Fleet Town 0 – AFC Rushden & Diamonds 0

AFC Rushden & Diamonds were held to a 0-0 draw by home specialists Fleet Town on Saturday afternoon in an entertaining game on a heavy but decent playing surface.

It was much improved away performance by Diamonds 2 weeks after that shock defeat at Beaconsfield but they were put under pressure in the first half by a home team playing the conditions particularly well. Matt Finlay was a forced into tipping one rasping drive over from Fleet full-back Luke King and punched one of a number of corners and excellent crosses out from right under the crossbar when under pressure. Diamonds did carry a threat in the half but less frequently than their opponents Tom Lorraine firing a low effort from an angle that keeper Price batted away, and the same player having their best chance after Hall and Hoban linked up to slide a ball through that Lorraine got to first on the edge of the box smashing his effort off the advancing keepers chest.

Diamonds really picked up the tempo in the second half and created some excellent chances with Jon Stevenson’s curling effort on 63 producing an incredible one handed save from home keeper Ryan Price that almost defied belief. Just a minute later Jack Ashton headed over from just 4 yards as Liam Dolman had headed a deep cross back to him. Matt Finlay produced another wonderful one handed save tipping over Craig Davis viciously dipping 25 yard free-kick for the home side but it was Diamonds pushing hardest for a late winner. It really should have come from Brad Harris who sidefooted straight at keeper Price when well positioned in the box on 86, or Tom Lorraine with a trademark surge into the box and a rocket of a shot fired right across goal just a minute later. And when Lorraine went down in the box on 89 minutes as he touched Hoban’s through ball past the advancing keeper it seemed a late penalty would give Diamonds a deserved win. Referee Samuel Ogles appeared to initially point to the spot, but it was actually for a free-kick against Lorraine who was shown a yellow card for simulation.

Manager Andy Peaks went with the same 16 that won impressively 6-1 on Tuesday night with just one change to the starting 11. Dan Quigley coming off the bench into centre midfield in place of Lewis Leslie.

The home side started really brightly with Rob Carr moving well across the heavy pitch and working himself into a great position to fire in a curling effort just over Matt Finlay’s bar from inside the box.

Tom Lorraine was running hard for Diamonds as ever and he broke onto and well played through ball surged into the right hand-side of the box and hit a fierce effort from a narrowing angle that home keeper Ryan Price could only bat away at the near post.

In a lively opening phase Carr again ran dangerously at the Diamonds back four and won a corner as he broke deep into the box. The resultant kick curled in right under the bar where Matt Finlay appearing to disappear under a sea of bodies got a vital punch.

Fleet were increasingly dominating possession and looking dangerous around the box and created a shooting chance from distance for full-back Luke King whose rasping effort was touched over the bar to safety by Matt Finlay.

Diamonds were timing defensive challenges and clearances to frustrate the home side but were unable to string periods of possession together themselves although the level of effort and commitment was far better than in the recent away defeat at Beaconsfield.

They did make one excellent break after halting a Fleet move just outside the box Andy Hall twisted away from his man to feed Claudiu Hoban in a 2 on 1 situation but the ball to Jon Stevenson just held up on the surface and his first touch allowed an intercepting challenge on the edge of the box.

The home side were pressing hard with Simba Mlambo testing Matt Finlay who gathered at the second attempt, a penalty appeal for handball in a goal mouth scramble turned away, and a superb deep cross at the end of a good move that flicked of Mlambo’s head and went just wide.

Tom Lorraine then had the best chance of the half for Diamonds as he latched onto a great through ball from Claudiu Hoban hitting a first time effort from the edge of the box that advancing keeper Price just blocked.

Liam Dolman then timed his challenge perfectly as it looked like Mlambo had turned into space just 8 yards out and who surely thought he was about to fire home. There was time for one more penalty appeal to be turned away as Jack Ashton flew into a desperate block as Carr tried to collect and fire in a loose ball from 10 yards the Fleet wide man sent to the ground but not for the first time the appeals waved away.

Half-time:  Fleet Town 0 – AFC Rushden & Diamonds 0

Diamonds definitely upped the tempo in the second half as temperatures dropped and they had the slope in their favour and started to pen their opponents back

Brad Harris nearly found Jon Stevenson with a neat through ball early in the half and it was Stevenson who would produce a world class save from home keeper Price on 63. Hoban with back to goal found Connor Kennedy on the overlap his cut-back found Stevenson who turned and struck confidently for the far corner only for Price to fly across goal to make a brilliant one handed save.

Just a minute later a deep cross from Claudiu Hoban found Liam Dolman heading back across goal for Jack Ashton whose header went just over from inside the 6 yard box.

The combative Liam Gilbert had hit a volley wide from the edge of the box early in the half for the home side as a corner was only cleared to the edge of the box, and later Matt Finlay would be forced into his own one handed save from a curling 25 yard free-kick. These were the only chances of note for Fleet in the second half who were forced into the sort of resolute defending Diamonds had to show in the first half.

Shawn Richards was introduced on 70 minutes for Andy Hall and he made life difficult for the tiring Fleet back four combining well with Jack Ashton to run into the left hand-side of the box where his cutback just evaded Jon Stevenson.

As the pressure mounted Brad Harris had great opportunity from the edge of the box after Claudiu Hoban had controlled a long ball with back to goal, turned his man brilliantly and cut the ball back to Harris but his side footed effort from just inside the box was well saved by Price in the home goal.

Tom Lorraine then surged down the right-hand side of the box in typical fashion firing a low effort that skidded right across goal before he was involved in probably the pivotal moment of the game on 89. Running onto a neat through ball he touched it past the advancing keeper and went down under his challenge, referee Ogles appearing to immediately point towards the penalty spot to cheers from the travelling faithful. But he soon produced a yellow card and it was apparent he was penalising the big striker for simulation and awarding the home side a free-kick and denying Diamonds a penalty.

There was just time for one more amazing run from Claudiu Hoban skipping across the heavy surface yet again, this time firing in a fierce effort from 25 yards that Price batted away again.

Final Score: Fleet Town 0 – AFC Rushden & Diamonds 0

This was a much improved away performance from Diamonds who defended resolutely in the first half and dominated possession in the second but were just unable to force the goal their play deserved. The intensity is back in their play which will please Andy Peaks and they look in good form going into an important week for the promotion campaign

St. Ives Town visit the Dog & Duck on Tuesday night off the back of a home defeat which saw them drop to third, and then Kings Langley visit next Saturday off the back of a win which has taken them up to 2^nd in the table. Diamonds of course remain top!!

Man of the Match: Liam Dolman chosen by Members Vote

Attendance: 201

Match Report by Paul Judd

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  Match Gallery courtesy of Stephanie Webb Photography Copyright Stephanie Webb Photography ©2016