Supporters Direct Shield : AFC Rushden & Diamonds 2 – Hinckley AFC 2 (Diamonds win 4 – 2 on penalties)

AFC Rushden & Diamonds lifted the Supporters Direct Shield after defeating fellow reformed club Hinckley AFC 4-2 on penalties, following a 2-2 draw. Matt Finlay was the hero, saving two spot kicks resulting in The Diamonds lifting the trophy which they failed to win last season.

Five changes were made to the side that were beaten by AFC Wulfrunians just four days earlier. Sam Brown made his first start of pre-season, replacing Ling at left back. Brad Harris slotted alongside captain Arron Parkinson at the heart of the defence in place of Mark Hewitt. Sean McBride started in central midfield with Richard Bunting with Ling and Gearing occupying the flanks. With Russ Dunkley coming back into the team instead of Fazel Koriya.

In the opening exchanges, it was Hinckley who got off to the better start. The fluid 3-5-2 formation with quick passes and movement meant The Diamonds had to adjust quickly to work out the opposition. Hinckley had the majority of the play and moved the ball well.

However it was Diamonds who broke the dead-lock first on eight minutes. Against the run of play, Turner held the ball up in the left hand corner as he waited for support, Ling retrieved the ball and put in a deep cross looking for Dunkley. The target man headed it down to Gearing who was on hand to tap it in from close range.

In the 14^th minute, a diagonal pass from Brown aimed at Dunkley was disguisedly flicked into the path of Gearing. But the Hinckley stopper Astley was on hand to save at his near post. From the resulting corner, Turner should have doubled Diamonds’ lead. Dunkley’s header was cleared off the line, straight into the path of Turner who couldn’t convert from no more than six yards out.

As the match ebbed and flowed in each teams’ favour, Hinckley got the equaliser in the 21^st minute. Tricky wing-back Clarke-O’Connell dodged his way infield onto his right foot to fire past Matt Finlay.

Ten minutes later when Diamonds started to get back on top, Turner had another chance. Twisting and turning inside the box, he couldn’t manage to get the ball out of his feet and a strong Williams’ challenge made sure the door was firmly shut.

35 minutes gone, Diamonds almost regained the lead. Good play once again down the left hand side between Ling and Brown wins a free-kick. Quickly taken between the pair, Ling’s cross found Dunkley, but his header hit the top of the bar and over.

But with half-time looming, Diamonds made sure they went into half time with the lead. Dunkley got on the score-sheet three minutes from the break. Matt Gearing this time broke down the right hand side turned provider and Dunkley who had scored 23 goals last season, found the net with a diving header.

 Half-Time: AFC Rushden & Diamonds 2 Hinckley AFC 1

If both managers had told their players to keep up the tempo and intensity for the second half, the players certainly didn’t show it on the pitch. Perhaps all their energy had been used up in an end to end first half. The opening 15 minutes of the first half was slow without anything for the fans to shout about for either side.

16 minutes into the second half, Hinckley AFC had a decent penalty appeal turned down. Bailey had beaten Henderson on the right hand side before tangling with McBride in the penalty area. A few appeals from Hinckley players followed but the referee decided there wasn’t a foul.

Before livewire Lamb-Johnson was introduced, Diamonds had a couple of good chances. First of all, McBride’s shot from about eight yards out was blocked well. Then Bunting tried to lob substitute goalkeeper Sockett from all of 25 yards, but his shot was tipped over.

The Diamonds attacks soon came thick and fast and you would have thought that, another goal will be needed to put this game to bed. In the 54^th minute, Dunkley’s flicked the ball onto Fazel Koriya who unselfishly found Gearing, but was tackled by the goalkeeper. Then just four minutes later, McBride had another chance. His shot was tipped over the bar following Brown’s cross which was palmed away.

Hinckley kept pressing, looking for an equaliser once again. In the 75^th minute, after good team build up play, the ball was worked to goalscorer Clarke-O’Connell who pulled the cross back to substitute Facey, but Finlay was on hand to save well. Three minutes later, Diamonds almost conceded. A defensive frailty between Henderson and Parkinson ended up with the latter on his backside and Nisbett’s shot thankfully harmless.

However the pressure kept on building with less than ten minutes from time. Gorle had turned Rashid Koriya inside out and then delivered a low cross towards Nisbett, but Finlay saved from point blank range.

With only four minutes from time, Diamonds did crack. Nisbett crossed the ball in from the left, then Hewitt and Brown left the ball for each other at the back post and Facey seized the opportunity to keep Hinckley’s dream of lifting their first piece of silverware alive. Diamonds survived a late free kick scare which was cleared to the sound of the referee’s whistle.

Full-Time: AFC Rushden & Diamonds 2 Hinckley AFC 2

Officials from the two clubs had agreed before kick-off that a draw would result in the trophy being shared, but the players and management teams took matters into their own hands and persuaded the referee to allow the game to be decided by means of a penalty shoot-out. In front of the Peter De Banke terrace, Fazel Koriya, Lamb-Johnson, Lorraine and Gearing all converted their penalties. But Finlay’s two saves from Nisbett and Halil meant AFC Rushden & Diamonds lifted the Supporters Direct Shield.

AFC Rushden & Diamonds win 4-2 on penalties

The Diamonds management will definitely be pleased with the depth of the squad they have at their disposal with Fazel Koriya and Lamb-Johnson making notable impacts when they came on. Also with the second trophy in the cabinet already this season, after lifting the Chris Ruff Memorial Cup, who says AFC Rushden & Diamonds can’t win more?

Diamonds Man of the Match: Matt Finlay

Attendance: 301