AFC Rushden & Diamonds were knocked out of The FA Youth Cup following a 5-0 defeat away to Bugbrooke. A physical encounter which resulted in two players being taken to hospital added up to a night to forget the young Diamonds.
Diamond’s earned the right to face Bugbrooke following a late 2-1 over AFC Dunstable in the previous round. Purse’s lads came up against a Bugbrooke side that was full of second years and many players who have featured in The Badger’s first team.
In a physical match, Diamonds fell behind early on as the home side converted a penalty just five minutes in. A Diamonds’ defender had hold of the forward’s shirt and pulled him down for a penalty. The Bugbrooke man took the early chance to put Bugbrooke one up from the spot.
As Diamond’s tried to get back into the game, they were handed a lifeline. Bugbrooke were reduced to ten men, following a late tackle on Ackroyd in the 14th minute.
However Diamonds never got to grips with the game and they were being bullied off of the ball. Five minutes before half time, Bugbrooke doubled their lead. Former AFC Rushden & Diamonds youth team player Jamie Inwood saw his long range free kick take a deflected which left Diamonds goalkeeper Redding helpless.
Half Time. Bugbrooke 2-0 AFC Rushden & Diamonds.
With Diamonds two down but with a man advantage on the pitch, an early goal would certainly help them get back into the game.
However it wasn’t to be. In fact, Diamond’s night then took another turn for the worse. A strong challenge on Diamonds’ ‘keeper Redding resulted in him being taken off on a stretcher. Substitute goalkeeper Barnes replaced Redding who is set to face a few weeks on the sideline.
Then things got even worse. Bugbrooke got the all and important third goal. A long ball was sent upfield and the substitute goalkeeper Barnes couldn’t deal with the ball. That allowed Robbie Wallace to tap home after 65 minutes.
Bugbrooke grabbed a fourth soon after, to effectively end the tie. A corner was headed in by Wallace again to get his second of the night.
Then Diamonds were dealt their final blow towards the end. Wallace got Bugbrooke’s fifth and his third to send his team into the next round.
Full Time. Bugbrooke 5-0 AFC Rushden & Diamond / MAA.
Diamonds manager Purse said: “Tonight was a good learning curve for the boys going forward. First of all, it was one of the first times they’ve faced a bigger, stronger and more physical side than ourselves and obviously how to play against ten men. So hopefully when we come up against it again, we’ll be able to give a better account of ourselves.” He continued: “We never passed the ball well, we got bullied off of the ball. We looked like scared rabbit in the headlights really. It’s a game I want to forget. There’s been lots of lessons learnt. If we were to play this match another ten times, I would still believe we have the better quality players but on the night, we didn’t stand up to the battle so obviously we were going to come out on the losing side” He summed the night up by saying: “I don’t feel let down at all, we have to hold our hands up and admit, on the night, the better side won.”
Team: Redding, Peaks, Yusuf, Ivett, Knapp, Kearny, Leeson, Kirk, Pinder, Ackroyd, Hewett
Subs: Ramsey, Garner, Weeks, Desborough, Barnes.
Match Report by Hayden Pott
