Match Report

Preview

Diamonds host fifth-placed Redditch United on Saturday (15^th October, 3:00 pm kick-off) as they aim to build on their first home win of the campaign last time out.

Admission prices are as follows:

Adults: £11

Concessions: £8

Students: £8

Under 21s: £6

Under 16s: £2

Tickets can be purchased in advance here, or you can pay at the turnstile.

Our visitors

Founded in 1891 as Redditch, they played in Birmingham leagues before becoming Redditch United in 1971 and joining the Southern League. They were founder members of the Alliance Premier League and have also played in the Conference North before being beaten in a Southern League Premier play-off final by Leamington in 2016. They reached the FA Cup First Round Proper in 1989 going down 3-1 to Merthyr Tydfil.

They play at the Trico Stadium, and the Reds are currently managed by Matt Clarke. They finished 15^th in the league last season (W11 D12 L17 F38 A50).

To find out more about the club, visit their website here.

Last time out

Following three consecutive heavy defeats, Diamonds upset the form-book by beating joint-leaders Nuneaton Borough 2-1 at Hayden Road on Tuesday night. An all-round, defiant and spirited performance was rewarded with two goals early in the second half and, despite the visitors halving the arrears before applying some late pressure, Rushden held on to move off the bottom of the table.

On the same evening Redditch raced into their own two-goal lead at third-placed Coalville, though the hosts responded and were able to claim a 2-2 draw in the end.

The season so far

Redditch United currently sit 5^th in the Southern League Premier Central table after winning five, drawing three and losing three. All three defeats have come at home, meaning they have the joint-worst home record in the division so far, but their unbeaten away record up to now (four wins and two draws) is the best amongst all 22 teams.

Diamonds currently sit 21^st in the league and are only three points off safety following Tuesday night’s crucial victory.

Meetings between the clubs

There have been plenty of goals in the previous games between the sides. The tone was set in the first encounter in August 2018 which was Diamonds first game at Step 3 – Rushden raced into a 2-0 lead after six minutes in front of an excited Hayden Road thanks to Jack Bowen and Ben Farrell, and they eventually ran out 5-2 winners with a double from Ben Diamond and a goal from Tom Lorraine making up the other goals.

The game at Redditch later in the season ended 2-2 following a late Ben Diamond equaliser. In the first aborted season of 2019/2020 the away game was a 1-1 draw (Ryan Dove the Rushden goalscorer), with the home game won 3-0 after strikes from Tom Lorraine, Liam Dolman and Nabil Shariff.

Last season, in November 2021, Rushden ran out deserved winners in a 1-0 victory before a 3-1 away win in the return fixture.

Can’t make the game?

Our Radio Diamonds team will be providing live commentary as the action unfolds – tune in at mixlr.com/radiodiamondsafc. Listeners will be able to message with their comments and thoughts on 07394 309591.

We will also doing live updates on our Twitter account at twitter.com/AFCRD. Highlights and interviews will be available after the game at youtube.com/AFCRDTV.