Diamonds:1 U's:2

I reached new levels of distractedness at work today.

At the best of times it doesn’t take much to divert my attention from the joys of Post Offices closing and new village halls being built, but all day my mind has been wandering forward to Wembley on May 18th, and Danny Brown lifting the Conference play-off trophy to the delight of 25,000 delirious Cambridge fans packed into Wembley stadium.

I know, long way to go and all that, but I do feel more a lot more confident about our chances after last nights win. Beating Droylsden isn’t really something to shout about, but Rushden have some good players and as such were a hurdle we could have easily stumbled over given our recent form.

Since their financial backing was withdrawn, a lot of Diamonds fans seem to have departed for the bright lights(!) of Northampton/MK/Kettering. As a result U’s supporters numbered almost half of 2300 crowd. Apparently they were expecting 350 or more to turn up from United, and had decided it was only necessary to employ a handful of stewards. You have to wonder if clubs in this poxy division have ever thought about communicating with one another.

Anyway, we made a decent enough start, and came close to opening the scoring when home keeper Roberts flapped at a Pitt cross, and Hatswell’s goalbound shot appeared to be blocked by one of his own players. But Rushden gradually took control, and we reverted to hitting long balls up to the front two, a tactic which was about as successful as a Courtney Pitt penalty attempt (sorry Courtney).

Anyone who watched the Setanta shield final will know that Rushden’s Michael Ricketts-alike centre forward Michael Rankine is a spectacularly inept footballer. Bizarrely for a striker, he possesses a massive throw, and I feel Diamonds lack of success this season is probably in part down to their eagerness for him to take every throw in vaguely near the penalty area. Several times they won throw ins around the box, but waited until Rankine lolloped (often with no great urgency) across to take them, thus giving us time to get men behind the ball. Best chances of the half fell to Jon Challinor, who saw one effort turned round the post by Potter, and had a header caught with ease by the United custodian.

Paul Carden sustained a cut to the head just before half time, and briefly returned to the field sporting the biggest bandage I’ve ever seen. It was so mahousive it practically covered the whole of his head, making him look like a small scouse mummy. He wasn’t fit enough to come out the second half, so Reedy came on in his place. Strangely, the substitution happened a couple of minutes into the half, so United were briefly down to ten men. Oh well, I’m sure JQ had his reasons.

United were much better side after the break, with Pitt and Farrell lively on the flanks and Boylan and Beesley looking like they may have finally found each others wavelengths. Boylan glanced a header inches wide, while Farrell and Hats both had efforts saved.

You could feel a goal was coming, and when it arrived what a delicious goal it was. Pitt seized upon a loose ball inside his own half and dashed forward. As he reached the edge of the Rushden box, he ferried the ball on to Boylan, who in turn found Wolly. The midfielders first time pass was superbly cushioned into Beesley’s path, and the ex-Forest Green man took one touch before sending a perfectly weighted shot over the keeper and into the opposite corner of the net. That’s the Mark Beesley we want to see more often. 1-0.

Lee Tomlin had a goal ruled out for offside, before it got better for the delighted U's contingent. Again Pitt was the instigator, beating his man and getting to the byline. Although it looked like he had few options in the centre, his low cross to the near post found Beesley, who had lost his marker with aplomb and sidefooted past the keeper.

Alas our two goal cushion didn't last long. As Rushden poured forward the Pittster attempted a sliding tackle, but only succeeded in clattering Wolly. As both players lay prone on the ground, the busy Tomlin picked up possession, nutmegged Farrell and drove the ball across the six yard box to present Rankine with a chance that even he was unable to miss. 2-1.

Of course at 2-1 you're always nervous, and it didn't help when Danny Brown had to be substituted with yet another injury. Having said that, United looked the more likely scorers as the clock ticked down, with Beesley twice going close to completing his hatrick. First his shot from outside the box was juggled wide by Roberts, then he found space at the back post and fizzed a shot across the goal and just over, when a pass to the unmarked Boylan would have probably been the better option.

Still, lets not get greedy. We were comfortable winners in the end and, as Jimmy said in his post-match quotes, if we can repeat that kind of performance we should cause now-relegated Stafford a problems or two.

Man of the Match: Wayne Hatswell - There were a string of worthy candidates to choose from, but the human cockatoo was immense in both boxes against his former employers.









Quote of the Match: Courtney Pitt - "The vocal support can't help but spur you on. It was like being in a proper football match." You love it in the Conference really Courtney.