AFC Rushden & Diamonds

AFC Rushden & Diamonds v St Ives Town

AFC Rushden & Diamonds v St Ives Town

Pitching-In Southern League Premier Central  02-01-2023

If Ives were looking to avoid entering into their annual battle to stay out of the relegation places then on paper this was a must win fixture with the Diamonds in turmoil as new manager Chris Nunn looked to undertake radical change to his side who came into this game in rock bottom place and on a run of seven league defeats in a row. Sadly for Ives games are not played on paper and the playing surface for this one was something resembling a peat bog which had perhaps been fortunate to pass a mid-morning pitch inspection. This type of surface may be alien to Ives latest crop of players thanks to the wonderful 3G surface at Quattro-Tech Westwood Road but it is something that experienced players must quickly adjust to and there is the famous saying that it is “the same for both sides”.

With a side on a run like Diamonds any small level of confidence gleaned from the arrival of a new manager is still likely to be very fragile and the last thing that a visiting side wants to do is bolster that confidence in any way. Sadly that is exactly what Ives did gifting the hosts a goal in tenth minute as keeper James Goff was found out by an unnecessary back pass and miss-hit his attempted clearance straight at Jenson Cooper just outside the box. The striker had time to steady himself and roll the ball into the empty net.

They should have learnt their lesson as inside the first minute an attempted back pass had held up in the mud and it was only the speed of reaction from Goff that allowed him to just beat Cooper to the ball and hack it away.

After that early scare Ives enjoyed a good spell with the recalled Tyrone Baker looking dangerous down the left. In fourth minute he outpaced former Ives man Eniola Agemoh-Davies to get to the bye line picking out Dylan Williams with his pull back. Williams in turn teed up Nabil Shariff for a shot that took a deflection off a defender to make it a much easier save for Dean Snedker in Diamonds goal.

Another player recalled into Ives starting eleven was midfield dynamo Myles Cowling and he set up a brilliant chance for Williams with one of his trade mark runs through the centre just seconds before the Diamonds were gifted the lead. Cowling’s flick to Williams inside the box gave the Ives skipper chance to get his shot away which beat Snedker but deflected over off the top of the crossbar but had it gone in would have been chalked off as the assistant’s flag on the far side was raised for offside.

Even with their noses in front the hosts back line still looked shaky and a 12th minute Johnny Herd long throw set up another shooting opportunity for Ives but Jonny Edwards failed to make clean contact with his effort from by the penalty spot allowing Snedker to make another routine save. Baker was still getting enjoyment down the left and he tested Snedker a little more three minutes later stinging the keeper’s hands with a fierce left footed effort from just inside the box that the big stopper was happy to palm away. 

But chances were also appearing at the other end and Goff almost spilled a long range floated effort from Courtney Lashley in 16th minute. Three minutes later Cooper combined well with Connor Tee getting on the end of the number ten’s return ball on the edge of the box and unleashing a powerful drive that may well have found the bottom corner but for a brave sliding block from Ed Hottor. 

The latter stages of the first half became more of a war of attrition with both sides battling hard but struggling to create any real opportunities but just when it looked like Ives were going to go in at the interval a goal in arrears they were gifted an equaliser in the most unlikely fashion. An excellent move down the left involving an interchange of passes between Baker, Edwards and Herd ended with the latter hanging up a cross into the centre that looked like a comfortable catch for the usually reliable Snedker but inexplicably the keeper let the ball slip through his hands. As ever Shariff was lurking and despite the efforts of Lashley to keep it out he was just able to force the loose ball over the line.

Ives made an early change in the second half bringing off the strangely out of sort Dylan Williams and replacing him with Kieran Higgs but it was the hosts who carved out the first opportunity of the second period. Substitute Andy Mandjoba got past Herd on the right forcing the Ives full back to take him down just outside the box. Tee’s initial free kick was a poor one, but the ball was fed back to him and his second clip to the near post was met by Mandjoba who failed to hit the target with his header.

After that Ives enjoyed a good spell during which they created a number of chances to win the game but failed to take any of them. In 67th minute a long Callum Milne free kick was knocked down in the box to Shariff who fed in Jordan Williams but Snedker was equal to his effort diving to his right to push the shot away.

Baker was pulled down by Lashley wide on the right in 71st minute. Herd delivered an in-swinging free kick that came off a defender and fell to Higgs but his close range effort was deflected off a defender and went inches wide of the post. Probably Ives best opportunity to get in front came in 79th minute as Higgs wriggled his way through on the left, as Snedker came to meet him he tried to square the ball across the six yard line to the fast arriving Enoch Andoh but the ball was slightly behind him and the Ives substitute could only manage to deflect it wide of the gaping goal.

With time ticking down both sides were still going in search of a winner and it was the host’s turn to go close in 81st minute as Cooper robbed Milne to set up an initial shooting opportunity for Mandjoba whose effort was blocked by the covering Herd but the ball rebounded to Tee who coolly curled it over the melee of players in front of him and over the outstretched fingers of Goff and was unlucky to see it rebound off the crossbar. Mandjoba then showed a lot less composure as he lashed the loose ball well wide.

Snedker came to his side’s rescue again two minutes later as he denied Baker after the winger had been cleverly fed in down the left by Higgs following Herd’s low free kick into the box. That save proved even more influential with three minutes left on clock Hottor lost possession in the centre of the park allowing Mandjoba the chance to run at the heart of Ives back line he drew in defenders before laying the ball off to Tee who sent a low ball across the box to pick out Miguel Ngwa unmarked at the back post and the winger does the rest lashing the ball home to set the Hayden Road crowd rocking.

There were still opportunities for Ives to get something from the game as only moments later Andoh got clear onto a Shariff flick only to be denied by another brilliant save from Snedker who leapt high to his left to get just enough on the effort to deflect the ball onto the post. Luck stayed with the big keeper as the rebound just evaded the fast arriving Williams. It was Ives centre half turned centre forward who had the final opportunity to grab the visitors a point deep in stoppage time, another Herd long throw was flicked on to him in the centre of goal but the ball bounced off his shins allowing Snedker to drop on it to claim the hosts first maximum return since Guy Fawkes Night.

The poor Christmas return of no points from their two Bank Holiday games leaves Ives sitting only three places and five points above the drop zone and definitely in amongst those team scrapping to avoid finishing in the bottom four. But to put things into perspective that is a position the Diamonds would gladly swap as although the win has lifted them off the bottom they are still eight points from safety and probably need at least play-off form for the rest of the season to give themselves a chance of a miraculous escape.  

Final Score:  AFC Rushden & Diamonds  2   St Ives Town  1 

Goals: 

DIAMONDS: Cooper 10, Ngwa 87

ST IVES: Shariff 42

Team Line Ups:

DIAMONDS: Snedker (capt), Agemoh-Davies, Lashley, Dawkins, Hughes (Mandjoba 61), Massingham, Ngwa, White, Cooper, Tee, Abimbola, Unused subs: Black, Corden, Grey, Connor

ST IVES: Goff, Casey, Herd, Cowling, J. Williams, Milne, Shariff, Hottor (Johnson 83), Edwards (Andoh 74), D. Williams (capt) (Higgs 53), Baker, Unused subs: none  

Cards: Yellow:  DIAMONDS: Lashley (71), Ngwa (86)       ST IVES: J. Williams (70)       

IVES SUPPORTERS MAN OF THE MATCH:  Paddy Casey

Attendance:  436

Report by Nigel Howlett. Match highlights by Ollie Jones.

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AFC Rushden & Diamonds v St Ives Town

AFC Rushden & Diamonds v St Ives Town  

Pitching In Southern League Premier Division Central 01-01-2022

Ives good run of form ran into the buffers as they were blown away in the first half by a home side who adapted much more quickly than their visitors to a very heavy Hayden Road pitch. Going down to ten men just after the hour as Callum Milne had to walk for pushing over Ben Diamond just as the hosts striker was about to head home a dropping ball from a couple of yards did not help but in truth the game was all but over by then with the hosts already sitting on a three goal cushion.

There were a couple of tactical changes in Ives starting line up with Nabil Shariff returning in place of Ed Hottor up front and Callum Westwood recovered from Covid to make his first Ives start at full back in place of Kyle Davison-Gordon. But the major enforced change that saw the visitors field their third different goalkeeper in three games was an injury in training to James Goff that meant a late replacement had to be sourced and Lewis Patching came in on dual registration from Hemel Hempstead. The hosts on the other hand had called off their scheduled Boxing Day visit to Peterborough Sports for Covid so had not played since mid-December.

Patching had to show that his was alert and agile as early as the third minute as he plunged low to his left to turn away a speculative 25 yarder from Nathan Tshikuna. A couple more early chances fell to the hosts in the eight minute as initially Fernando Bell-Toxtle burst through the centre before teeing up Ty Deacon who spun and fired inches wide from the edge of the box. Only seconds later Deacon and AJ George combined to find another gap through the middle of Ives back line, but this time Brett Solkhon did just enough to recover and prevent Deacon getting his shot away.

Ives first dangerous sortie into Diamonds territory came in tenth minute when Michael Richens managed to battle his way to the bye line on the right hand side before firing in a low cross that was just behind Ethan Johnston, the striker did well to take the ball in but failed to hit the target with his effort.

The hosts went in front in 16th minute as the dangerous Tshikuna took in a pass to feet fully thirty five yards from goal, easily turned Callum Milne before striding forward and planting a shot low past the left hand of the diving Patching. Less than sixty seconds later the Diamonds doubled their lead in the simplest fashion. A long ball out of defence by Liam Dolman was misjudged in the air by the usually reliable Solkhon leaving Deacon clear to slot past the exposed Patching from just inside the box.

Going two down to goals that would both be considered poor goals to concede rocked Ives for a little but with Richens and Nathan Hicks battling hard in the quagmire in the middle of the park they did manage to create a few half chances to find a route back into the game. In 23rd minute Richens delivered a delightful clip into the box that picked out Dylan Williams in a little bit of space. The Ives wide man took the shot on first time as the ball dropped over his shoulder but pulled his effort a couple of feet wide. Three minutes later Williams was again involved as he found Shariff inside the box the centre forward got his shot away through the crowd but keeper Dean Snedker was equal to it plunging low to his left to push the ball away.

While Ives generally continued with their usual patient style the hosts tried to avoid the heavy centre of the park by going long when possible. They carved out another chance in 28th minute as Tshikuna played in George through the left channel the striker’s effort was well saved by Patching low to his left. 

Tshikuna continued to cause Ives defence problems and he was involved again in 37th minute when the hosts almost increased their lead. This time he played the ball into the feet of Deacon on the edge of the box his lay off gave George the chance to get a shot away from the edge of the box that curled inches wide of the post. But the Diamonds did not have to wait much longer before they were three up as less than a minute later a flowing move down the left ended with George delivering a low cross into the box that the unmarked Jesse Akubuine emphatically slammed home at the back post.

Three down and seemingly out of the game Ives needed to start the second half with an early goal to have any hope of an unlikely recovery and to their credit they went at their opponents from the off. Richens fired an early 25 yard free kick well over the top. Hicks and Williams combined well to work their way into the box in the 55th minute the move ending with the latter firing over from a good position. Only moments later a heavy touch prevented Tyrone Baker getting in one on one with Snedker.

Ives best chance to get back into the game came in an amazing ten second spell on the hour as they went close three times as the ball from a Ben Toseland corner bounced around the Diamonds box. Keeper Snedker did well initially to tip the ball off the head of Shariff but it fell to Johnston at the far post, his close range effort was brilliantly blocked by Snedker who did even better to keep out the follow up effort from Shariff. Finally the ball dropped to Richens who hammered in an effort from six yards that hits Diamond on the line and is scrambled clear. Ives shouts for handball against the host’s number eight are waved away by referee Matthew Jackson.

One could say that the game turned on that moment but in truth the hosts were already well in control and only one minute later they should have further increased their advantage as Tshikuna put George clear he rounded Patching on the outside but failed to find the empty net from a narrow angle hitting the post with his effort.

The already tough task for Ives became a whole lot harder in 63rd minute as Patching’s initial block to a George effort sees the ball loop up in the air to where Diamond is waiting to head it home from a couple of yards out. In his effort to intervene Milne only succeeds in bundling over the midfielder leaving referee Jackson with little choice but to award the penalty and send the Ives defender off for an early bath. Tshikuna stepped up to take the spot kick only to be denied as Patching dived to his right to push the ball away.

Even down to ten men Ives continued to go in search of at least a consolation goal and Shariff was did manage to get the ball in the net with twenty minutes to go only to be denied by an offside flag. Snedker was also in no mood to give away his clean sheet bonus and he twice kept out well struck Richens efforts in 74th and 76th minutes. 

The hosts added icing to their cake ten minutes from time as Richens was caught in the mud and robbed by Tshikuna 25 yards from his own goal. The Diamonds striker burst forward into the box leaving struggling Ives defenders in his wake. Patching saw a slightly heavy touch and seized his chance to bravely dive in and try and claim the ball. He appeared to get quite a lot of it, but referee Jackson is right on the spot and sees it differently awarding the hosts a second penalty. Tshikuna is again given the responsibility and is a little fortunate to find the net as Patching almost second guesses him and although diving right still manages to get a hand to his clip down the middle but cannot quite keep it out.

There was still time for Richens to sum up Ives afternoon as he did brilliantly to rob a dallying Sam Warburton 25 yards out, burst forward into the box and try to unleash a screamer as Snedker came to meet him. Only to be completely undone but a huge bobble off the sticky mud and end up completely missing the ball.

The final noteworthy event of the game was another brilliant save from the acrobatic Patching who did fantastically to hurl himself full length to tip a dipping 25 yard effort from substitute Will Jones onto the crossbar and then recover quickly enough to smother the loose ball.

With a vital game against relegation rivals Nuneaton coming up on Tuesday evening on a surface that will be no better than this quagmire one has to hope that Ives have learnt their lesson on how to play on such a surface and can make any necessary adjustments to their approach ahead of the fixture.

Final Score : AFC Rushden & Diamonds  4 St Ives Town  0       

Goals : 

RUSHDEN: Tshikuna 16 & 81 (pen), Deacon 17, Akubuine 38

ST IVES: 

Teams

RUSHDEN: Snedker, Casey, Warburton, Bell-Toxtle (capt), Dolman, Hughes, Tshikuna, Diamond, Deacon (Jones 82), George (Garwood 85), Akubuine (Slinn 77), Unused subs : Nixon

ST IVES: Patching, Milne, Westwood, Richens, Solkhon (capt), Toseland, Baker (Dwumfuo 82), Hicks (Hottor 75), Shariff, Johnston, Williams (Davison-Gordon 68), Unused subs : Rhaman, Manangu

Ives Supporters man of the match : Michael Richens 

Attendance : 539

Report by Nigel Howlett

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AFC Rushden & Diamonds v St Ives Town

AFC Rushden & Diamonds v St Ives Town 

BetVictor League Southern Premier Central – 26-08-19

Ives start to the season continues to frustrate and confound all who watch them as for the fourth game in a row they outplayed their opposition, worked very hard to create chances, failed to take them and then give away a soft late goal to end up with no return. Not surprisingly though these results see them sitting in the early season relegation zone with one point and one goal from five games.

Taking into account the exertions in their previous games only forty eight hours earlier and the weather conditions both sides made changes from Saturday’s fixtures. Diamonds made five changes and Ives three with Ty Ward returning at left back and Charlie De’ath moving across to centre back Charlie Johnson drops to the bench where he is joined by Tom Wood and Ollie Snaith who are replaced by Dan Clifton and George Bailey respectively.

Both sides seemed to be taking account of the weather as the early stages are played out at a steady pace with most of the activity in the centre of the park. The first real opportunity did not arrive until fifteen minutes in and it proved to be Ives best chance of the day. Bailey got around Liam Dolman on the left and pulled the ball back to Jack Snelus on the edge of the box. His attempt to lay the ball inside was cut out but Clifton closed down and blocked Ben Acquaye’s attempted clearance the ricochet put Snelus clear in on goal with only keeper Ben Heath to beat. Snelus went for power and hammered in an effort from by the penalty spot that brought a brilliant reaction save out of Heath as he parried the ball away.

Having failed to take that opportunity Ives found themselves with another chance to load the Diamonds box three minutes later only this time it almost cost them a goal. Ben Seymour-Shove was brought down by Jack Ashton wide on the right. All of the big boys came up from the back but the free kick failed to beat the first man and Nathan Gosnal-Tyler fed the ball out from the back to put Acquaye away down the left. The speedy winger outstripped the Ives cover and sped into the box firing past the exposed Martin Conway to the back post where Julian McDonald tapped it home but the host’s striker had gone just to soon and the assistant’s flag was up to strike off the “goal”.

Having survived that scare Ives soon resumed their forward momentum and in 24th minute Jarvis Wilson cut out an attempted ball down the left by Ashton and threaded the ball inside to Snelus who scampered on to the edge of the box before putting Seymour-Shove clear through the right channel. His shooting opportunity was a little rushed as he ran wide and he failed to test Heath with the ball rolled across the face of goal to safety.

As the half ticked on Ives continued to enjoy good possession and carve out half chances without taking them but the also still looked vulnerable to a smart counter attack when their forward moves broke down. Events in 35th minute showed the game I microcosm. An excellent ball out of defence by Clifton put Seymour-Shove away down the left and with Bailey busting a gut to get through the centre Seymour-Shove just had to find him with his pull back. But once again the ball into the centre was off target as it rolled behind Bailey allowing a struggling Dolman to clear the ball at the expense of a corner. Again the flag kick failed to beat the first man and Ward was perhaps fortunate to not pick up a yellow card as he pulled back McDonald as the striker tried to break away down the centre. The resulting free kick was delivered long to the back post where Ryan Dove knocked it down into the mix and it took a couple of attempts before the cool head of Danny Kelly eventually managed to get the ball clear.

Kelly was in the right place again five minutes later as another deep free kick from the right by Acquaye was somehow won beyond the far post by Ashton and his header back into the centre is cleared from almost under his own crossbar by the well positioned Kelly.

With a drinks break taken midway through the half there were an added four minutes at the end of the half and that was enough time for each side created a half chance. In the first added minute a long throw by Sam Brown creates panic in Ives box as Ben Farrell flicked it on and Alex Collard knocked it back into the box. Conway dropped the ball under heavy pressure and was much relieved as Dolman’s close range effort was blocked away by Kelly.

The final opportunity of the first period only ninety seconds later saw Parker seize an opportunity to run at the heart of Diamonds back line before teeing up Snelus who’s snap shot from 20 yards flew over the top into the catch netting behind the goal.

Ives started the second period in determined mood and quickly got well on top. In 49th minute the eager Snelus harried and robbed Gosnal-Tyler by his own corner flag then cut into the box before slipping a ball along the six yard line that was just out of the reach of the outstretched leg of Wilson arriving at pace at the back post.

The visitor’s desperate quest for a goal needed a little luck and that might almost have happened three minutes later as slow build up play from Ives ended with Bailey delivering a ball into the box from the left that did not fall for a comrade but Snelus charged down Dolman’s attempted clearance and the rebound flew straight at goal but only into the waiting arms of Heath.

For the second game in a row 53rd minute looked like it would prove pivotal. On Saturday it had seen the dismissal of a Stourbridge player and today it was Diamonds midfielder Ashton who saw red as he picked up his second yellow card in twelve minutes either side of the break. This one was for bringing down Seymour-Shove from behind as the Ives winger was darting for goal just outside the box. Ward fired the resulting free kick well over the top.

This was a busy period for referee Ryan Williams as Parker also picked up a needless card a couple of minutes later for pulling back Acquaye wide on the right a moment that would prove more telling later in the game.

The inevitable reshuffles followed the dismissal of Ashton as Diamonds sacrificed McDonald to bring on Zac Reynolds to reinforce the centre of the park. With one less striker to worry about Ives manager Ricky Marheineke replaced the tiring Bailey with Andrew Osei-Bonsu and pushed Ben Jackson further forward on the right.

Jackson was enjoying a lot of space in his wide position and Osei-Bonsu should have done much better as he got on the end of a perfectly delivered cross by the full back in 76th minute. The Ives striker met the ball with his right foot eight yards out and looked like he was going to sweep it home but his contact was poor and the ball rolled agonisingly wide of the post.

The same player made much better contact two minutes later as Wilson charged down an attempted clearance and the ball fell to Osei-Bonsu on the edge of the box he stepped outside onto his right foot and slammed in a thunderbolt that cannoned into the body of keeper Heath and rebounded to safety.

Having gone close on so many occasions without finding the net Ives have been susceptible to the sucker punch this season and they were almost caught out ten minutes from time. Farrell and Dove combined well down the right the latter’s low cross to the near post fell to the feet of Acquaye who slammed in a shot from ten yards that whacked the inside of the post and rebounded straight into the grateful hands of Conway.

Ives continued to search for the winner without really creating much more as the nearest they come in the remaining ten minutes is another Jackson cross from the right that is sliced over his own crossbar by Collard. When lady luck is with you that may have gone in, but she has certainly deserted Ives at the moment as the ultimate sucker punch deep in added time proved. The ten man hosts had settled for a point deep in added time and Farrell was trying to shield the ball in the corner when Wilson needlessly fouled hm. The same player got up to deliver the ball into the mix where Collard lost his marker to direct a header on target that Conway probably had covered until the ball deflected off the head of Kelly and went past him. 

To add insult to injury there was still time for Parker to pick up his second yellow card of the game for a challenge in centre of the park that referee Williams deemed dangerous. The resulting red card means the influential skipper will miss the Ives opening FA Cup tie of the season a week on Saturday.

Overall conclusion Ives must find a way to change their luck and quickly before they find themselves rooted in the bottom three. Searching out four leaf clovers, buying lucky heather or hoping for black cats to cross their paths may help failing that finding the golden chalice of a twenty goal a season man, or maybe simply a session or two of finishing practice for the present squad may bring reward!.  

Final Score : AFC Rushden & Diamonds  1  St Ives Town   0     

Goals : none

St Ives team : Conway, Jackson (Woodward 82), Ward, Jarvis Wilson, Kelly, De’ath, Clifton (Wood 90), Parker (capt), Bailey (Osei-Bonsu 72), Snelus, Seymour-Shove

Unused subs : Johnson, Snaith

Man of match : Danny Kelly

Attendance  :  525

Report by Nigel Howlett. Video by Dave Hook. Photos by Louise Thompson.

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AFC Rushden & Diamonds vs St Ives Town

AFC Rushden & Diamonds 2 St Ives Town 1

Buildbase FA Trophy 1st Qualifying Round – 27-10-18

Ives run of poor results continued as the slithered out of the FA Trophy at the first hurdle on the rain sodden turf of the lush Hayden Road Ground against the in-form Diamonds who extended their unbeaten run to five games whilst the luckless Ives stretched their losing run to six.

With the form book reading as it did this looked like a home banker on paper but as it was the visitors matched their hosts for long periods of this game and only fell due to some poor finishing and conceding two very sloppy goals either side of the break. But the old football metaphor that it is goals that win matches rang out loud and clear again.

The rain started just as the game kicked off and lead to a series of quick boot changes for a variety of players early in the game as slips and slides became the early order of the day with the previously firm pitch quickly turning very greasy on top.

These two teams had played out a fairly uneventful goalless draw at the same venue less than a month previous but both sides started with more positive intent each creating a shooting opportunity in the first few minutes. The hosts were straight to the fore directly from the kick off as a ball channelled down the left was fed infield to Tom Lorraine who forced Ives keeper Sam Wilson into a save, all be it a comfortable one, with his well struck shot from 25 yards after only fifteen seconds.

Ives early opportunity arrived after nine minutes as skipper Robbie Parker delivered a teasing free kick into the danger zone Sam Cartwright arrived at the back post with purpose but was prevented from getting a clean contact by a defender. The ball dropped into the box and it took a desperate interception by Jack Westbrook to prevent Owen Wallis forcing it home. The loose ball ricocheted into the air towards Munashe Sundire but would not come down enough to allow him to get over his effort from the edge of the box and the attempt sailed harmlessly over the top.

Diamonds skipper Liam Dolman is a massive presence in the centre of the back line in a number of ways. When he lumbers forward he also provides a big danger at the other end of the pitch. He did just that three minutes later as a quick throw saw the ball fed into him just outside the left hand corner of the Ives box. He unleashed a crashing drive that flashed inches wide of Wilson’s left hand post and could easily have taken out an unwary spectator sheltering from the rain by the goal.

The hosts had ex Ives favourite Declan Rogers in their line up and we are all aware of his abilities from free kicks around the box. The atmosphere amongst the Ives faithful got a little tense as Charlie De’ath bundled over Lorraine 25 yards out in 19th minute. The position looked perfect for a Rogers left foot curled and sure enough he was the man, but fortunately although he got his effort up and down over the visitor’s four man wall the ball went a couple of feet wide of Wilson’s goal.

The game was still fairly even with both defences on top and neither side able to find their runners with a telling pass in the final third. Ives probably looked most vulnerable when they pressed forward and they were almost caught out when a move broke down deep in opposition territory on the half hour. Full back Zac Reynolds managed to feed a ball down the right to pick out the willing run of Lorraine his low cross to the near post was turned just wide by Ben Diamond thanks to the all important challenge of Cartwright.

Another speedy break by the hosts only two minutes later would have almost certainly brought reward but for a telling intervention by Mark Coulson. Rogers broke from his own half and fed the ball square to Ben Farrell and with Ives short on numbers at the back he had options and looked to have picked the right one as he tried to slide the ball inside Coulson to pick out the well timed run of Lorraine. The big centre forward would have been clear but for the perfect sliding block of Ives full back.

Coulson was also in action at the other end in 37th minute as he combined well with Dylan Wilson to set up a crossing opportunity for Parker his clip to the near post picked out Sundire on the edge of the six yard box. But the silky midfielder snatched at his opportunity and only succeeded in flicking the ball over the top under pressure from Diamonds defenders.

With half time approaching it looked like the two teams were going to go in deadlocked. But Ives saw an opportunity to grab the advantage just as the game ticked into the added one minute. Ben Seymour-Shove got away down the right and found a bit of space on the bye line. With players arriving in the middle a telling cross would have created the best opportunity of the half. Sadly it was a poor cross straight into the arms of home keeper Ben Heath and that was to be Ives undoing as quick distribution from Heath saw the ball fed down the right where Jack Bowen got away. His low cross was much more telling than Seymour-Shove’s as he picked out Lorraine at the near post who finished with aplomb from close range to put the Diamonds in front.

Ives had the kick off second half and like their hosts in the first carved out a chance almost instantly. Wilson slid a ball through the left channel to pick out the run of Seymour-Shove who outpaced Reynolds into the box. Heath came to meet him forcing him wide and an extra touch to get past the keeper made the angle very narrow the Ives winger eventually firing his effort into the side netting.

Having failed to get level the visitors suddenly found themselves two behind and well on the way to out of the contest. A ball down the right in 52nd minute looked like it might carry through to keeper Wilson. Covering defender De’ath made the decision to try and shield the ball back to his keeper who did not come leaving the Ives centre back off balance a final slip on the wet turf compounded his misery and left Diamond clear. The big striker drew the exposed Wilson towards him before unselfishly sliding the ball square to Bowen for him to side foot home.

Ives reacted well to the set back and Seymour-Shove failed to test Heath with another good opportunity only three minutes later as the hard working pair of Wilson and George Bailey combined well on the right to set up Joe Hood for a cross that picked out Seymour-Shove unmarked eight yards out. But the Ives winger powered his free header into the ground the ball bouncing up comfortably into the hands of Heath.

The next fifteen minutes were fairly even with Ives still enjoying a good share of possession but unable to break down the stubborn Diamonds back line. In fact the only chance of note in that period came from another quick break from the hosts in 69th minute that ended with the ball fed out to full back Sam Brown roaming forward on the left. He struck a rising first time effort from the left corner of the box that forced Wilson into a diving save to his left De’ath clearing up the loose ball.

From that point Ives began to get on top forcing the hosts back. Bailey was again the protagonist as he hounded down Dolman inside his own box robbing the big centre back and feeding the ball to Seymour-Shove his first time effort through the crowd was blocked away for a corner by the legs of keeper Heath. Sundire rose highest to the corner but powered his header well over the top.

A double change by manager Ricky Marheineke in 73rd minute saw the tiring De’ath and the perhaps unlucky Dylan Wilson replaced by Ben Baker and Danny Kelly. Baker was an instant threat and one of his pacey runs down the left in 81st minute saw him get outside Reynolds to the bye line. His driven cross was palmed into the crowd by Heath but the ball fell to a Diamonds boot.

Marheineke played his final card only seconds later replacing Bailey, who had run his heart out for the cause, with Ollie Snaith. Two of the substitutes combined to good purpose almost immediately as Snaith fed a perfectly weighted ball inside Reynolds to put Kelly clear. Heath was again very quick off his line to close down the Ives striker and blocked Kelly’s shot with his body at point blank range.

Ives were now well on top as the hosts defence began to rock a flowing Ives move in 85th minute saw Kelly pick out the overlapping Coulson down the left. His cross into the centre picked out Baker arriving at pace. The speedy winger’s side footed effort flashed inches wide of the post but the linesman’s raised flag would have denied him had it gone in.

The visitors did finally find a route back into the game with three minutes to go. Hood curled in an in-swinging free kick from the left. Snaith got in front of his man to get in an effort that struck the body of keeper Heath, but the Ives sub was not to be denied pouncing on the loose ball to fire home from a narrow angle.

In spite of a number of very shaky moments in the remaining time the hosts just hung on the claim the prize money and a place in the hat for the next round. A frustrated Ives can now concentrate their focus on getting back on track in the League as soon as possible.

Result :  AFC Rushden & Diamonds  2  St Ives Town  1

Goals :  Snaith 87

Team : Sam Wilson, Hood, Coulson, De’ath (Baker 73), Cartwright, Sundire, Wallis, Parker (capt), Dylan Wilson (Kelly 73), Bailey (Snaith 81), Seymour-Shove 

Unused subs : Moyes, Patrick

Man of the match : George Bailey

Attendance : 386

 Report by Nigel Howlett. Photos by Louise Thompson.

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AFC Rushden & Diamonds vs St Ives Town

AFC Rushden & Diamonds 0 St Ives Town 0

Evo-Stik League Southern Premier Central Division  – 29-09-18

On a day when the players minds could easily have wandered to next weekends FA Cup trip to York City the management team ensured that they all maintained their focus throughout this tough trip to Rushden to come away with yet another excellent point on the road. 

As ever the Ives had done their homework on the opposition and the need to keep the game tight and also win the aerial battles at both ends of the park meant recalls to the starting line up for Owen Wallis, Danny Kelly and Ollie Snaith with Ben Baker, George Bailey and Ben Seymour-Shove all dropping to the bench.

Two of the returnees combined well to set up the game’s first opportunity in eleventh minute as the pair interchanged passes on the right side of the host’s box the move ending with Kelly sliding a pass through to put Wallis into a shooting position. The midfielder’s first thought was to look for a team mate in a better position but with all other options closed down he went for goal from a narrow angle but shot straight at the well positioned home keeper Ben Heath who held on well.

Kelly himself had an effort on goal five minutes later as he rose highest to win a Joe Hood corner at the back post but his looping header just drifted over the crossbar and landed on the top of the net.

Joel Gyasi was looking the Diamonds most dangerous player and he picked up a loose ball in midfield in 24th minute. His run took him across the face of the Ives back line but he was tracked all of the way by Ollie Snaith who eventually brought him down 30 yards from goal in a central position. Jack Bowen went for goal with the kick but the four man Ives wall did their job blocking the ball away.

A long Hood free kick on the half hour brought the Ives a half chance. The mobile Ives front line moved the Diamonds defence around creating a hole where Hood put the ball, Sam Cartwright lost his marker and arrived in that opening but could not quite get enough of a touch to direct the ball on target.

Ives found themselves under pressure from their own corner two minutes from the break as Gyasi picked up the ball on the half way line and sped off down the right. Jarvis Wilson did fantastically well to get back and rob the speedy winger with a perfectly timed covering tackle just as he was about to shoot.

There was still time before the half time whistle for the hosts to carve out one more opportunity as Dan Clifton and Bowen combined well on the left to set up Ben Diamond for a run at the Ives defence. His effort from 25 yards was blocked but the ball ran loose to full back Nathan Hicks roaming forward on the right hand corner of the box. Hicks went for power and struck his first time effort well but the ball flashed across the face of Sam Wilson’s goal and thudded the boards wide of his right hand post.

After an even first half when neither keeper had a real save to make we were expecting more of the same second half. But the hosts came out of the traps well and set about building up pressure on the Ives back line. Centre forward Tom Lorraine went close only ninety seconds after the restart as he latched onto a loose ball just outside the left hand corner of the Ives box and fired a fizzing effort just wide of keeper Wilson’s left hand post.

A quick Diamonds break almost caught Ives out four minutes later as Gyasi clipped a ball over Cartwright in the right channel. The Ives centre back was slightly off balance allowing Bowen to outmuscle him and get his shot away but a well positioned Sam Wilson was equal to the effort blocking the shot away for a corner.

The hosts kept the pressure on and had an appeal for a penalty turned down in 51st minute as Gyasi and Bowen combined well on the to set up Hicks to deliver a deep cross from the right that Diamond hit on the half volley from the left corner of the box. The shot struck Hood at close range and bounced away with the host’s strikers and their supporters behind the goal shouting that the effort had struck the young defender’s arm. Referee Ollie Mackey was on the spot and instantly waved away the appeals.

The hosts continued to bombard the Ives box with a series of long throws by Sam Brown and corners from both sides, but the visitor’s back line maintained their composure and held firm against the onslaught. The closest they came during this spell was in 53rd minute when Lorraine got above Mark Coulson at the back post to get on the end of a Brown cross, but he directed his downward header wide of the post.

The lively Dylan Wilson was giving big centre back Liam Dolman a few problems with his movement at the other end of the park and the young striker was unlucky not to get away in 67th minute as Dolman slipped on the edge of the box and only just managed to get enough of a touch on the ball to allow a team mate to cover around behind him and take the ball away from Wilson just as the striker shaped to shoot.

The ball was cleared straight down the other end where Lorraine bravely went in with Sam Wilson and just managed to flick the ball over the Ives keeper, but Jarvis Wilson got around behind his keeper to divert the effort away from goal. The Diamonds fans behind the goal were once again baying that Wilson had used his arm to stop the ball, but this time their players did not back them up nor did referee Mackey allowing Wilson to hack the ball clear.

Ives did get the ball in the net in 74th minute as Robbie Parker rolled it home but the assistant’s flag was already raised against substitute Ben Baker earlier in the move. Kelly skilfully took the ball down on the edge of the box, spun and went for goal, but the big striker miss hit his effort and the ball bobbled through the Diamonds crowded box and arrived at the feet of Baker inside the six yard box at which point the flag went up meaning Parker’s follow up effort counted for nothing.

The closest either side came to scoring was nine minutes from time when Diamonds skipper Dolman lumbered forward to add weight to the hosts attack. The big defender climbed highest at the back post to get on the end of Bowen’s cross and powered a header goal wards. Keeper Wilson reacted well and tipped the effort onto the crossbar defenders then coming to his aid to hack the loose ball away.

Having defended balls into their box so well throughout Ives were almost caught out by a long punt from keeper Heath four minutes from time. The ball was allowed to bounce deep in Ives territory and Jarvis Wilson’s attempted clearance was seized on by Diamond just outside the box. His low snap shot got through the crowd but thudded the boards a couple of feet wide of Wilson’s right hand post.

Keeper Wilson was called into action once more in 88th minute as he bravely came and punched a Bowen cross off the head of Diamonds substitute Ben Farrell. The Diamonds recent signing from St Ives Declan Rogers was introduced with twelve minutes to go but any extra knowledge he may have had of the visitor’s tactics was not evident as his main input was to deliver three corners deep into Ives box which were all dealt with just as effectively as anything else throw in there by the hosts.

The three added minutes were played out without either side creating a chance and both sides will probably be satisfied with a share of the spoils as Ives remain in eight place and Diamonds maintain their unbeaten home record in the League. Now attention can switch to next weeks FA Cup trip to York!.

Result :  AFC Rushden & Diamonds  0  St Ives Town  0 

Goals : none

Team : Sam Wilson, Hood, Coulson, McGowan, Cartwright, Jarvis Wilson, Wallis (Baker 66), Parker (capt), Dylan Wilson (Seymour-Shove 76), Kelly, Snaith (Patrick 86) 

Unused subs : Bailey

Man of the match : Tom McGowan

Attendance : 586

Report by Nigel Howlett

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