Lutterworth Athletic XI 1 AFC Rushden & Diamonds XI 1

An AFC Rushden & Diamonds XI shared the spoils with a Lutterworth Athletic side in a 1-1 draw on Thursday evening. After being a goal down at the interval, a well-taken goal from George Cox gave his side the goal and the draw that their second half performance merited.

Mark Walsh looked after proceedings on a damp night, with other members of the Diamonds management team watching from the sidelines. He lined up a back four that included the returning Alex Deakin alongside Alex McDonald at centre back, with full-backs Roche and Bevis. Jake Newman started up front, with Jake Reynolds in support, and the midfield included Louis Smith, George Cox and Peter Okechukwu along with a trialist.

It was the home side who had the better of play in the first half, and they deserved to go in ahead at the interval courtesy of a penalty from Paul Lever after he had fallen in the area under pressure from Alex McDonald. They might have increased their lead shortly before the interval when an effort on goal hit the post and ran right across the front of Vitue’s goal. Jake Newman had the two best chances for the Diamonds in that first period, but couldn’t make contact with a good heading chance from a corner, and saw a shot saved by the home keeper.

In the third quarter the Diamonds had more pressure, but didn’t really start to threaten the home goal until a tactical change with 15 minutes left saw them go to three at the back with substitutes Blake Helsdown and Matt Smith playing as wing-backs. This change allowed Liam Bond to surge forwards down the right from out of the back three, and his excellent cross was well controlled and finished by George Cox.

Jake Newman had a great chance to win the game for the Diamonds as good work from Cox and Louis Smith seemed to give him a great shooting chance from close range, but he chose instead to take time to try to beat a defender, and his effort was then blocked. Further chances fell to Louis Smith and to Newman, but a draw seemed a fair result.

Full-Time: Lutterworth Athletic XI 1 AFC Rushden & Diamonds XI 1

With the members of the first team squad appearing to come through the game unscathed this will have represented a good workout prior to the visit of Burton Park Wanderers on Saturday.

Attendance: Approx 50

Diamonds Man-of-the-Match: Ben Roche