Goals from Ben Farrell, Ben Diamond, Joel Gyasi and Luke Fairlamb added to yet another clean sheet made it 10 wins in 11 games for Diamonds with this 4-0 victory in Hampshire.
Ben Diamond made a first league start for Diamonds and added the second goal on 42 minutes after Ben Farrell got the vital early goal on 7 minutes with a superb 20 yard curler from a Luke Fairlamb assist. Diamond nodded his goal home from close range after good work by Luke Fairlamb again saw Joel Gyasi do the same on 59 minutes. Fairlamb scored the goal of the game though on 65 as he crowned Man of the Match performance with a superb 25 yard free-kick.
Just the one change to the starting line-up for Diamonds with Ben Diamonds starting up front in place of the injured Ryan Robbins. Chief Boateng made a return to the match day squad with a place on the bench alongside Blaize Punter, Callum Westwood and Cameron Gilchrist.
There was an end to end feel to the very early stages with both sides pressing with a matching 3 5 2 formation before Diamonds settled into a period of pleasing possession.
Ben Diamonds was holding the ball well to bring his colleagues into play with Joel Gyasi profiting to get a 4th minute shot away. Gyasi then earned and took a 25 yard free-kick after more good interplay that just drifted beyond Sam Brown at the far post.
The pressure finally told on 7 minutes for Diamonds to take the lead. Luke Fairlamb worked his full-back well turning him back and forth before sliding the ball to Ben Farrell to hit a well-judged 20 yard curler into the bottom corner.
Farrell came close to adding a second just a minute later with another edge of the area shot as he came on to a loose ball to strike firmly but straight at home keeper Liam Beach.
After a more balanced period of midfield battling Diamonds had a strong penalty appeal turned down as Gyasi and Diamond combined well again with Gyasi going down under pressure but nothing was given.
Diamonds started to dominate again as Tom Lorraine came close to converting a Luke Fairlamb cross after another swift break down the left by the away side, and then broke himself from distance to fire a rasping effort from a good position just over.
Fleet on a rare foray forward in this period had a real chance to equalise on 33 minutes as Danilo Cadete broke into space in the box to fire across goal where Liam Dolman just cleared.
As Diamonds cranked up the pressure Tom Lorraine had another headed chance just taken away from him by a home defender after another great Diamonds break and then Ben Curtis had a 25 yard curler tipped out of the top corner brilliantly by Liam Beach in the home goal.
Again the Diamonds pressure finally told to allow them to double their lead on 43 minutes. Luke Fairlamb sparkled out wide again dancing past his markers to get a superb cross to Ben Diamond to head home just inside the far post.
There was just time for another Ben Farrell fizzer on 45 minutes as he blasted at goal from 35 yards just wide as Diamonds went comfortably into half-time with a 2-0 lead.
Half-time: Fleet Town 0 AFC Rushden & Diamonds 2
Jack Westbrook picked up an early booking in the second half for an off the ball shove setting up an early Fleet free-kick chance but Liam Dolman was able to see it out comfortably.
Diamonds were soon back on the front foot with Joel Gyasi dancing through the Fleet defence to strike superbly at goal only to see Beach again tip over at full stretch.
Fairlamb took his chance next as he attacked the 18 yard area and saw his effort deflected away and the third goal finally came on 60 minutes. Joel Gyasi pounced on a flicked on ball from Luke Fairlamb into the box that fell nicely for him to head home at the far post.
Fleet brought a shirt dirtying save from Ben Heath just a minute later as he went down well to save an 18 yard effort from Ryan Marklew after a quick break.
But Diamonds bounced straight back with a fantastic 4th goal on 65 minutes. Ben Curtis was shoved over just outside the box and with Fairlamb and Gyasi hovering over the ball it was Luke Fairlamb who struck superbly left footed to beat Beach.
Diamonds made their three substitutions after that 4th goal with Jack Westbrook, Tom Lorraine and the impressive Luke Fairlamb rested to allow Cameron Gilchrist, Chief Boateng and Callum Westwood some good game time.
The changes didn’t disrupt the Diamonds approach as they continued to dominate possession in midfield. They earned a corner from some excellent build-up play on 78 minutes which fell right through to Jack Ashton to attack at the far post but he hit the side netting, Chief Boateng came close to getting onto a loose ball on 84 minutes, Sam Brown fired in from distance testing Beach on 86 and Joel Gyasi had another long range effort drift just over on 87.
Fleet had their best chance of the game on 89 minutes as Matt Bunyan somehow fired wide from 6 yards to deny a consolation but Diamonds saw the game out comfortably to earn yet another clean sheet.
Full time: Fleet Town 0 AFC Rushden & Diamonds 4
Diamonds were impressive all across the pitch on another good away day and scored 2 in each half to go with yet another clean sheet. Ben Diamonds took full advantage of his starting chance to add to his Diamonds tally after Ben Farrell had given Diamonds an important early lead. The impressive wide play of Joel Gyasi and Luke Fairlamb were rewarded with second half goals and Brown, Ashton and Dolman were impressive as ever to make it only 1 league goal conceded in 6 weeks.
Man of the match: Luke Fairlamb
Attendance: 238
Match Report by Paul Judd
Fleet Town | AFC Rushden & Diamonds |
1. Liam Beach 2. Chris Musgrove 3. James Haworth 4. Liam Flanigan 5. Owen Roberts 6. Chris Wales 7. Chris Dean 8. Matt Bunyan (C) 9. George Pilbeam 10. Billy Oram 11. Danilo Cadete
Subs 12. Ryan Marklew (for Oram 54) 14. Bradley Wilson 15. Patrik Ruzicka (for Pilbeam 62) 16. Alan Musoke 17. Dquame Copeland (for Cadete 69) | 13. Ben Heath 2. Joe Curtis 3. Sam Brown 4. Jack Westbrook 5. Liam Dolman (c) 6. Jack Ashton 7. Ben Farrell 8. Joel Gyasi 9. Tom Lorraine 10. Ben Diamond 11. Luke Fairlamb
Subs 12. Callum Westwood (for Fairlamb 74) 14. Cameron Gilchrist (for Westbrook 66) 15. Blaize Punter 19. Chief Boateng (for Lorraine 72)
|
Goals: | Goals: Farrell (7), Diamond (42), Gyasi (59), Fairlamb (65) |
Yellow cards: | Yellow cards: Westbrook |
Red cards: | Red cards: |
Referee: Steven Graham Assistants: Bruce Waymark, Tom Moisey
|
|
Updated player profiles with appearance and goalscoring details are now available.
For video highlights and post-match interviews see here.