Rushden & Diamonds 0 Peterborough United 1

Diamonds slumped to their fourth home defeat of the season in a disappointing performance against local rivals Peterborough United.

 

Callum Willock scored the all important goal on 22 minutes – his third goal in three games – to take the visitors out of the relegation zone.  

 

Diamonds kept the same side that drew with Blackpool in midweek. Daniel Talbot replaced John Dempster on the bench. Peterborough included former Rushden loanee Guy Branston in central defence.

 

Peterborough almost scored in the opening minute when Willock found himself in space on the left but hit his cross shot wide of the far post.

 

Eight minutes later Barry Hunter rose well to meet David Bell’s corner only to see his header fly over the bar.

 

Peterborough took the lead on 22 minutes. Clive Platt flicked on Andy Legg’s throw and Willock capitalised on indecision between Leo Roget and Jamie Ashdown to poke the ball home.

 

Diamonds never really recovered from that setback as the visitors never allowed Rushden any time to settle,

 

Mark Tyler produced a fine save when he tipped over Stuart Gray’s 31st minute freekick while a minute later Onandi Lowe was too high with a header from another Bell corner.

 

Five minutes from the interval, The Posh almost scored a second when Tom Williams shot came back off the post and Platt’s follow – up was blocked.

 

On the stroke of half time, Tyler pulled off another excellent save when he touched over Lowe’s 35 yard free kick.

 

At the start of the second half, Brian Talbot threw on Andy Burgess and Paul Kitson at the expense of Stuart Gray and Paul Hall as the Diamonds boss tried to turn things around.

 

But Diamonds never really got into their stride and failed to seriously test Tyler in the Peterborough goal.

 

Mark Arber shot into the side netting after 55 minutes while Williams shot over 5 minutes later after Roget was clearly fouled.

 

On 66 minutes, David Farrell found himself all alone on the left  and when he cut in he found Ashdown in great form as the Diamonds stopper produced a brilliant point blank save.

 

11 minutes later Platt flicked on Legg’s corner but substitute Andy Clarke missed the target from 3 yards.

 

Clarke again found himself in a great position on 78 minutes but his 20 yard shot whistled past the post.

 

 

The home side threw everything at the visitors in the dying minutes but Richie Hanlon’s late volley lacked pace and direction.

 

Rushden stay in 13th place while Peterborough’s win gave them back to back victories for the first time since April 02.

Diamonds: Ashdown, Bignot, Underwood, Mills, Hunter, Jack, Gray (Burgess 46), Bell (Hanlon 72), Hall (Kitson 46) Lowe, Roget.

Subs not used: Edwards, Talbot

Bookings: Underwood 6, Lowe 70, Kitson 82

Peterborough United: Tyler, Legg, Branston, Arber, Farrell, Platt (Logan 90), Newton, Woodhouse, Burton, Williams, Willock (Clarke 72)

Subs not used: Gill, Thomson, Jenkins

Bookings: Burton 45

Referee: Mr P Robinson

Diamonds MOM: Jamie Ashdown

Match report by Chris Barritt