Chalfont St. Peter 2 – AFC Rushden & Diamonds 0

AFC Rushden & Diamonds fell to just their third defeat of the season at fellow table toppers Chalfont St. Peter on Saturday afternoon, the Buckinghamshire outfit running out 2-0 winners.

The score line slightly flattered the new league leaders who did start brightly with two close chances in the first 5 minutes. But once Diamonds settled they shaded possession and chances coming close through Tommy Berwick and Shawn Richards before Chalfont took the lead with a stunning goal a little out of nowhere after 26 minutes. 20 goal hitman Tony Mendy latching onto a deep through ball and hitting a stunning first time volley from 18 yards past Matt Finlay.

After a number of goalmouth scrambles and blocked efforts late in the first half the pattern continued in the second as Power-Simpson and his back four blocked and tackled everything Diamonds threw at them. The away side were unable to create the break or the killer chance they desperately searched for with Claudio Hoban and Tommy Berwick coming closest.. Chalfont did have two great chances to grab a second on the break through Mendy and Paine before the killer second did come a little out of nowhere again on 85. A right-wing free-kick from virtually the touchline was drifted in on the breeze and curled over Finlay into the far corner. More last ditch clearances denied Diamonds a way back including two headed clearances from under the bar and Chalfont held on for a famous win that puts them top of the Southern League Central Division.

Diamonds were unchanged from the last minute win at Uxbridge with just the one change on the bench with Andy Hall returning from injury in place of Matt Pinder.

The home side have been on an excellent run of form and started really brightly coming close to opening the scoring twice in the first five minutes. Alex Paine flicked a close range header just wide in the first minute and had an even better chance on 5 minutes. He controlled another right wing cross and turned in space to volley at goal from just 12 yards forcing Matt Finlay into a good low save.

Diamonds settled after that early barrage and started to probe themselves with Shawn Richards prominent. He cut inside from the right on 10 minutes firing over from 20 yards when really expecting to hit the target.

Claudiu Hoban was his usual threat on the left hand side and he created a great chance for Tommy Berwick on 12. He skipped past his man and into the box cutting the ball back to Berwick for a first time flick at goal from no more than 4 yards that was blocked on the line not for the first time by Chalfont keeper Power-Simpson.

Diamonds were shading possession and looking more likely to score in this period but being held by a hardworking well organised Chalfont side. And it was Chalfont who would take the lead a little out of the blue on 26. A ball played successfully over the top of the Diamonds defence for the first time found 20 goal striker Tony Mendy on the angle of the penalty area he left it bounce up and struck a superb dipping volley over Matt Finlay into the far corner to applause and appreciation form all-round the ground.

It shocked Diamonds but they thought they had found the chance for a quick equaliser just 5 minutes later. Tom Lorraine battled his way past two defenders in the corner and surged clear into the box and appeared to be pulled back but referee Chris Felton awarded a goal kick to the home side.

Tonkins then had another volleyed effort for Chalfont at the end of a good made but this time without dip and the ball flew well over the bar.

Diamonds started to force the play again and were denied twice in quick succession by the heroic Power-Simpson in the Chalfont goal. First a dangerous ball to the far post from Shawn Richards was just scrambled away, and then Hoban’s high cross fell just under the bar with Delroy Gordon closing in for the killer touch only to be denied bravely by Power-Simpson right on the line.

Hoban himself then came close as free-kick bounced clear in the box and he came so close to connecting to the loose ball before Power-Simpson gathered.

Sam Brown then fired over as he latched onto a loose ball on the edge of the box and Liam Dolman got into the action surging from halfway as space opened up and firing a trademark rising exocet effort that just went wide.

Half-time:  Chalfont St. Peter 1 – Rushden & Diamonds 0

Diamonds started the second half much better than the first and continued to control the game pushing forward and winning a free-kick for a poor challenge on Claudiu Hoban that stopped the winger breaking into real space behind the Chalfont defence. Richard Bunting struck the kick well from 25 yards but it just dipped too late and over the angle of bar and post.

Diamonds would create a number of dangerous goalmouth situations in the second half which Chalfont would repeatedly block at full stretch. Tom Lorraine pounced on one such situation on 49 hitting a half-volley on the turn from 12 yards as the ball broke to him the ball flying away to safety off a last ditch Chalfont block.

They were unable to create the killer chance or many clear breaks in a congested second half but Claudiu Hoban did break into the left of the box on 51 but he chose to shoot from a tight angle when a squared ball to colleagues may have profited better.

Delroy Gordon up for a corner had a chance to grab that desperately searched for equaliser on 53 as Tom Lorraine’s close range header was only part blocked by the keeper allowing Gordon to try and cushion a volley over the Chalfont players coming off the line but it just fell over the bar.

Chalfont were restricted to quick breaks as they looked to hold their lead but they executed well getting Alex Paine away on 55 the young midfielder forcing Matt Finlay into a low block as he ran through on goal.

Diamonds continued to press with Delroy Gordon again getting a volleyed effort away after another scramble as he chested the ball down, Shawn Richards having a low shot well saved, and Brad Harris amazingly seizing on another blocked effort seeing his low shot blocked the keepers back.

Chalfont broke again 75 with a left wing cross headed towards to the top corner only for Matt Finlay to clutch the ball out of the air in fine style. And they tested Finlay again on 80 as he just pushed a low effort wide after an initial goal-line clearance.

Diamonds were starting to feel it wasn’t going to be their day and the manner of the killer second goal from Chalfont on 85 proved them right. A free-kick from Adam Louth wide on the right touchline was swung in left footed, drifted on the breeze and fell over the retreating Matt Finlay into the far corner.

It was a real sucker punch and although Diamonds created two more goalmouth scrambles they were both eventually headed clear one from under the bar to preserve a 2-0 victory for Chalfont that sent them top of the league

Final Score: Chalfont St. Peter 2 – AFC Rushden & Diamonds 0

The score line was harsh on Diamonds who will feel they played the better football and created more in the way of chances but Chalfont blocked and tackled everything that came their way. Diamonds were unable to create the killer chance or break and Chalfont were always a danger on the break. They scored with one world class finish from the excellent Anthony Mendy and one slightly fortunate cross that fell into the far corner but were well organised and defended well to earn their win.

Diamonds have the chance to return to the top of the table on Tuesday night with the visit of Egham to the Dog & Duck.

Reporters Man of the Match: Liam Dolman

Attendance: 262

Match Report by Paul Judd

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