Welling United 0 Rushden & Diamonds 3

Match Report courtesy of Unofficial Rushden & Diamonds Website (1997-2001)

1st May 2000 – Park View San Siro (Attendance: 1317)

Rushden Team: Turley, Hamsher, Burgess, Mills, Rodwell, Warburton, Butterworth, Wormull, Town, Sigere, Underwood.
Substitutes: Peters, Naylor, Bradshaw, Brady, Collins

Diamonds Scorers: Burgess – 66 minutes, Sigere 86 & 89 minutes

Webmasters MoM: Jim Rodwell

Diamonds met stern opposition for the first hour with relegation threatened Welling United fighting for every ball. However, the visitors should have been in front by the interval with David Town breaking clear to see his shot rebound off the goalkeeper to Jean-Michel Sigere whose snap shot went into the crowd. A low Paul Underwood free kick found Town, but the striker failed to get any direction on his header which sailed high and wide. The only threat from Welling came when Gary Mills attempted a headed back pass which fell short to Martin, but Billy Turley brought off a fine save to retrieve the situation.

The home side came out for the second half with all guns blazing, but Diamonds stood fast with Jim Rodwell and Ray Warburton outstanding. Darren Collins replaced David Town on 56 minutes and the visitors slowly regained the upper hand and deservedly took the lead 10 minutes later when Collins burst clear, his cross was mishit by Sigere to Andrew Burgess who slotted home. Welling by now were offering little threat and it came as no surprise when Sigere increased the lead on 86 minutes from Hamsher’s cross and the same player finished things off 3 minutes later when he slotted the ball home through Wilkersons legs. The victory confirmed Diamonds as second in the Conference, the highest ever position.