AFC Rushden & Diamonds U18s / Malcolm Arnold Academy overcame previously unbeaten Desborough Town 3-0 to progress to the next round of the FA Youth Cup.
- Hayford Osei scored his 3rd goal in 2 games – after being called up to the County team.
- Darren Purse named same side which beat Wellingborough Town in the previous round.
- Christy Nginamau and Jake Lancaster were also on the scoresheet.
- FA Youth Cup 2nd Qualifying Round tie will be played w/c 2nd October.
The scholars went into the 2nd Qualifying Round off the back of a convincing 5-1 win against Wellingborough Town. The opponents, Desborough Town had beaten Eynesbury Youth 4-1, and enjoyed an unbeaten start to the season.
Manager Darren Purse kept faith with the same XI who performed remarkably well in the first game of the season. Hayford Osei was the lone striker with Thomas Craddock playing just off of him.
25 minutes in and Diamonds took the lead. Osei turned in midfield and fed the ball out wide to Christy Nginamau, who powered the ball past the home goalkeeper to make it 0-1.
However just before the break, the hosts could have been level on terms had it not been for good goalkeeping by Thomas Cocking, who produced a good double save.
Soon after the break, the MAA boys doubled their lead. David Hunt brought the ball forward on the left and produced a cross which was on a plate for Hayford Osei to tap in to make it 0-2, after 54 minutes. It was the 16-year-old’s third goal of the season after his brace against Wellingborough.
The result may have turned out differently had it not been for an offside flag. Desborough produced some neat build up play, but the only time Cocking was to be beaten, the goal was flagged offside.
70 minutes played, and Diamonds almost made it three. A superb solo run from substitute Jake Lancaster, was only to be denied by the post.
Lancaster would end up getting on the scoresheet, when he put the game to bed by making it 0-3. Osei had a hand in goal as he beat the offside trap, and unselfishly played in Jake Lancaster when he was one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Subsitute Lancaster made no mistake with just nine minutes to play.
Full Time. Desborough Town 0-3 AFC Rushden & Diamonds U18s / MAA.
Team: Cocking, Goldsborough, Hughes, McTeggart, Bishop, Mastropiero, Baird, Nginamau, Craddock, Hunt, Osei.
Substitutes: Clarke, Sharpe, Lancaster, Danwa, Chirwa.
Attendance: 82.
Match Report by Hayden Pott.
