Match Report

Match Report

Diamonds were able to score regularly during Tuesday night’s final home pre-season friendly with some excellent attacking play racking up 7 goals to beat Barton Rovers 7-1.

Tom Lorraine began the scoring in the 2nd minute steering in Zack Reynolds cross and added his second on 23 minutes finishing a brilliant Luke Fairlamb move. In between Jack Ashton looped a header home from a set-piece on 20 minutes. Lorraine completed his hat-trick in trademark fashion on 52 minutes running through on goal and coolly slotting home. The fifth on 67 minutes was a fantastic individual curling finish from Ben Ford, and the sixth 6 minutes later saw Ford with the assist for Trialist (no.16) to head home. Barton got their consolation with a crashing finish from a flick on and Chris Wreh wrapped up the scoring with a turn and finish on 86 minutes.

Diamonds fans were delighted to see new signing Luke Fairlamb in the starting line-up having contributed to his popular signing thanks to the player budget lottery. The full line-up saw Richard Walton in goal and Alex Collard starting alongside Jack Ashton, Liam Dolman, Zack Reynolds, Ben Ford, Fernando Bell-Toxtle, Tom Lorraine, Lorrell Smith, a trialist and of course Luke Fairlamb. On the bench were Patrick Casey, Chris Wreh, Ben Farrell, Matt Slinn and Luke Munro who all made appearances in the second half.

Match Report – Joseph McCormack

Diamonds produced a scintillating attacking performance as they hit Barton Rovers for seven.

It took just two minutes for Diamonds to open the floodgates. A well-worked move found Zack Reynolds down the right who fired it across for Tom Lorraine to steer home.

Diamonds added the second and third in quick succession. Jack Ashton’s looping header from a set-piece found the far corner on 20 minutes and Luke Fairlamb’s dribble and cross set up Tom Lorraine to head home his second on 23 minutes.

Half-time: AFC Rushden & Diamonds 3 Barton Rovers 0

Tom Lorraine completed his hat-trick not long into the second half. The Diamonds striker was played through on goal on 52 minutes and showed great composure to tuck the chance into the bottom corner.

Diamonds had scored some excellent team goals but the fifth was all about the individual quality of Ben Ford. On 67 minutes the Diamonds midfielder shifted the ball onto his right foot and curled his effort into the top corner from range.

On 73 minutes a corner ball was headed away but only as far as Ben Ford who delivered a whipped cross for Trialist (no.16) to head into the corner. Barton Rovers offered little going forward but managed to find a consolation goal. A long ball was flicked on by the striker and the winger steaming in hit a volley into the bottom corner.

Diamonds closed out on a high as a clearance was picked up and delivered low into Chris Wreh on 86 minutes who received it on the half-turn and slotted the chance away.

Full-time: AFC Rushden & Diamonds 7 Barton Rovers 1

This was a comprehensive attacking performance by Diamonds which brought 7 goals including 3 more for Tom Lorraine. Luke Fairlamb looked eager to impress on his second debut and certainly did that rewarding fans for their lottery investment.

Next-up is the final pre-season friendly for Diamonds at Brackley Town on Saturday which will have to be behind closed doors due to Brackley being a National League side.

Match Summary: Paul Judd

Match Report: Joseph McCormack