Rushden & Diamonds 2 Plymouth Argyle 3

Match Report By Andrew

Brian Talbot made two changes to his matchday squad which drew at Macclesfield on Saturday, Duane Darby replacing Warren Patmore in the starting line up and Jean-Michel Sigere given a place on the substitutes bench. Despite taking a two goal lead, the Pilgrims came back to clinch a 3-2 win.

The first half was an entertaining, end-to-end affair with the visitors clearly intent on pushing forward. They had the first shot on target when Billy Turley had to be alert to save a strong shot from Wills.

Diamonds responded instantly and Paul Underwood’s mazy run was only stopped by a last-ditch tackle. Argyle continued to press and Evens, Wotton and Phillips all had efforts on goal.

But it was the home side who came closest to breaking the deadlock when Stuart Gray saw a shot from the edge of the area rebound off Larrieu’s post, but the first goal came on the half-hour. Mark Peters powered a header onto the bar from a Jon Brady corner, and Darby was on hand to bundle in the rebound.
 
The shock to their system only served to jolt Argyle further and a cross-cum-shot by Adams was well tipped over by Turley. Diamonds increased their advantage on 42 minutes when sloppy defending allowed Darby to turn and fire into Larrieu’s left-hand corner.
 
The response from the visitors was to reduce the arrears in stoppage time, Evans heading home a Wotton free-kick.

The second period was just six minutes old when Plymouth levelled. After a period of pressure, Coughlan headed home Wills’ corner which had evaded the home defence.

The goalscorer then returned to his usual defensive duties to clear a Darby header off the line, and Underwood then saw his free-kick well saved by Larrieu.

The French ‘keeper then produced a stunning reflex stop to deny Peters and seconds later the defender’s header crashed back off the woodwork. Plymouth thought they had taken the lead on the hour mark but the referee ruled that Turley had been fouled when dealing with a hanging cross from Beswetherick.

Gray retired from the action on 64 minutes, replaced by Gary Setchell. With 20 minutes remaining, Justin Jackson got away from his marker but Larrieu produced another fine save to keep the scores level, and it was to prove crucial seconds later when McGlinchey thundered home a drive from inside the area.

Diamonds needed a goal, and Brian Talbot decided to replace Jackson with Sigere in an effort to find it. Everything bar the proverbial kitchen sink was thrown at the Plymouth defence in the closing stages but the equaliser just wouldn’t come.

Macclesfield Town 0 Rushden & Diamonds 0

Match Report by David
Brian Talbot kept the same team that beat First Division Burnley midweek as the Diamonds looked to continue their great start to the new season. However, the match finished in a goalless draw and Diamonds are yet to concede a goal in their Division 3 campaign.
After 10 minutes of play, a Diamonds move almost created the opening goal, but a poor first touch from Jon Brady in the centre of the penalty area meant that the Macclesfield defence could get back into position and the chance was lost.
A Tarkan Mustafa cross on 18 minutes found Justin Jackson at the back post, but his weak shot was collected easily by the Macclesfield ‘keeper.
After 22 minutes, Jon Brady had a chance to put the Diamonds one-nil up after good play down the left-hand side. Although Brady didn’t connect properly, the ball fell to Warren Patmore but he was adjudged offside.
Jon Brady’s corner a few minutes later, found the head of Jim Rodwell at the back post, but the ball flew just over the bar. Macclesfield attacked at the other end and Chris Priest’s well-struck shot was well saved by Turley. Moments later, a Jim Rodwell mistake gave Kyle Lightbourne a golden opportunity, but Billy Turley saved well with his left leg.
Both teams had chances on goal, but neither team made them count.
A superb strike by Richard Eyre was heading into the top corner, but Billy Turley got his hand to the ball and tipped it over the bar.
On 50 minutes, Duane Darby came on for Warren Patmore.
On 55 minutes, Macclesfield almost took the lead from a corner, their Captain got his head to the ball, but Tarkan Mustafa managed to block near the line and the ball went wide of the post.
At the other end, a Jon Brady volley was deflected towards goal, but the ‘keeper managed to get down to the ball. A minute later, Mark Peters headed just wide from a Jon Brady free-kick.
On 82 minutes, a Duane Darby header ended up in the back of the net after a Mustafa cross, but the linesman had raised his flag for offside.
Macclesfield’s Karl Munroe took a quick and found Lee Glover 6 yards out, but Billy Turley managed to parry the ball at point blank and the ball was cleared for a corner.
Both teams continued to find a breakthrough, but to no avail.

Burnley 2 – 3 Rushden & Diamonds

Match Report By David
Rushden & Diamonds’ conquered First Division Burnley at Turf Moor in their first ever game in the Worthington Cup. Goals from Mark Peters, Tarkan Mustafa (his first ever goal for the Club) and Duane Darby gave the Third Division Team a memorable victory which they thoroughly deserved.
Diamonds kicked off wearing the all-yellow strip in their first ever Worthington Cup tie. Billy Turley was called into the frame in the first couple of minutes when good work down the right hand side found Bradley Maylett free at the back post, but his header was saved at the second attempt.
After only 4 minutes, a Jon Brady corner was buried into the back of the net with a Mark Peters bullet header. Burnley almost equalised 3 minutes later, but the linesman’s flag and the fact that the shot went over the bar, meant that the score remained one-nil to the Diamonds.
After 10 minutes of play, the Diamonds almost extended their lead. Another Jon Brady corner, this time from the other side, found the head of Mark Peters again, but this time the ball flew just over the bar.
Six minutes later, a Stuart Gray shot from just outside the area was just tipped past the post by the Burnley ‘keeper. Once Burnley managed to clear the ball, they broke to the other end of the pitch.
A long ball from deep within their own half and over the Diamonds defence, gave Burnley a chance of breaking through, but Tarkan Mustafa managed to get back and put off the Burnley striker with timely, sliding tackle.
Stuart Gray had another chance to double the lead after good hold up play by Justin Jackson. Jackson with his back to goal laid the ball off to the approaching Gray, but his blistering shot went wide of the post.
Burnley’s Papadopoulos should have made the score level, but his free header went well-wide of Turley’s post. Diamonds continued to pressure for their second goal, Justin Jackson was brought down outside the box after brilliant passing between Butterworth, Underwood, Gray and Patmore. The resultant free-kick went inches over the bar from Jon Brady.
Burnley should have equalised with a superb shot at goal, but veteran Garry Butterworth was on the line to clear, however the ball found another Burnley player flying in, but his header went well over the bar.
Great defensive work from the Diamonds kept Burnley at bay. Billy Turley was called into a crucial save with only moments of the first half remaining. Alan Moore ran past the Diamonds defence and was one-on-one with Billy Turley, but Turley got low and stopped the ball. John Mullin beat Turley with a superb header, but the ball wasn’t on target and went wide of the post.
With the second half just a couple of minutes old, Tarkan Mustafa extended the lead with an absolute ripper of a goal. Great passing play between the Diamonds midfield set up the attack, Mustafa got on the end of the ball and took on three Burnley defenders, before firing home into the top corner from the edge of the box, leaving the ‘keeper with no chance.
On the hour mark Burnley halved the deficit through an Alan Moore header after Burnley started to get themselves back into the flow of the game. Even with all of the pressure, Burnley couldn’t capitalise on any of their chances. Duane Darby was brought into the action after 63 minutes, replacing Patmore up front.
After 66 minutes of play, a Stuart Gray free kick went over the bar. Another shot from Gray moments later gave Diamonds another corner, but they couldn’t capitalise. Burnley’s Ian Moore (a substitute brought on at half time), had a good strike from outside the penalty area, but Billy Turley saved well down on the ground.
On 78 minutes, the Diamonds broke against the run of play, Jon Brady found Jackson in acres of space and his run and pass found Darby unmarked at the far post and he smashed the ball home into the roof of the net.
Ian Moore almost scored Burnley’s second of the night, but was denied by the crossbar. Burnley did get another goal with only five minutes left on the clock. Mark McGregor found some space in the area and headed home a looping header that crept in under the crossbar.
Diamonds almost scored their fourth of the night with minutes remaining, but Duane Darby just couldn’t get his head on the end of the ball.

York City 0 Rushden & Diamonds 1

by Andrew
Diamonds’ historic first-ever game in the Football League started under bright skies at Bootham Crescent, and the day ended on an even brighter note after a first-half goal from Warren Patmore earned the first three points of the season.
Brian Talbot’s closely-guarded team selection was finally revealed just before kick-off with Billy Turley, Gary Mills, Daniel Talbot and Warren Patmore given the nod in the positions where the manager had options.
Patmore showed early encouraging touches, his height causing problems in the York defence, but the first shot in anger fell to Garry Butterworth whose shot from the edge of the area was always moving away from the right-hand post.
York’s first real effort on goal didn’t arrive until the 25th minute when Nick Richardson’s header flew well wide of Turley’s right-hand post.
The moment all Diamonds fans had been waiting for arrived on 27 minutes. A great ball down the right from Jon Brady enabled Justin Jackson to get behind the defence, and his cross was superbly back-heeled home by Patmore.
It was so nearly two on 36 minutes when Jackson, following good work in the box, laid the ball off to Talbot whose drive flew just wide.
On 40 minutes York came desperately close to levelling the scores, but a superb goalline block by Garry Butterworth denied debut man Michael Proctor.
Appropriately enough for a city which houses the National Railway Museum, York started the second half like a train, but Diamonds weathered the storm of a number of corners and responded with a couple of half-chances themselves. Efforts from Jackson and Brady both flew over the bar, but the home side were certainly in the ascendancy. The pressure kept coming and Turley had to be alert on more than one occasion to keep the lead intact.
Duane Darby was introduced into the attack on 70 minutes, replacing Patmore, and soon made himself known to the home side. He fired a shot straight at Fettis, and was then booked for a challenge on Hobson.
By the end it was a real back to the walls job for Diamonds, and they were grateful to Turley again for a fine save to deny Nogan as the game entered its final stages.

York City: Fettis, Edmonson, Potter, Basham, Hobson, Brass, Bullock, Nogan, Proctor, Richardson, Hocking. Subs: Duffield (for Richardson 56)

Diamonds: Turley, Mustafa, Underwood, Mills, Peters, Rodwell, Butterworth, Brady, Jackson, Patmore, Talbot. Subs: Setchell (for Talbot 60), Darby (for Patmore 70), Carey (for Mills 83).