Harrowby United 1 AFC Rushden & Diamonds 2

AFC Rushden & Diamonds recorded a hard-fought victory over Harrowby United at Dickens Road on Saturday afternoon, after coming from behind to emerge 2-1 victors.

On an overcast but dry day in Lincolnshire, Harrowby forged ahead in the early exchanges with a strike from long distance by striker Lee Shaw, but Diamonds responded on the half hour mark with Joe Henderson flicking home a free kick from the left hand side. After a keenly contested and closely matched second half, Joe Merrill smashed home a 30 yard half volley to edge the game in Diamonds’ favour, with Matt Gearing’s penalty miss a couple of minutes before not proving too costly come the final whistle.

Diamonds manager Andy Peaks named two changes to the side that had performed so well in the midweek FA Cup replay victory over Bedford Town, with Joe Merrill replacing the suspended Jack Ashton, and Greg Ling coming in for the unavailable Fazel Koriya. Tom Lorraine and Jason Turner were partnered up front for the second game running, and they linked up together to create the first chance of the game. Lorraine flicked on a long ball forward to Turner, who manoeuvred a ‘give and go’ with Matt Gearing, before seeing his right footed effort deflected behind by a well-timed tackle.

However, apart from the odd foray forward, Diamonds struggled to find the rhythm and fluidity that had characterised their impressive midweek victory in the opening 20 minutes, which was made even harder by Harrowby putting continuous pressure on the midfield high up the pitch. One such instance led to a free kick being awarded to the home side after 12 minutes, which Scott Webb crossed onto the head of winger Liam Harper, but the ball bounced up and onto the roof of the net.

Diamonds failed to heed this warning though, and two minutes later, they were punished with a goal of real quality. Greg Ling lost possession just before the half-way line, and Lee Shaw seized on the ball, drove at the Diamonds defence, and unleashed a 25 yard effort into the top corner, despite Matt Finlay getting fingertips to the shot. The scoreline could have got a lot worse less than five minutes later, but Finlay produced a good diving save to deny Harper heading home a cross from full-back Joe Clarke.

Diamonds finally started to get a grip of the game after this spell of pressure from the home side, and they had two chances to equalise just past the 25th minute mark. Firstly, Tom Lorraine turned and sprinted past his marker, before pulling the ball back for Adam Confue to hit a goal-bound shot that was well blocked, and then a Turner through ball ran for Lorraine, who found himself one on one with the Harrowby stopper Jack Drury. However, he contrived to put his effort wide of the right-hand post.

The Diamonds weren’t made to rue that missed chance for long though, as they levelled the match in their next attack. Sam Brown did well to win the ball back and draw a foul just in from the left touchline, and this gave Gearing the chance to float a free-kick over for Joe Henderson to glance a header past the Harrowby goalkeeper after 30 minutes.

After that entertaining 20 minute spell, the game naturally slowed before the half-time break, with the only noteworthy efforts being a Joe Merrill effort straight at the keeper after he had cut inside onto his left foot, and an overhead kick from the ever dangerous Harrowby striker Shaw which required a scrambling save from Finlay in the Diamonds goal.

Half Time: Harrowby United 1-1 AFC Rushden & Diamonds

The opening stages of the second half carried on in the same vein, with Diamonds being frustrated by the home side’s high defensive line and the bobbly nature of the surface. Confue was able to latch onto a Merrill throw in in the 57th minute, but after showing good skill to flick the ball over a defender, he could only meekly volley straight at Drury.

Less than 10 minutes later, the Harrowby stopper was forced off through injury, which he sustained when trying to hold onto an effort from long distance, and back-up keeper Aiden Hotchin took his place in goal. This almost seemed to spark the Diamonds into life, and their pressure intensified as the match passed into its final quarter. Turner managed to get in behind the host’s defence on the right side of the penalty area after a ball over the top, but with limited other options, he powered an effort straight at Hotchin from a tight angle.

The ex-Wellingborough man was proving a threat with his runs in behind the home defence, and with 18 minutes to go, one of these trademark runs from Turner led to Jack Whyley tugging him down to the floor in his attempts to win the ball. Referee Kevin Saunby had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot, but Hotchin produced a terrific save to his left to push Gearing’s effort away from danger.

Any thoughts that that may come back to haunt the Diamonds were dispelled two minutes later, when they took the lead with an early contender for goal of the season. A Gearing corner from the right was only partially cleared, and the ball fell to Joe Merrill around 35 yards from goal. There appeared to be little danger, but the Rushden full-back had other ideas. As the ball sat up invitingly for him, he launched what can only be described as a pure exocet up and over Hotchin into the roof of the net. The effort was in a way similar to his goal at London Colney in the FA Cup last season, and this strike brought similar scenes of joy, disbelief and jubilance amongst the Diamonds bench and travelling fans.        

The game still had 16 minutes of normal time left though, and Diamonds were reminded of how tenuous their lead was when substitute Ian Ward shifted the ball onto his left foot, and curled an effort at goal that looked destined for the back of Finlay’s net, but instead floated just wide of the post. Scott Webb also tried his luck at goal, but his deflected strike was straight into the arms of Finlay.

After five minutes of stoppage time, and a sterling effort from substitute Russ Dunkley to keep the ball in the corner for four of these, the referee called a halt to the topsy-turvy affair, with Diamonds breathing a huge sigh of relief at coming through the tough test posed to them.

Full Time: Harrowby United 1-2 AFC Rushden & Diamonds

Although the Diamonds display did not match the one exhibited on Tuesday night, the ability to react to going a goal behind and win helped to highlight the togetherness and desire to win within the squad. Attentions now turn to next Saturday, where the Diamonds will head to London to face Hendon FC in the FA Cup First Qualifying Round.

Diamonds Man of the Match: Joe Merrill

Attendance: 230

Match Report by Ollie Mortimer