Wycombe Wanderers 0 Rushden & Diamonds 2

By Steven Dove

Brian Talbot taught his former Arsenal team-mate Tony Adams a things or two about life as a football manager as Diamonds recorded their double of the season over Wycombe Wanderers.

The experience of Talbot outwitted the rare breed of Adams thanks to two stunning strikes from Rodney Jack.

The St Vincent international kept a cool head for goals on four and 35 minutes to seal a relatively easy win.

Diamonds’ task of victory at the recently named Causeway Stadium were made hard by the fact that Paul Underwood and Onandi Lowe both missed out through injury.

However Jack settled nerves early on when the nippy midfielder started and finished off a wonderful free flowing move which involved Andy Burgess, the recalled Ritchie Hanlon and Paul Kitson.

Diamonds started like a train down a step hill and Trevor Benjamin, who replaced Lowe in attack, could have doubled the visitor’s advantage with a long range effort which was blocked by the shaky Wycombe defence.

Wycombe had few chances and Diamonds goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown was surely struggling to keep warm in the cold conditions.

A bizarre overhead kick from Barry Hunter on 17 minutes saw Steve Williams make a vital save whilst a minute later a rare effort from Charlie Mapes caused few problems for Ashdown.

John Dempster and Trevor Benjamin both had further efforts before Diamonds deservedly extended their advantage.

Benjamin displayed great bravery and determination to chase down a lost ball and beat Williams, who had came 30-yards out his goal to clear the apparent danger.

As the ball broke loose, Jack guided a long range effort into an empty net much to the delight of the 500 plus travelling army which had made the journey from Northamptonshire.

Paul Hall and Jack both had chances before the interval whilst Keith Ryan should have done better deep into first-half injury time hitting a 25-yard effort over the crossbar.

AT HALF TIME: WYCOMBE 0 DIAMONDS 2

As expected, Ashdown was the busier of the two goalkeepers in the second half and Luke Moore’s header flew straight into the Diamonds goalkeepers arm on 49 minutes.

To inspire some attacking threat, Adams threw on Dannie Bulman into the equation and the midfielder nearly made and influence with a long range shot which tested Ashdown.

Diamonds’ attacks were rare but David Bell, who had replaced Burgess midway through the second-half, was threatening to do further damage to Wycombe’s wayward defence.

Jermaine McSporran and Andy Bell both had chances at the death but this was always going to Diamonds’ day as they recorded their first away victory since mid-October’s success over Blackpool.

AT FULL TIME: WYCOMBE 0 DIAMONDS 2  

Wycombe: Williams, Simpemba, Ryan, Taylor, Mapes, McSporran, Senda, Moore, Reilly, Faulconbridge, Bloomfield.

Bookings: Bloomfield

Diamonds: Ashdown, Bignot, Hunter, Hanlon, Jack, Benjamin, Burgess (Bell), Dempster, Sambrook, Kitson, Hall (Talbot).

Subs not used: Story, Okounghae, Akinfenwa.

Bookings: Sambrook.

Referee: Mr P Danson

Attendance:

Diamonds’ MOTM: Rodney Jack