AFC Rushden & Diamonds Ladies stormed to a 11-0 victory over Rothwell Ladies Reserves on Sunday afternoon. Although an away game for AFC R&D Ladies, the game was played at Old Grammarians Sports Field, Sywell Road, Wellingborough. They came into this Northants Women’s League Division 2 game after an impressive friendly win against Thrapston Ladies last weekend, and would look to continue a run of form that has seen them progress not only on the field of play but also within themselves as a team.
The watching crowd only had minutes to wait before the Diamonds took the lead against the home side after 3 minutes Kelly Rust pounced on a corner kick from Claire Stancliffe, and gave the Diamonds an ideal start to the game,
Rothwell Reserves 0 – 1 AFC Rushden & Diamonds (Rust)
After some clever build up play the Diamonds ladies struck again within the first ten minutes of the half with last week’s hatrick hero Megan Watkins running on to a through ball from the midfield to calmly place the ball into the back of the net, within ten minutes the scoreline read:
Rothwell Reserves 0 – 2 AFC Rushden & Diamonds (Watkins)
With 2 goals scored the game seemed to open up with the Diamonds and Rothwell enjoying some solid midfield play, but the game then took another turn in the favour of the Diamonds with Lauren Perkins receiving the ball and taking a shot at the goal only to be saved by the Rothwell keeper who pushed the ball out for a corner. After 13 mins of defensive and midfield play the Diamonds ladies took further hold on the game when Kelly Rust scored her second of the match after taking the ball and smashing it low and hard past the Rothwell Keeper, the ladies had a third goal and didn’t look to be shying away from scoring a few more.
Rothwell Reserves 0 – 3 AFC Rushden & Diamonds (Rust)
Moments after the third goal the ladies once again produced a fine piece of attacking play which after a poor defensive clearance lead to the Diamonds scoring their fourth of the game, with a routine defensive clearance landing at the feet of midfielder Claire Stancliffe whose shot, from the moment she hit it, had goal written all over it, and with 32 minutes the Diamonds where 4 goals to the good.
Rothwell Reserves 0 – 4 AFC Rushden & Diamonds (Stancliffe)
After the 4th goal the Diamonds made their first change of the match with Captain Fiona Strathern being replaced by Harriet Clarke as a precaution for a shoulder injury picked up by Fiona whilst pressing for the ball in the air against a Rothwell midfielder. With the half drawing to a close and the Diamonds in full control the scoreline increased further, with Kelly Rust latching on to a midfield ball and pushing forward and with precision, placing the ball past the Rothwell keeper for her third and hatrick goal, so at half time the Diamonds were in full control.
Rothwell Reserves 0 – 5 AFC Rushden & Diamonds (Rust)
Half-Time: Rothwell Ladies Reserves 0 AFC Rushden & Diamonds Ladies 5
The second half brought Diamonds’ second change with Alix Daverson being replaced by Cat Sealey, The AFC Fans had barely time to get back to their positions when straight from the kick of in a mirror image to last week’s goal the Diamond ladies had their 6th of the match as straight from kick off a ball to the left side was picked up by Kelly Rust who rocketed down the wing and into the box to score her 4th of the match past a stunned Rothwell Keeper, with 46mins on the clock.
Rothwell Reserves 0 – 6 AFC Rushden & Diamonds (Rust)
Once the Diamonds had their 6th of the match the game began to fizzle out, with much of the possession being taken by the Diamonds in the midfield and forming a strong solid performance through the team with their passing and build up play, on 52 minutes with the game already in the ladies hands the Diamonds produced their 7th of the game when again Kelly Rust received the ball on the left and smashed her shot high and into the goal for her 5th of the game.
Rothwell Reserves 0 – 7 AFC Rushden & Diamonds (Rust)
With the AFC Fans and staff around the park still amazed by what they were seeing the Diamonds further increased the scoreline when on 58 minutes substitute Cat Sealey scored her first of the game after a lovely piece of play again from the Diamonds midfield, when after collecting the ball Cat finished nicely to make the scoreline 0-8.
Rothwell Reserves 0 – 8 AFC Rushden & Diamonds (Sealey)
Within the space of the next few minutes the Diamonds would further display what a fantastic team performance and individual performances can do to inspire fans and of observers of women’s football, as on 66 minutes Kelly Rust, who was having the game of her career for the Diamonds, produced her 6th goal and second Hatrick of the game, after her effort was neatly placed past the awaiting keeper.
Rothwell Reserves 0 – 9 AFC Rushden & Diamonds (Rust)
It took a further 3 Minutes of play before the Diamonds reached a double figures when double-hatrick hero Kelly Rust pounced again to score her 7th of the game and to confirm that she alone would be picking up the Woman of the match award.
Rothwell Reserves 0 – 10 AFC Rushden & Diamonds (Rust)
With 14 minutes still to play the Diamonds made a change as Kelly Rust was replaced by Ashleigh Beale to a well-deserved round of applause as she came of the pitch by the AFC players, staff and fans. With time ticking away the ladies would produce their last goal of the day when after 76 minutes Diamonds forward Cat Sealey netted her second of the game with a determined run from midfield towards goal and then smashing the ball past the Rothwell Keeper.
Rothwell Reserves 0 – 11 AFC Rushden & Diamonds (Sealey)
The Diamonds made a final change with Lauren Perkins returning to the field of play after being subbed earlier in the second half replacing midfielder and early goal scorer Claire Stancliffe. Shortly afterwards the final whistle sounded on a dominating performance from the Diamonds Ladies.
Full-Time: Rothwell Ladies Reserves 0 AFC Rushden & Diamonds Ladies 11
The final note of this match is a to praise the Rothwell players who throughout the game never lost the smile from their faces, with the game played in a great spirit from both teams which helped this game not only produce Diamonds second league win of the season but also showed you can still have fun in the midst of defeat – so well done AFC Ladies but also a massive nod to Rothwell Ladies Reserves.
AFC Rushden & Diamonds: Kerrie Cosham, Alix Daverson, Kerry Lawrence, Natasha Lowe, Emma Morris, Lauren Perkins, Kelly Rust, Claire Stancliffe, Fiona Strathern, Megan Watkins, Elise Young
Subs: Ashleigh Beale, Harriet Clarke, Cat Sealey
Goals: Rust 7 (seven), Watkins, Sealey 2, Stancliffe
Rothwell Reserves: Sophie Ayres, Beth Bowyer, Victoria Corp, Stacie Franks, Pebbles Herbert, Zoe Hilbourne, Melissa Hogg, Bethanie Hutchinson, Shannon Kelland, Jade Lindsay, Liana Palombi
Subs: Katie Canham, Rochelle Mahoney
Player of the Match: Kelly Rust
Images courtesy of Mal Swinden ©2012 Malcolm Swinden Photography
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