Rushden & Diamonds 0-0 Kingstonian
DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER (IN THE CONFERENCE)
Tonight's games saw the two Wembley finalists pitted against the two horses
in the proverbial championship race. The fact that our 'horse' is a few
lengths behind is neither here nor there. The K's travelling number had
swelled somewhat since their guarantee of fun on May 15th, and this was
bolstered by a few Northampton fans as their game had been called off. The
stage of Nene Park was as good a setting as could be wished for, with the
intriguing scenario of all fans being seated behind the goal of what is by
far and away the best stadium in the league.
Chapple named a full strength side for this one. Rumours that this was to
show Griggs what his money would be spent on next year are entirely
unfounded. Rushden, of course, still had an outside chance of winning the
league, and certainly had more to play for than K's. On 7 minutes, a
disputed corner saw West head goalwards when Farrelly really should have
collected the ball. The ball eventually spilled out to Collins who wasn't
too far away with an ambitious overhead kick. Moments later, the home team
again looked to have a good chance when Collins received the ball in a
position just in front of the area, but the linesman's flag was raised,
albeit very late. The first effort of note that K's could muster was by
Rattray who wasn't too far away with a back post header. But in the early
part of the game, it looked as if, if any goals were scored tonight, it
would be by the Diamonds. An excellent piece of play by Heggs saw him
control on his chest a ball that was coming over his shoulder and race
goalwards. Having done the hard work, he would have been somewhat
aggrieved to have seen Farrelly get down well to his left. Heggs did
follow up the shot, but the process of shot to the right, and Farrelly
down well was repeated.
One of the best chances of the night was soon produced following an
excellent cross from Heggs. His fast and low drive bounced just in front of
the Kingstonian keeper and also West. The striker was first to make
contact and put the ball just wide of Farrelly's left upright.
Unfortunately there then followed a collision that saw both players needing
attention from the physios, and saw Crossley taking the goal kicks.
Patterson then produced the kind of skill that few give him credit for. A
defence splitting ball was just out of reach of Leworthy. In the 32nd
minute Leworthy had a chance to make amends with a ball swung across from
the left. He headed the cross square and was unlucky that Collect's
positional sense was so astute. Following this, Rushden had a spell of
sustained pressure but couldn't really mount many credible attacks.
The second half saw the introduction of Deletion Francis for Dave Leworthy,
who appeared to have taken a knock in the first half. Again, he almost
made an impact right away when he raced past Bradshaw but was then brought
down by the lad. Then, what would have been an amazing goal was (perhaps)
attempted by Chopper Harris. His punt down field had Collett back peddling
and he had to tip the ball over the bar for a corner. A second corner was
won by Francis and this saw Crossley head the ball back into the danger
area at the back post but nothing could be made of it.
Throughout the second half Pitcher and Mustafa in particular were working
tirelessly. Pitcher and Patterson can really read each other like a
matchday programme. Surely their partnership is as strong a midfield duo
as any in the lower leagues. Pitcher almost won a penalty having touched
the ball past Bradshaw in the area. However, the penalty was not given,
and nor should it have been. As the second half went on, K's began to look
the superior team. Eddie put in a decent shot after neat play and despite
a penalty appeal, this time for handball. Seconds later, he then skinned
Rodwell and sent a ball into the middle which Francis bravely went for but
only came off injured. K's fans began to 'booh' the Rushden players for
not putting the ball out of play so the youngster could receive attention
but the charitable thing was not done. Instead a shot was fired in, but it
was easy for Farrelly. He looked to throw the ball out of play, but
Luckett picked it up and played it to Pitcher, who went on a run and fired
in an amazing shot which went just wide with Francis lying strewn in the
area. What a talking point that would have been if the ball had gone in
the sticks!
By far the best chance of the match fell to Delton Francis. Suffice to say
the score remained 0-0. Brady played a ball back to the keeper, not seeing
Francis in what would have been a very off-side position had a team mate
played the ball to him. Francis raced onto the ball and was one on one
with the keeper but amazingly put the ball wide with only fifteen minutes
left.
This let-off gave The Diamonds some added impetus. DeSouza, on as a
substitute, fired in a cracking shot and minutes later Farrelly made the
save of the match tipping the ball over from the same man. This then lead
to a series of three corners as K's were under the cosh for a little
while.
But the game ended with K's looking the better team. They had the ball for
the best part of two minutes without a single Rushden player joining in
before a certain Doctor Martin boy stuck his brand of boot into Rattray's
calf. This incensed the K's midfielder and a semi brawl erupted before the
K's players realised where they were and how none of them really wanted a
suspension
The game ended with Rushden fans booing their players whilst K's fans were
only in a celebratory mood (bar the "Kelly out" chants arising during much
of the game). As it stood, Rushden would have been kicking themselves more
than kicking Rattray had news that Cheltenham dropped points filtered
through to them. Yet, it didn't matter. There was little to separate the
teams and neither deserved to lose it. In practice, that ended Rushden's
season. Some would say that Kingstonian's is just beginning...
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Tue 20th Apr 1999 |
|
Nene Park |
|
1818 |
|
Football Conference |
|
Rushden & Diamonds | 0 |
Kingstonian | 0 |
|
|
|
1 | Steve Farrelly | | |
2 | Tarkan Mustafa | | |
3 | Colin Luckett | | |
4 | Matt Crossley | | |
5 | Simon Stewart | | |
6 | Mark Harris | | |
7 | Gary Patterson | | |
8 | Geoff Pitcher | | |
9 | Kevin Rattray | | |
10 | David Leworthy | | 15 |
11 | Eddie Akuamoah | | |
12 | Wayne Brown | | |
14 | Mike Lester | | |
15 | Delton Francis | | 10 |
|
|
Geoff Pitcher |
|
Gary Ekins |
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