Irchester Utd U18 0 v AFC R&D U18 5

Irchester United 0-5 AFC Rushden & Diamonds

Northants Senior Youth League

AFC Rushden & Diamonds U18s made it three wins and three clean sheets on the trot, with a dominant five goal victory at Alfred Street.

The game got off to a lively start with the Diamonds testing Liam Allaway in the home goal after just two minutes, but the Irchester stopper did well to hold onto Conor Bell’s header. The home side responded by forcing Alex Vitue into a smart save just a minute later, as Matthew Dimmock’s close range volley was well held.

Rushden soon got themselves on top, playing some delightful football, with Jake Reynolds twice going close before the 10 minute mark. The hosts did have one other chance of their own inside the opening stages, Tom Doherty stinging Vitue’s fingers with a well struck 25 yard free kick.

On 19 minutes the Diamonds went within inches of opening the scoring as a left wing cross from Omar Ghavami was nodded across goal by Reynolds and Bell headed against the upright. Three minutes later though the deadlock was broken. Luke Fathers picked up the ball 25 yards from goal, and fired in a terrific dipping shot which flew over Allaway and into the back of the net, for his first goal in a Diamonds shirt.

It didn’t take long for the visitors to double their lead, this time with a superb team goal. Some slick passing in the middle of the pitch saw the ball worked forward to Reynolds, who laid it back into the path of Bell, and his 15 yard strike was deflected into the top corner, giving Allaway no chance.

Rushden continued to dominate the half, with the hosts unable to cope with their high tempo passing game. Bell and Reynolds both went close with headers before Helsdown fired over from a tight angle.

The Romans had a rare chance on 36 minutes, as Cordell Francois-Noel latched onto a loose ball inside the AFC penalty area, but Vitue was out to him quickly and the striker failed to direct his shot on target. The final effort of the half saw Reynolds go close to adding a third goal for the Diamonds, but after beating four Irchester defenders his powerful drive was beaten away by Allaway.

HT: Irchester United 0-2 AFC Rushden & Diamonds

For a few minutes at the start of the second half it looked as though Rushden may have taken their foot off the gas a little, with the home side almost pulling a goal back when Michael Dimmock’s 25 yard shot was deflected just wide of the post. The visitors were soon back in control though, and Liam Bond forced a good save from Allaway after overlapping down the right flank and being played in by Helsdown.

The third goal arrived on 52 minutes, although this one lacked the quality finish or intricate build up play of the two first half goals. A right wing corner caused confusion in the Irchester penalty area with the hosts unable to get the ball clear, and it eventually fell to Bell who had the simple task of tapping in from close range.

The fourth goal, on 58 minutes, was another one of real quality though. Once again, the Diamonds high tempo passing game had the hosts chasing shadows, and a fine move down the right flank saw Reynolds get in behind the defence, before picking out Ghavami with a low cross who made no mistake from close range.

Not content with four goals Rushden continued to press forwards, and Bell twice went close to netting his third of the evening, but on both occasions curled the ball just wide of the target. The Romans occasionally threatened from distance, but Doherty and Lewis Boulton both presented Vitue with nothing more than a routine save.

The scoring was complete on 82 minutes, with possibly the pick of the five goals. Another terrific team move saw the ball worked to Ghavami on the left flank, and his pinpoint cross was powerfully headed into the top corner by Reynolds for a thoroughly deserved goal.

The hosts went close to netting a consolation with 5 minutes remaining, as their best effort of the game saw the pacey Francois-Noel race clear with only Vitue to beat, but the Diamonds ‘keeper made sure he preserved the clean sheet with a fine instinctive save.

The last effort of the game saw Man of the Match Conor Bell setup Matt Smith on the edge of the box, and his deflected shot was kept out by Allaway, who did well to adjust his positioning and save the ball with his feet.

FT: Irchester United 0-5 AFC Rushden & Diamonds

Attendance: 66

Man of the Match: Conor Bell

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Images courtesy of Mal Swinden ©2012 Malcolm Swinden Photography

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