AFC Rushden and Diamonds scholars suffered a 5-0 defeat on Wednesday. The youth team travelled to Leicestershire to face GeMeg FDC in a friendly match.
Manager Darren Purse arranged the friendly match in the free week where the FA Youth Cup would have been played. Darren is keen to arrange more matches against higher division teams, such as the GeMeg academy to provide difficult challenges for his students.
However Diamonds fell 5-0, all five goals coming in the first half.
Purse said: “We played GeMeg who play two leagues higher than ourselves. It was always going to be a big ask, but one I thought the boys could handle.” He added: “I learned more from this game than when we beat teams comfortably, like Tresham 6-1. The lads showed great attitude and considering we were five nil down at half time, to keep a clean sheet in the second half following a tactical change was good from them.” He finished: “That is the standard that I want the lads to be playing against and competing with next season.”
Diamonds now face two games in the space of three days next week. First up, they travel to Market Harborough to face The Robert Smyth Academy in The English School KO Trophy. Then two days later they will face Moulton College at The Dog & Duck for the first time this season. Previews can be found HERE.
