0 - 1
Full-time

Match Report

A much improved performance from Diamonds on Bank Holiday Monday but they fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat to table toppers Peterborough Sports.

Two changes for Diamonds saw Jay Williams make his debut in place of Fernando Bell-Toxtle and Nathan Tshikuna come in for Ben Diamond.

Diamonds started brightly and put Sports under early pressure winning corners and whipping dangerous balls into the box. Free scoring Sports were restricted to sporadic attacks with Dion Sembie Ferris coming closest on a quick break from one of those Diamonds corners.

After Sports had started to grow in the game Diamonds had their best chance. A 29th minute 25 yard free-kick flew agonisingly wide when it looked to have rippled the net.

Shortly afterwards Sports pounced with the only goal of the game. Abduramane Mamadu Sano Sani headed home an excellent cross that split the Diamonds back line.

Half-time: AFC Rushden & Diamonds 0 Peterborough Sports 1

The high intensity of the first-half continued in the second with Diamonds pressing Sports hard. They spurned a great chance on 53 minutes when Joel Gyasi skied a close in effort over the bar.

Sports were forced into some robust challenges to deny Diamonds on the break as they struggled to close out the game.

Diamonds pressed hard for what would have been a deserved equaliser but the killer chance just never came.

Full-Time: AFC Rushden & Diamonds 0 Peterborough Sports 1

This was a much improved performance from Diamonds against genuine promotion favourites but still a third defeat in 4 games. There were really positive signs in the performance with debutant Jay Williams holding the midfield together well and Joel Gyasi particularly bright for Diamonds. Sports clearly had their toughest game of the season and were forced to win ugly after previous free-scoring victories. They stay top of the table with 5 wins from 5.

Next up for Diamonds an equally tough start to the FA Cup campaign with a trip to Coalville Town in First Round Qualifying action next Saturday.

A reminder there is home FA Youth Cup action on Thursday evening as the youth team take on Welwyn Garden City U18 in the Preliminary Round.

Man of the Match: Joel Gyasi

Match Report: Paul Judd

Details

DateTimeLeagueSeasonMatchdayAttendanceMan of the MatchCaptain
Mon, 30th Aug, 20213:00 pmSouthern League Premier Division Central2021/224464Joel GyasiLiam Dolman

Result

ClubHalf-timeFull-time
Diamonds00
Peterborough Sports11

Video

Diamonds

13Dean Snedker Goalkeeper
2Patrick Casey Defender
3Samuel Warburton Defender
4Jay Williams Defender
5Liam Dolman Defender
6Ryan Hughes Defender
7Joel Gyasi Midfielder
8Matthew Slinn 14 Midfielder 79'
9Tom Lorraine 16 Forward 56'
10Jesse Akubuine Midfielder 45+1'
11Nathan Tshikuna Midfielder
12Fernando Bell-Toxtle Midfielder
14Lorrell Smith 8 Forward 79'
15Claudio Dias Midfielder
16Will Jones 9 Forward 56'
17Charlie Nixon Goalkeeper

Coach: Tom Chapman
Sports Therapist: Roisin O’Farrell
Goalkeeper Coach: Nathan Gaunt
Manager: Andy Peaks
Manager: Scott Carlin

Peterborough Sports

1Lewis Moat Goalkeeper 61'
2Matty Miles Defender
3Johnathan Herd Defender
4Ryan Fryatt Defender
5Richard Jones Defender
6Daniel Lawlor Midfielder
7Dion Sembie-Ferris Midfielder
8Lewis Hilliard Midfielder
9Mark Jones Forward 90+5'
10Dan Jarvis 14 Midfielder 40'
55'
11Abduramane Mamadu Sano Sani 16 Forward 35'
85'
12Joshua McCammon Midfielder
13Lewis Elsom Goalkeeper
14James Stevenson 10 Forward 55'
15Brad McGowan Defender
16Mitchell Griffiths 11 Defender 85'

Manager: James Dean
Coach: Lewis Webb
Sports Therapist: Dan Ruscillo
Stats Man: Ammar Quadar
Goalkeeper Coach: Ryan Kay
Kit Manager: Paul Beeston

Match Officials

RefereeAssistant Referee 1Assistant Referee 2
Shaun BarryDavid JarrettAbdul Kadir

Ground

Hayden Road
Hayden Road Sports Ground, Hayden Road, Rushden, Northamptonshire NN10 0HX