Daventry Town U18 5 AFC Rushden & Diamonds U18 0

Daventry Town 5-0 AFC Rushden & Diamonds

Northants Senior Youth League

AFC Rushden & Diamonds U18s went into the game at Daventry knowing that a win would secure the NSYL Western Division league title, but instead their worst performance of the season saw them slump to an emphatic defeat.
With several players missing due to injury and other commitments, a new signing, Jack Crow, was brought in at the last minute to take a place on the bench.

The Diamonds started brightly with Ben Roche and Conor Bell combining well down the right flank to almost tee up Jake Reynolds with a simple chance, but the ball was cleared just before reaching him. Reynolds did register the first shot of the match on 5 minutes, but his effort from 25 yards was comfortably wide.

The hosts started to get into the game more as the half went on, with Nathan Bobowicz firing over the bar from the left hand side of the area, with two teammates better placed in the centre. A minute later, Matt Smith set off on a great run down the left flank, crossing to Reynolds who headed just over the bar.

Daventry then stepped up a gear, and saw efforts from Taylor Orosz and Bobowicz both miss the target, before they opened the scoring on 20 minutes. A great ball from midfield by Dethaniel Weston found Ryan Archer in space on the edge of the Rushden penalty area, and he calmly stroked the ball home.

Rushden were really struggling to get their passing game going on the hard, bobbly pitch, and individual errors were gifting the hosts chance after chance. Orosz could have netted a hattrick before the second goal finally arrived just before the break, Weston finding acres of space inside the Diamonds’ penalty area before firing into the bottom corner.

The Diamonds finally registered a shot on goal in first half stoppage time, as Reynolds ran onto a pass from Blake Helsdown before attempting to chip the ball over Sachin Tayal, but his effort wasn’t quite high enough to beat the home goalkeeper.

HT: Daventry Town 2-0 AFC Rushden & Diamonds

Rushden looked livelier and more determined in the opening minutes after half time, but still failed to trouble the Daventry defence, and any hopes of a comeback were dashed 10 minutes after the restart. A home attack appeared to have broken down but Conor Bell got far too much on an attempted back pass from 25 yards out, and lobbed the ball over Vitue for a stunning own goal.

The visitors thought they had pulled back a goal just after the hour mark as Smith’s cross appeared to be dropped onto Reynolds’ head by Tayal, but the referee blew up for a foul on the ‘keeper. Daventry then netted their fourth straight away, as the free kick was launched up field, catching out the Rushden defence and allowing Orosz to take the ball into the area and around Vitue before tapping home.

Smith then fired inches wide from 20 yards with the Diamonds’ best effort of the game, before another long ball from the back caught out the Rushden defence, with Orosz this time lobbing the ball over Vitue but against the crossbar.

Rushden went close again shortly after, as they ‘enjoyed’ their best spell of the game, but Reynolds’ shot from the right hand corner of the penalty area dipped just wide of the far post. Bell then had a great chance to make amends for the own goal, but fired well over from 12 yards out.

Daventry completed the scoring on 82 minutes as a missed interception from Alex McDonald allowed Weston to fire past substitute ‘keeper Michael Brimah from 20 yards out.

FT: Daventry Town 5-0 AFC Rushden & Diamonds

The league title is still in the Diamonds’ hands, but a win is now required at home to Oxford City next Thursday to guarantee top spot.

Attendance: Approx. 30

Man of the Match: Alex McDonald

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