AFC Rushden & Diamonds Youth suffered their first defeat in the ECFA East Midlands Youth League falling 3-2 away to Thomas Beckett Football Academy.
Manager Darren Purse was absent from the game as he attended a Diploma of Football Management Course at the home of English Football, St George’s Park. This meant that first team manager Andy Peaks took control of the youth side, in which his son Ben was playing.
Diamonds fell a goal behind from a set piece however levelled through a Matt Pinder penalty, his 11th goal of the season.
The MAA boys defented vulnerabilities showed when they conceded two further goals from set pieces to go 3-1 down.
Sam Roache gave Diamonds hope of snatching a late equaliser, by bringing the score to 3-2 with just five minutes remaining. However this was short lived as Kirk was sent off for Diamonds following a bad tackle.
Full Time. Thomas Beckett Academy 3-2 AFC Rushden & Diamonds / MAA U18
Team: Redding, Peaks, Kierney, Roache, Uddin, Ivett, Hewett, Kirk, Ackroyd, Desborough, Pinder.
Subs: Garner, Usuf, Weeks, Leeson.
