Boston Town 1 AFC Rushden & Diamonds 2

AFC Rushden & Diamonds are now 7 points clear at the top of the UCL Premier League after a hard fought 2-1 win at Boston Town on Saturday afternoon.

Diamonds had the ball in the net twice before finally opening the scoring on 26 minutes. Adam Confue’s header had been disallowed in the 5th minute after Charlie Butt had been ruled to have let the ball run over the line before getting his cross in, and Tom Lorraine’s tap-in on 20 minutes after Jason Turners shot had been pushed out to him was ruled out for offside. It was Lorraine who finally got the opening goal with a close range header from Charlie Butt’s deep cross on 26 minutes. After shading possession and chances Diamonds extended their lead on 64 minutes with a thumping finish from just outside the box by Man of the Match Adam Confue. Boston fought back in the later stages and scrambled a goal back on 77 after an acrobatic overhead kick was blocked and then turned over the line for an own goal. Despite some frantic moments in an end to end finish Diamonds held on to take the points and open up that gap at the top of the league.

Manager Andy Peaks was forced into one change from Tuesday night’s win against Eynesbury Rovers with Brad Harris picking up a one game ban for collecting 5 yellow cards. The returning Richard Bunting slotted into the holding midfield role. On the bench Danny Harmon took his place for the first time replacing Scott Joseph.

This was Diamonds longest away trip in the league and on a bright but chilly afternoon Boston had the first real effort on goal on 3 minutes as Charlesworth shot wide from the edge of the box as the ball broke to him quickly.

Diamonds then had the ball in the net on 5 minutes as Adam Confue challenged Boston keeper Ricky Drury to a high ball falling under the crossbar and bundling the ball in. But the assistant on the near side had ruled Charlie Butt hadn’t quite kept the ball in near the touch line before whipping the ball in.

Diamonds started to dominate against a hard working Boston back line with Tom Lorraine running the channels well and nearly getting in on 7 minutes before his shot from the angle was blocked, and Charlie Butt was prominent swinging in another deep first time cross on 14 minutes which Drury spilled and an overhead kick from Gearing nearly found the bottom corner.

Boston were composed in possession but struggled to make much impact in the final third in this period although full-back Ryan Lowe had a rasping shot from 25 yards blocked on 19 minutes.

The excellent vocal Diamonds fans behind Drury’s goal thought their team had taken the lead on 20 minutes. Tom Lorraine lashed the ball into the roof of the net from 5 yards after Jason Turner’s superb half-volley on the turn was only parried by Drury, but celebrations were cut short by the assistant’s flag indicating offside.

They only had to wait a further 6 minutes for the opening goal though. Charlie Butt swung in another excellent ball which was flicked on to Tom Lorraine on the far post who had the simple job of nodding the ball in from 4 yards for his 4^th goal in a week on 26 minutes.

Boston forward and recent local sports award winner Lawrence Lambley looked the most likely to trouble Diamonds, holding the ball well and running at the Diamonds back four and he fired in an excellent shot on 32 minutes that went just wide from just outside the box.

There was little further goalmouth incident until a frantic last 5 minutes of the half. First there was a real bagatelle in the Boston penalty area after a speedy break by Sam Brown, with the ball being fired in, cleared, fired in again, bodies blocking shots until it was finally hacked clear by the Boston defence.

Then after James Playford had been booked for scything down Fazel Koriya, Koriya came really close to doubling Diamonds lead. A ball into the box was headed on by Liam Dolman, collected past the far post by Adam Confue he worked it to Koriya who fired just over the bar from 12 yards.

Half-time: Boston Town 0 AFC Rushden & Diamonds 1

As temperatures dipped even further in the second half it was Boston who started the brighter. They created shooting chances from around the box and one of these on 48 minutes bobbled alarmingly in front of Matt Finlay bouncing off his chest before his quick reaction to gather in front of the onrushing striker.

Diamonds were always quick on the break and came close to a doubling their lead on 57 minutes. Tom Lorraine broke clear down the right hand-side as he had done to such effect against Eynesbury on Tuesday, bore down on goal from an angle and fired a bullet of a shot which rattled off the post with keeper Drury beaten.

Diamonds started to build momentum again with Fazel Koriya firing over from a great position on 59, and Adam Confue heading over from Richard Bunting’s cross after beating keeper Drury to the ball.

After Boston had come close through the impressive Lambley, his shot on the turn from inside the 6yard box scramble wide, Diamonds got the vital second goal on 64. Charlie Butt with another good ball into Adam Confue attacking the edge of the area yet again. This time he took a touch and fired home across Drury from 25 yards.

Boston reacted well and had probably their best period of the game in the closing stages with full-back Jackson firing in an excellent effort from just outside the box on 72 minutes that Finlay saved at full stretch. And they got a goal back on 77 as a ball into the box found Lambley who tried an overhead kick which was blocked but hit Sam Brown and ran across Finlay into the bottom corner.

After Russ Dunkley came on for Jason Turner, Danny Harmon came on for his Diamonds debut in place of Richard Bunting who had picked up a knock.

It was an exciting final period with Boston throwing everything at the league leaders, and Diamonds continuing to break dangerously.

Boston piled forward and in one of a number of scrambles in the area an attempted Diamonds clearance was blocked and rebounded into the side netting. There was time for the impressive Adam Confue to get on the end of a sweeping move on the break involving Dunkley and Lorraine before firing wide into the Diamonds flag just behind the goal.

As the clock ticked past 90 minutes Boston keeper Drury came up for a corner, which turned into a series of corners as Diamonds were at full stretch to block and fight to get the ball clear. During this period Adam Confue picked up his 5^th booking of the season for a combination of dissent and not returning the ball promptly for yet another corner.

Keeper Drury provided a real comedy moment in the final seconds though after one manic scramble was finally worked clear. Diamonds players were trying to get in a position to fire a long range shot into the empty Boston net but instead of running back to his goal Drury in his highly visible day-glow green shirt hunted down the Diamonds players and finally made a hilarious clumsy challenge to concede a free-kick.

The final whistle came soon after much to the delight of the Diamonds players and fans after a really hard fought game.

Full-time: Boston Town 1 AFC Rushden & Diamonds 2

Diamonds took advantage of playing while others where in FA Vase action to open up a 7 point lead at the top of the table. It was a strong performance against a motivated Boston side who are on a decent run. Goals came at good times and more could have been added through some powerful attacking play, but Boston pushed Diamonds all the way in the final stages and were relieved to hear the final whistle. Two more game before xmas – Harrowby at home next week then Thurnby away before the festive double header against Wellingborough Town.

Man of the Match: Adam Confue

Attendance: 128

Match Report by Paul Judd