AFC Rushden & Diamonds 5-1 Blues

The Blues suffered their first league defeat of the season on Tuesday evening as they went down to a much fancied AFC Rushden & Diamonds at Hayden Road. Stuart Boardley selected an unchanged team from Saturday’s 1-1 with Coalville Town, with goalkeeper Jake Jessup coming back into the squad after being unavailable at the weekend.

The game was just a couple of minutes old when Charlie Beckwith made a decent early save, before the lively Tom Lorraine had a great chance to put the hosts ahead but somehow put his effort wide of Beckwith’s right hand post. Nathan Hicks tried his luck on the edge of the area but was just off target for Rushden, while Byron Lawrence had the Blues first chance of note, forcing home keeper Ben Heath into a good save. The Blues took the lead in the 22nd minute. A good move allowed Kyle Hammond to drift in behind the home defence and cross to MATT BLAKE who made no mistake in smashing home from close range. Rushden were putting balls from corners and throw in’s into the penalty area but Leiston, playing in all orange, were playing keeping them out well. Leiston had another chance of their own, with Blake getting in behind the Rushden backline but he pulled his attempt wide of the post. Rushden restored parity in the 40th minute when ALEX COLLARD headed in from a corner unmarked. One minute before the break, TOM LORRAINE put the home side in front as he pounced on some hesitant defending in the Leiston area.

The second period started quite scrappy with both teams struggling to create any real goal scoring chances. Rushden’s third goal came once again via a set piece just before the hour mark, with a free kick into the area that Jack Ashton headed down and TOM LORRAINE met it just Beckwith could get there. Will Davies tested Heath from long range as Leiston struggled to get back into the contest. Shortly later, and BEN ACQUAYE’s strike from distance was firmly despatched past Beckwith to make it four. Matt Blake’s cross was deflected and had to be palmed over by Heath at the other end. George Keys was deemed to be the last man by referee Ben Cooke and was subsequently shown the red card in the 79th minute. Blake and Blues skipper Kyle Hammond both tested Heath late on but it would be Rushden to add another goal and their fifth as NATHAN HICKS turned in the area to strike past Beckwith, after a good run and cross by sub Declan Rogers. There would be no more scoring as the game neared the end, but on this showing AFC Rushden & Diamonds will be right up there this season.

FT: - AFC Rushden & Diamonds 5-1 Blues.

Leiston make the long trip to Walsall on Saturday where they play Rushall Olympic in their next match.

Line-ups: -

AFC Rushden & Diamonds: - Heath, Gosnal-Tyler, Brown, Ashton, Dolman, Collard, Acquayo (Rogers 71 mins), Slinn, Lorraine, Bowen (Dove 69 mins), Hicks. Subs not used: - McDonald, Reynolds, Cooper.

Leiston: - Beckwith, Hammond, Woerndl (Eagle 67 mins), Kamanzi, Knights, Keys, Lawrence, Hitter (Sinclair 69 mins), Blake, Henry (Clements 56 mins), Davies. Subs not used: - Gaffer, Jessup.

Attendance: - 446.

Man Of The Match: - Kyle Hammond.