as they opened the scoring just after the hour mark. Ty Deacon latched onto a long ball over the top that was held up in the stiff breeze, and he held off a close challenge to coolly slide a low finish past Castle and into the back of the net from inside the area.
Home sub William Warren, who has been introduced prior to the goal, looked to respond immediately as he firstly steered an effort over on the stretch and then he forced Snedker into a good save down to his left from the edge of the box.
As in away wins at Hitchin, Tamworth, Royston and Alvechurch over the last couple of months, Diamonds defended excellently in making a number of crucial clearances, interceptions and blocks to protect the lead. Snedker made another stop to deny Stephens, and Brogan curled a free-kick over from a potentially dangerous position.
Peaks made a couple of changes as Jones and new signing Bush were introduced for Furlong and Tshikuna. Two minutes of additional time were signalled and, in the second of these, the visitors doubled their advantage. It was Ty Deacon who again latched onto a loose ball to run into the area and slot a strike into the middle of the net for his tenth Diamonds goal in his burgeoning beginning to life at the club.
There was still time for some late drama as Barwell pulled a goal back straight away. A long ball passed through the away defence for Ben Stephens to roll an effort past Snedker for his 18th league goal of the campaign.
Seconds later, the full-time whistle was blown to confirm Rushden’s fifth away win in their last seven and to move them above Alvechurch following their draw at Tamworth.
Full time: Barwell FC 1-2 AFC Rushden & Diamonds
This performance again exemplified Diamonds’ stoicism in defence, endeavour in midfield, creativity in attack and a togetherness throughout the entire squad. Either side could and arguably should have taken the lead in a first hour of chances aplenty, but Deacon showed a clinical edge when it mattered and took his goals with aplomb. They also defended well from front to back in protecting the lead, with the result putting them in a strong position amongst the top-five with 11 league games remaining.
Their next match sees them back on the road again as they travel to second-bottom Biggleswade Town on Saturday (19 February), 3pm kick-off.
Attendance: 353
Diamonds Man of the Match: Ty Deacon
Match report by Ollie Mortimer
Barwell: Liam Castle, Kyron Stabana, Lucas Powell, Herve Pepe-Ngoma, William Edjenguele, Dom Brown-Hill (Micah Edwards 72), Max Brogan, James Rowland (William Warren 59), Ben Stephens, Brady Hickey (C), Tristan Dunkley (subs not used: Max Bramley, Toby Fura)
Barwell goals: Stephens (90+3)
Diamonds: Snedker, Casey, Warburton, Bell-Toxtle, Dolman, Collard (C), Tshikuna (Bush 84), Diamond, Deacon, George, Furlong (Jones 83) (subs not used: Slinn, Hughes, Snelus)
Diamonds goals: Deacon (62, 90+2)
Diamonds yellows: Furlong (16)
