Diamonds play the first of four back-to-back home league games on Tuesday night with the visit of Rushall Olympic to Hayden Road.
Rushall Olympic
The earliest mentions of football in Rushall date back to 1893 and the team played in Cannock and Walsall and District leagues until disbanded just prior to WW2.
The club was re-formed in 1951 and a new ground was built in 1977 to allow Rushall to climb the non-league pyramid. Playing in West Midlands League and Midland Alliance before achieving Southern League and then Northern Premier League status before switching back to Southern League Premier Central.
Current form
Rushall have suffered a bit of a setback in the league after back-to-back wins had taken them into the top 5. Two draws and a defeat at home to Tamworth last time out see them in 8th still with a healthy 15 points from 8 games. Away form has been good though with 2 wins and a draw ironically 1-1 at Stourbridge last time on their travels.
Diamonds are on a run of just one defeat in 5 with 2 wins and 2 away draws taking them to 14th with 11 points from 9. 4 home games on the bounce will give hope of improving that average points per game but home form has been mixed 3 defeats to sides in the top four and two dramatic late wins.
Previous games
Rushden and Rushall have clashed on three occasions since AFC R&D won promotion to Step 3.
The Pics did the double over the Diamonds in the 2018/19 season (0-2 win at Hayden Road, 2-0 win at Dales Lane) with the singular meeting of the 2019/20 season ending in a 1-1 draw. Liam Dolman scored from a set-piece to put Diamonds ahead before Sam Whittall’s late first-half equaliser.
The match
Andy Peaks felt there were positive signs in the performance at Stourbridge with a more dynamic defensive display and Ben Diamond starting to show his undoubted talent alongside Ravi Shamsi, Tom Lorraine and Connor Furlong.
Radio Diamonds have managed to keep broadcasting in difficult circumstances but with numbers boosted in this run of home games Twitter should be back to its best and Joseph should have some company.
The 3 for 2 offer published recently is perfect for this run of games but if you can’t make it, or even if you can, tune in to Radio Diamonds, follow Twitter and look out for interviews, highlights and your match report.
Enjoy the game
Paul Judd
