Burton Park Wanderers U18 0-5 AFC Rushden & Diamonds U18
Northants Senior Youth League
After two disappointing cup exits and two postponements, the Diamonds U18s bounced back in style with a comprehensive victory at Burton Park Wanderers.
With several players once again missing for various reasons, the Rushden squad was bolstered by new signings Tom Reeve and Conor Collins; the latter will be familiar to Diamonds’ supporters for his Man of the Match performance for the U18s in last seasons’ County Cup defeat to Corby Town.
The hosts started brightly, and Connor Brown was forced into a smart save on 3 minutes from a near post header. Scott Pearson was quickest to react for Burton Park, but saw his shot well blocked.
Rushden’s first effort came from a Jake Reynolds header after a good cross from Tommy Messinger, but the ball flew well wide of the post. Matty Smith then forced a great save from Lewis Jones after another header, this time from Savvas Hamp’s pinpoint cross.
Another good cross from Hamp just evaded Reynolds, and the same player went close again after racing onto a pass from Jamie Inwood, but he was denied by some brave goalkeeping. Ryan Chamberlain then had a header cleared off the line.
Noah Bryant and Joe Holmes both missed the target with difficult chances as the Diamonds continued to dominate, before Ben Roche had another effort cleared off the line.
It looked as though a Rushden goal was never going to arrive, as Reynolds was denied by another good save and Holmes saw a goalbound effort blocked. But on 41 minutes the deadlock was finally broken. Hamp cut in from the left flank before squaring to Roche, and his stunning 35 yard strike flew into the top corner.
HT: Burton Park Wanderers U18 0-1 AFC Rushden & Diamonds U18
The Diamonds carried on where they had left off after the break, with Reynolds seeing another shot saved by Jones on 47 minutes. But it was 2-0 two minutes later, as a Messinger corner was bundled home by Reynolds from close range.
Jones made another good save from Reynolds shortly after, but could do nothing about the third goal on 55 minutes. Another Messinger corner bounced in off home defender Niall Murror for an own goal.
The hosts had a rare chance shortly after following a mistake from Connor Brown, but Sean King shot weakly allowing the Rushden ‘keeper to get back and make the save.
Jones saved again from Holmes, but couldn’t keep out a powerful 20 yard shot from Conor Collins, after the substitute had cut in from the right flank and beat three defenders. The scoring was completed on 80 minutes as another substitute, Omar Ghavami, fired through a crowded penalty area and into the bottom corner following a quickly taken corner.
The Diamonds should have had a sixth goal shortly after, but Smith missed out on what would have been a deserved goal after breaking quickly following a rare Burton Park attack.
FT: Burton Park Wanderers 0-5 AFC Rushden & Diamonds U18
The Diamonds U18s are back in action next Thursday, as they take on Bugbrooke St. Michaels at the Dog & Duck.
Attendance: Approx. 50
Man of the Match: Savvas Hamp
Teams:
Burton Park Wanderers U18 | AFC Rushden & Diamonds U18 |
1. Lewis Jones | 86. Connor Brown |
Subs: | Subs: |
Goals: | Goals: |
Bookings: | Bookings: |
Sent Off: | Sent Off: |
