Wellingborough Town 0-2 AFC Rushden & Diamonds
Northants Senior Youth League
A goal in each half from Jake Reynolds gave AFC Rushden & Diamonds U18s their first win of the season in the Dog & Duck derby against Wellingborough Town. The Rushden side was finally nearing full strength for the first time this season, although there was a major blow in the pre-match warm-up, as Mason Thomas, who had originally been named in the starting XI, picked up a recurrence of the knee injury which has plagued him for the last 6 months, and was forced out of the game.
The Diamonds started brightly with Matt Smith looking very dangerous on his debut for the club, playing on the left of a front three. It was he who had the first shot in anger, 11 minutes into the game, cutting inside on his right foot and beating his man, before firing in a shot from the edge of the box which was well held by Luke Greer in the Doughboys’ goal.
Two minutes later the hosts registered their first meaningful attempt at goal, as Pawel Aurzadniczek hit a powerful 25 yard shot which was well held by Alex Vitue on his home debut for the Diamonds.
Wellingborough were providing a much sterner test than they had done in the pre-season friendly between the two sides, when Rushden run out comfortable 4-0 winners, but it was still the Diamonds who were having the lion’s share of possession. Mid way through the half, Jake Reynolds had a great chance to open the scoring when he was sent clear by a great pass from Zak Moon, but he appeared to have his shirt pulled as he went to shoot, and dragged the ball well wide. The referee waved away the appeals for a Rushden penalty.
The ‘visitors’ didn’t have to wait long to open the scoring though. A great move from defence culminated in a superb through ball from the left flank by Ben Roche, and Reynolds used his pace to good effect, just getting to it ahead of Greer and toe poking the ball past the Wellingborough ‘keeper and into the back of the net.
As the half time whistle approached the Diamonds should have been awarded a penalty and the chance to double their lead. A short corner was played to Liam Bond who played in a deep cross which cleared everyone in the middle and appeared to be heading inside the far post, but it was stopped on the line by the hand of Aurzadniczek. The referee once again waved away the AFC appeals.
HT: Wellingborough Town 0-1 AFC Rushden & Diamonds
Rushden continued where they had left off in the first half, forcing a decent chance inside the opening 3 minutes of the second half. A deep cross from Bond found Smith unmarked at the far post, who attempted a difficult first time volley towards goal, but he didn’t catch the ball cleanly leaving Greer with a simple save.
Fred Devereaux was the next to try his luck, firing in a shot from 30 yards out which was fumbled by Greer, but the ‘keeper managed to recover and pounce on the ball just ahead of the onrushing Reynolds.
Both managers made changes as the hour mark arrived, but it was the Doughboys who began to look the more threatening team for the first time in the game. Ollie Dickens picked up a pass from the left winger and fired in a shot from 25 yards which only narrowly cleared Alex Vitue’s crossbar.
The hosts’ best chance of the game arrived on 71 minutes, as the impressive Tyler Maher showed great strength and skill to hold off three AFC defenders on the edge of the box, before hitting a powerful strike towards goal which forced a smart save from Vitue.
Maher then had another half chance for the Doughboys, getting his head onto a good free kick delivery from substitute Jack Harvey, but his attempt was easy for Vitue.
And the Diamonds sealed the points shortly afterwards, with a team goal of real quality. The ball was gradually worked forwards from the back, eventually finding Devereaux on the right flank. He played a quick one-two, before getting to the byline and hitting a dangerous low cross to the near post where Reynolds was on hand to smash the ball home from close range.
FT: Wellingborough Town 0-2 AFC Rushden & Diamonds
Attendance: 150
Man of the Match: Zak Moon
Teams:
Wellingborough Town | AFC Rushden & Diamonds |
1. Luke Greer | 24. Alex Vitue |
Subs: | Subs: |
Goals: | Goals: |
Bookings: | Bookings: |
Sent Off: | Sent Off: |
Highlights can be viewed Here
Images courtesy of Mal Swinden ©2012 Malcolm Swinden Photography
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