Rushden & Diamonds Summary 2009/10

 

 

2009 / 2010    Blue Square Premier

 

Sat 8.8     Home  Salisbury City                  Lost 0-2      –                                      1272

                      Roberts, Osano, Robinson, Stuart, Downer, O’Connor,

                                Wolleaston, Tomlin, Reid, McNamara, Akurang.

                                Subs used: Farrell for Akurang(61), Smith for Reid(70), Porter for McNamara(73)

                                Salisbury goals: 47, 90.

 

Tue 11.8    Away   York City                       Drew 0-0     –                                      2267

                      Roberts, Osano, Robinson, Porter, Stuart, O’Connor,

                                Wolleaston, Farrell, Tomlin, Cousins, Corcoran.

                                Subs used: Reid for Tomlin(59), Akurang for O’Connor(63)

 

Sat 15.8    Away   Eastbourne Borough            Drew 1-1     Akurang(58)                          941

                      Roberts, Osano, Porter, Stuart, Downer, O’Connor,

                                Wolleaston, Farrell, Reid, Cousins, Corcoran.

                                Subs used: Akurang for Farrell(53), Tomlin for Reid(56)

                                Eastbourne goal: 29.

 

Tue 18.8    Home  Hayes & Yeading               Won 2-1     Tomlin(63), Farrell(85)               1059

                      Roberts, Osano, Porter, Stuart, Downer, O’Connor,

                                Wolleaston, Tomlin, Corcoran, Pattison, Akurang.

                                Subs used: McNamara for Corcoran(HT), Byrne for Wolleaston(HT), Farrell for O’Connor(61)

                                Hayes goal: 89.

 

Sat 22.8    Home  Forest Green Rovers           Won 4-2     Farrell(13), Byrne(27), Akurang(65)

                                                                     O’Connor(84)                          1056

                      Roberts, Osano, Porter, Stuart, Downer, Farrell,

                                Tomlin, Corcoran, Pattison, Byrne, Akurang.

                                Subs used: O’Connor for Farrell(62), McNamara for Porter(68), Reid for Tomlin(84)

                                Forest Green goals: 5, 82.

 

Sat 29.8    Away   Stevenage Borough             Lost 1-2      Akurang(57)                          1704

                      Roberts, Osano, Porter, Stuart, Downer, O’Connor,

                                Tomlin, Corcoran, Pattison, Byrne, Akurang.

                                Subs used: Robinson for O’Connor(67), Farrell for Pattison(78), Smith for Akurang(82)

                                Stevenage goals: 6p, 74.

 

Mon 31.8   Home  Cambridge United              Drew 1-1     Stuart(58)                            2344

                      Roberts, Osano, Robinson, Porter, Stuart, Downer,

                                O’Connor, Tomlin, Pattison, Byrne, Akurang.

                                Subs used: Farrell for O’Connor(70), Smith for Akurang(77)

                                Cambridge goal: 63.

 

Sat 5.9     Away   Barrow AFC                    Won 6-1     Farrell(9/57), Akurang(14), Pattison(38),

                                                                     Cousins(89), Reid(90+2)              1089

                      Roberts, Osano, Robinson, Porter, Stuart, Farrell,

                                Tomlin, Pattison, Byrne, Terry, Akurang.

                                Subs used: Reid for Tomlin(70), O’Connor for Farrell(74), Cousins for Pattison(86)

                                Barrow goal: 52.

 

Tue 8.9     Away   Ebbsfleet United              Drew 0-0     –                                      863

                      Roberts, Osano, Robinson, Porter, Stuart, Farrell,

                                Tomlin, Pattison, Byrne, Terry, Akurang.

                                Subs used: O’Connor for Tomlin(66), Smith for Akurang(71), Reid for Pattison(83)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sat 12.9    Home  Grays Athletic                 Won 5-4     Pattison(10), Tomlin(54/78p),

                                                                     Reid(62), Akurang(90+1)             1192

                      Roberts, Osano, Robinson, Porter, Stuart, O’Connor,

                                Farrell, Tomlin, Pattison, Byrne, Terry.

                                Subs used: Corcoran for Porter(HT), Reid for Pattison(60), Akurang for Farrell(63)

                                Grays goals: 45+2, 51, 57, 67.

 

Sat 19.9    Home  Mansfield Town                Won 1-0     Akurang(90+2)                        1822

                      Abbey, Osano, Robinson, Stuart, Downer, O’Connor,

                                Farrell, Tomlin, Pattison, Byrne, Terry.

                                Subs used: Akurang for Farrell(59), Reid for Pattison(68), Porter for Terry(76)

 

Tue 22.9    Away   Gateshead                      Drew 0-0     –                                      409

                      Abbey, Osano, Robinson, Porter, Stuart, Downer,

                                Farrell, Tomlin, Pattison, Byrne, Akurang.

                                Subs used: Smith for Akurang(82)

 

Sat 26.9    Away   Crawley Town                  Lost 1-2      Farrell(10)                            925

                      Abbey, Osano, Robinson, Stuart, Downer, Farrell,

                                Reid, Pattison, Byrne, Terry, Akurang.

                                Subs used: Smith for Akurang(63), Cousins for Reid(71), Porter for Terry(84)

                                Crawley goals: 27, 58.

 

Tue 29.9    Home  AFC Wimbledon                Lost 0-1      –                                      1624

                      Abbey, Osano, Robinson, Stuart, Downer, Farrell,

                                Reid, Pattison, Byrne, Terry, Akurang.

                                Subs used: Cousins for Reid(67), Smith for Pattison(72)

                                Wimbledon goal: 2.

 

Sat 3.10    Home  Altrincham                     Lost 0-1      –                                      1168

                      Abbey, Osano, Robinson, Stuart, Downer, O’Connor,

                                Farrell, Pattison, Byrne, Terry, Akurang.

                                Subs used: Reid for Akurang(61), Porter for Terry(69), Smith for Pattison(84)

                                Altrincham goal: 82.

 

Sat 10.10      Away    Chester City                             Void 1-0          Tomlin(4)                                            1089

                      Abbey, Osano, Robinson, Porter, Stuart, O’Connor,

                                Farrell, Tomlin, Cousins, Corcoran, Terry.

                                Subs used: Akurang for O’Connor(75), Pattison for Cousins(79), Reid for Tomlin(90+2)

                                (Match declared void after Chester expelled from League)

 

Sat 17.10   Home  Tamworth                      Won 3-2     Tomlin(4/17), O’Connor(77)          1313

                      Abbey, Osano, Robinson, Porter, Stuart, Farrell,

                                Tomlin, Cousins, Corcoran, Terry, Akurang.

                                Subs used: O’Connor for Akurang(53), Byrne for Cousins(59), Pattison for Terry(80)

                                Tamworth goals: 8, 90+4.

 

Sat 31.10   Away   Luton Town                    Won 2-0     Tomlin(84), Byrne(90+4)             7101

                      Abbey, Osano, Robinson, Porter, Stuart, O’Connor,

                                Farrell, Tomlin, Cousins, Corcoran, Terry.

                                Subs used: Byrne for Cousins(57), Akurang for O’Connor(78), Pattison for Tomlin(86)

 

Sat 14.11   Home  Histon                          Won 2-1     Akurang(37/65)                      1126

                      Abbey, Osano, Robinson, Porter, Stuart, Farrell,

                                Tomlin, Corcoran, Byrne, Terry, Louis.

                                Subs used: Akurang for Louis(23), Pattison for Porter(76), Mills for Farrell(90+2)

                                Histon goal: 85.

 

Sat 21.11   Away   Salisbury City                  Won 3-1     Terry(79), O’Connor(83/90+1)       840

                      Abbey, Osano, Robinson, Porter, Stuart, Farrell,

                                Corcoran, Pattison, Byrne, Terry, Akurang.

                                Subs used: Cousins for Pattison(63), Downer for Corcoran(70), O’Connor for Farrell(81)

                                Salisbury goal: 90.

 

 

 

Tue 24.11  Away   Cambridge United              Drew 2-2     Tomlin(12), Louis(36)                2612

                      Abbey, Osano, Robinson, Porter, Stuart, O’Connor,

                                Tomlin, Corcoran, Byrne, Terry, Louis.

                                Subs used: Akurang for Louis(67), Downer for Corcoran(78), Farrell for O’Connor(86)

                                Cambridge goals: 60, 64.

 

Tue 1.12    Home  York City                       Lost 0-1      –                                      1117

                      Roberts, Osano, Robinson, Porter, Stuart, Downer,

                                O’Connor, Tomlin, Byrne, Terry, Louis.

                                Subs used: Ainsley for Downer(HT), Farrell for Louis(73), Akurang for Terry(81)

                                York goal: 72.

 

Tue 5.12    Away   Forest Green Rovers           Lost 0-1      –                                      755

                      Roberts, Osano, Robinson, Porter, Stuart, O’Connor,

                                Tomlin, Corcoran, Byrne, Terry, Louis.

                                Subs used: Farrell for Louis(68), Pattison for Porter(74), Akurang for O’Connor(78)

                                Forest Green goal: 64.

 

Mon 28.12  Home  Kidderminster Harriers        Won 2-1     Tomlin(15/57)                        1425

                      Roberts, Osano, Robinson, Porter, Stuart, Downer,

                                O’Connor, Farrell, Tomlin, Byrne, Terry.

                                Subs used: Wolleaston for Porter(55), Louis for Tomlin(84)

                                Kidderminster goal: 68.

 

Sat 23.1    Home  Barrow AFC                    Won 4-1     Louis(14/46), Farrell(57), Stuart(63) 1134

                      Roberts, Osano, Robinson, Stuart, Downer, Wolleaston,

                                Farrell, Tomlin, Byrne, Terry, Louis.

                                Subs used: Porter for Wolleaston(68), Smith for Tomlin(74), Pattison for Louis(81)

                                Barrow goal: 82.

 

Tue 26.1    Home  Wrexham                      Drew 0-0     =                                      960

                      Roberts, Osano, Robinson, Stuart, Downer, Wolleaston,

                                Farrell, Tomlin, Byrne, Terry, Louis.

                                Subs used: O’Connor for Louis(HT), Porter for Wolleaston(66), Smith for Farrell(77)

 

Sat 30.1    Away   Hayes & Yeading United       Won 6-1     Cadmare-og(3), Tomlin(18), O’Connor(45+2),

                                                                     Stuart(51), Farrell(71/75)           377

                      Roberts, Osano, Robinson, Porter, Stuart, Downer,

                                O’Connor, Tomlin, Byrne, Terry, Louis.

                                Subs used: Corcoran for Osano(43), Farrell for Tomlin(61), Wolleaston for O’Connor(70)

                                Hayes goal: 80.

 

Sat 6.2     Away   Grays Athletic                 Won 3-0     O’Connor(39), Corcoran(70), Louis(79) 476

                      Roberts, Robinson, Porter, Stuart, Downer, O’Connor,

                                Tomlin, Corcoran, Byrne, Terry, Louis.

                                Subs used: Farrell for O’Connor(74), Wolleaston for Terry(78), Pattison for Tomlin(84)

 

Tue 9.2     Home  Eastbourne Borough            Won 2-0     Louis(45+1), Corcoran(51)           1038

                      Roberts, Robinson, Porter, Stuart, Downer, O’Connor,

                                Farrell, Corcoran, Byrne, Terry, Louis.

                                Subs used: Wolleaston for Byrne(63), Smith for O’Connor(76), McNamara for Porter(84)

 

Sat 13.2    Home  Stevenage Borough             Won 1-0     Wolleaston(87)                       1923

                      Roberts, Robinson, Porter, Stuart, Downer, O’Connor,

                                Farrell, Corcoran, Byrne, Terry, Louis.

                                Subs used: Wolleaston for Porter(66), Akurang for  Louis(77), Smith for Farrell(85)

 

Tue 16.2    Away   Oxford United                 Lost 0-1      =                                      7625

                      Roberts, Robinson, Stuart, Downer, O’Connor, Wolleaston,

                                Tomlin, Corcoran, Byrne, Terry, Louis.

                                Subs used: Osano for Downer(37), Farrell for Louis(HT), Porter for Terry(82)

                                Oxford goal: 86p.

 

 

 

Sat 27.2    Home  Kettering Town                Drew 0-0     =                                      2998

                      Roberts, Osano, Robinson, Porter, Stuart, Downer,

                                O’Connor, Tomlin, Byrne, Terry, Louis.

                                Subs used: Akurang for  Louis(63), Farrell for O’Connor(90)

 

Wed 3.3    Away   Histon                          Won 1-0     Tomlin(10p)                           583

                      Roberts, Osano, Robinson, Porter, Downer, O’Connor,

                                Tomlin, McNamara, Corcoran, Byrne, Louis.

                                Subs used: Pattison for O’Connor(HT), Akurang for  Louis(81), Farrell for Tomlin(85)

 

Sat 6.3     Away   Tamworth                      Won 1-0     Porter(83)                            1016

                      Roberts, Osano, Robinson, Porter, Downer, O’Connor,

                                Tomlin, Corcoran, Pattison, Byrne, Louis.

                                Subs used: Smith for Tomlin(71), Farrell for Louis(78), Akurang for  Pattison(88)

 

Sat 13.3    Home  Gateshead                      Won 8-0     Stuart(6), Porter(45), Louis(50/78),

                                                                     Byrne(54), Tomlin(65), Farrell(81),

                                                                     Downer(85)                           1414

                      Roberts, Robinson, Porter, Stuart, Downer, O’Connor,

                                Tomlin, Corcoran, Byrne, Terry, Louis.

                                Subs used: Farrell for O’Connor(61), Osano for  Corcoran(66), Smith for Tomlin(76)

 

Sat 20.3    Away   Altrincham                     Drew 2-2     Porter(40), Terry(73)                1015

                      Roberts, Osano, Robinson, Porter, Stuart, Farrell,

                                Tomlin, Corcoran, Byrne, Terry, Louis.

                                Subs used: O’Connor for Farrell(72), Pattison for Tomlin(84)

                                Altrincham goals: 34, 90+4.

 

Wed 24.3   Home  Oxford United                 Drew 1-1     Farrell(59)                            2970

                      Roberts, Osano, Robinson, Porter, Stuart, Farrell,

                                Tomlin, Corcoran, Byrne, Terry, Louis.

                                Subs used: O’Connor for Louis(59), Akurang for Farrell(90)

                                Oxford goal: 66.

 

Sat 27.3    Away   AFC Wimbledon                Won 1-0     Farrell(55)                            3640

                      Roberts, Osano, Robinson, Porter, Stuart, O’Connor,

                                Farrell, Tomlin, McNamara, Corcoran, Byrne.

                                Subs used: Huke for McNamara(70), Louis for Tomlin(75), Akurang for O’Connor(85)

 

Tue 30.3    Away   Kettering Town                Won 3-0     Farrell(3), Byrne(12), Tomlin(63)    2031

                      Roberts, Osano, Robinson, Porter, Stuart, O’Connor,

                                Farrell, Tomlin, McNamara, Corcoran, Byrne.

                                Subs used: Huke for Corcoran(18), Louis for Tomlin(67), Wolleaston for McNamara(83)

 

Fri 2.4      Home  Crawley Town                  Drew 1-1     Tomlin(45+1)                         1703

                      Roberts, Osano, Robinson, Porter, Stuart, Farrell,

                                Tomlin, McNamara, Byrne, Huke, Louis.

                                Subs used: Terry for McNamara(HT), Wolleaston for Byrne(66), O’Connor for Tomlin(75)

                                Crawley goal: 47.

 

Mon 5.4     Away   Kidderminster Harriers        Drew 1-1     Porter(28)                            1463

                      Roberts, Osano, Robinson, Porter, Stuart, O’Connor,

                                Wolleaston, McNamara, Smith, Huke, Akurang.

                                Subs used: Terry for McNamara(38), Louis for Smith(66), Downer for Huke(79)

                                Kidderminster goal: 54.

 

Sat 10.4    Home  Ebbsfleet United              Won 2-0     O’Connor(27/70)                      1440

                      Roberts, Osano, Robinson, Porter, Stuart, Downer,

                                O’Connor, Farrell, Tomlin, Byrne, Terry.

                                Subs used: Akurang for Tomlin(44), Smith for Farrell(HT), Wolleaston for Byrne(79)

 

 

 

 

 

Tue 13.4    Away   Mansfield Town                Lost 2-3      O’Connor(16), Smith(72)             2031

                      Roberts, Osano, Robinson, Stuart, O’Connor, Pattison,

                                Byrne, Huke, Terry, Akurang, Louis.

                                Subs used: Smith for Akurang(69), Porter for Pattison(74)

                                Mansfield goals: 49, 78, 90+1p.

 

Sat 17.4    Away   Wrexham                      Won 1-0     O’Connor(17)                          5672

                      Day, Osano, Robinson, Downer, O’Connor, McNamara,

                                Beecroft, Pattison, Smith, Huke, Akurang.

                                Subs used: McDonald for Downer(55), Byrne for O’Connor(66), Porter for Robinson(79)

 

Sat 24.4    Home  Luton Town                    Drew 1-1     Byrne(20)                             4820

                      Roberts, Osano, Porter, Stuart, Tomlin, Pattison,

                                Smith, Byrne, Huke, Terry, Louis.

                                Subs used: Farrell for Tomlin(55), Wolleaston for Byrne(67), Akurang for Pattison(78)

                                Luton goal: 9.

 

Total           ( played  44 won 22, drew 13, lost 9  –  goals  77 /  39 = 79pts – 4th )

 

 

 

Conference Play-Offs

 

Thu 29.4    Home  Oxford United (POSF/1st)    Drew 1-1     Byrne(51)                             4537

                      Roberts, Osano, Robinson, Porter, Stuart, Downer,

                                O’Connor, Farrell , Tomlin, Byrne, Terry.

                                Subs used: Louis for Farrell(60), Akurang for Tomlin(75), Huke for Downer(90)

                                Oxford goal: 29.

 

Mon 3.5     Away   Oxford United (POSF/2nd)   Lost 0-2      =                                      11963

                      Roberts, Osano, Porter, Stuart, Downer, O’Connor,

                                Tomlin, Byrne, Huke, Terry, Louis.

                                Subs used: Farrell for O’Connor(62), Pattison for Downer(62), Akurang for Louis(73)

                                Oxford goals: 53, 57.

 

 

 

 

 

 

FA Cup

Sat 24.10   Away   Workington (4q)               Won 3-0     O’Connor(20), Corcoran(81/90+3p)  724

                      Abbey, Osano, Robinson, Porter, Downer, O’Connor,

                                Farrell, Tomlin, Cousins, Corcoran, Terry.

                                Subs used: Pattison for Cousins(73), Mills for O’Connor(76), Byrne for Porter(83)

 

Sat 7.11    Home  Hinckley United (1)            Won 3-1     O’Connor(31/66), Byrne(82)          1540

                      Abbey, Osano, Robinson, Porter, Stuart, O’Connor,

                                Farrell, Tomlin, Corcoran, Byrne, Terry.

                                Subs used: Mills for Farrell(76), Pattison for Porter(83), Reid for O’Connor(85)

                                Hinckley goal: 64.

 

Sat 28.11   Away   Brighton & Hove Albion (2)   Lost 2-3      Tomlin(14), O’Connor(40)            3638

                      Abbey, Osano, Robinson, Porter, Stuart, Downer,

                                O’Connor, Farrell, Tomlin, Cousins, Byrne.

                                Subs used: Pattison for Cousins(9), Akurang for Pattison(45+2), McNamara for O’Connor(79)

                                Brighton goals: 3, 22p, 86.

 

 

 

 

 

 

FA Trophy

 

Sat 12.12   Home  Billericay Town (1)            Won 1-0     O’Connor(74)                          696

                      Roberts, Osano, Robinson, Porter, Stuart, O’Connor,

                                Farrell, Tomlin, Corcoran, Byrne, Terry.

                                Subs used: Pattison for Byrne(59), Akurang for Farrell(70), Louis for O’Connor(90+4)

 

Sat 19.1    Away   Workington (2)                Lost 1-2      Farrell(49)                            252

                      Roberts, Osano, Robinson, Porter, Stuart, Downer,

                                Farrell, Tomlin, Byrne, Terry. Louis.

                                Subs used: Wolleaston for Porter(60)

                                Workington goals: 24, 46.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Northants Hillier Senior Cup

 

Tue 13.10  Away   Daventry Utd (1)              Won 5-2     Reid(33), Easlea(45+3), McNamara(55/58),

                                                                     Smith(73)                             75

                      Roberts, McGuiness, Evans, McNamara, Aisien, Downer,

                                Reid, Wolleaston, Smith, Shields, Easlea.

                                Subs used: Hayes for Wolleaston(57), Cox for McNamara(60), Shariff for Easlea(76)

                                Daventry goals: 20p, 83.

 

Tue 17.11  Home  Kettering Town (QF)           Lost 1-2aet  McNamara(37)                        611

                      (played at Rockingham Rd)

                      Day, Ainsley, McDonald, McNamara, Artemi, Downer,

                                Pattison, Hayes, Shariff, Mills, Reid.

                                Subs used: Hallford for Reid(100), Cox for Hayes(110), Shields for Mills(110)

                                Kettering goals: 12, 109.

 

 

 

 

Oxford United 2 Rushden & Diamonds 0

Rushden & Diamonds narrowly missed out on a trip to Wembley as they lost 2-0 to Oxford United in the second leg of the Blue Square Premier playoff Semi-Final at the Kassam Stadium. Goals from Matt Green and James Constable in four second half minutes meant that the Diamonds lost by two goals away from home for the first time this season. There can be few complaints about the result, with the U’s having had the better of the game as well as dominating the early part of the first leg.

Although Diamonds fans will be disappointed to miss out on a trip to Wembley, and possible promotion back into league football, they will be left with many memories of the most successful season for the club for the past five years. The fact they were narrowly defeated at the final hurdle by one of the many big-budget clubs in the division is also a reflection of the tremendous efforts made by all at the club to reach this stage.

Justin Edinburgh made two changes from the team that faced Oxford in the first leg four days ago, with Kurt Robinson being replaced by Shane Huke, and Jefferson Louis up-front in place of Craig Farrell. Farrell and Robinson were joined on the bench by Cliff Akurang, Matt Pattison and Joe Day. The changes meant that Shane Huke played at right back, with Curtis Osano switching to left back. Justin explained after the game that he thought that Kurt had been targeted in the first game, and that Jefferson Louis had looked a bigger threat in the latter part of that game.

Oxford manager Chris Wilder again chose to play a 4-3-3 formation with Constable, Midson and Matt Green remaining up front.

Playing their new Blue and White strip in a packed Kassam Stadium the Diamonds started rather nervously, with early errors from Stuart and Huke, but once the game settled down the first half was limited to one good chance for either team. A Mark Byrne corner from the right reached an unmarked Paul Terry but his header looped over the bar. At the other end good work from Batt on the right found Dannie Bulman in space with a good shooting chance which Roberts save well, with the rebound narrowly evading James Constable, although the U’s striker was offside.

The half ended with both sides failing to take advantage of half chances, with a Louis flick appearing to have put Aaron O’Connor clear, but his rushed shot was dragged wide, as was a similar effort from Lee Tomlin.

A major concern to the Diamonds was the fitness of Simon Downer, who was holding his side after every challenge, and coupled with Huke and Osano still adjusting to their new roles the Diamonds would have been happy to go into the break on level terms.

Half-Time : Oxford United 0 Rushden & Diamonds 0

The Diamonds started the second half looking slightly more threatening, with Jefferson Louis forcing home keeper Clarke to make his first save of the game, but the home side almost took the lead when Constable won a free kick in a challenge from Simon Downer, and the kick from Adam Chapman appeared to hit one of his own players before ricocheting away to safety.

The home midfield had managed to keep their opposite numbers fairly quiet in terms of attacking opportunities, but hadn’t created any clearcut chances for their strike-force until the 53rd minute when Simon Clist picked up the ball on the left-hand side just inside his own half. He exchanged a quick 1-2 with Jack Midson who was near the touch-line as he entered the Diamonds half, and then hit a precision pass into the path of Matt Green who broke past the Diamonds defence and slotted past Roberts.

The Diamonds fans were still wondering when the last goal was scored against them via a defence splitting pass down the middle when the second goal came in a similar fashion. Dale Roberts kicked a long ball upfield which was headed straight back towards the Diamonds goal by Mark Creighton, flicked on by Midson into the path of James Constable who broke through a static defence, holding off the challenge of Huke and slotting past Roberts. Captain Jamie Stuart had been on the sidelines as Roberts took the kick forwards, attending to his bootlaces, so was out of position when the ball came back quickly into the Diamonds half.

The Diamonds brought on Matt Pattison and Craig Farrell to replace the ailing Downer and the struggling O’Connor, and for a while they began to look an offensive threat for the first time in the game, without really troubling home keeper Clarke. They switched to a 3-4-3 formation, and allowed Craig Farrell to take the dead ball kicks after Byrne and Tomlin had disappointed all afternoon – with corner mixup being perhaps the last straw.

Referee Brown had an solid game, apart from a few missed opportunities to play advantage. He had little option but to add to the growing number of yellow cards that Lee Tomlin has received for dissent, when he chose to slot the ball into the net seconds after play had been halted for an offside decision – with Tomlin perhaps the only person in the ground to claim they had not heard the whistle seconds earlier. Similarly Jack Midson received a yellow after being given several final warnings.

The game ended after four minutes of added time, with the Oxford fans celebrating on the pitch, with only one or two overstepping the mark in not respecting the travelling fans.

Full-Time : Oxford United 2 Rushden & Diamonds 0

Justin Edinburgh accepted that the better team won the tie, and agreed that apart from the second half at NenePark they had had the better of the two legs. He was disappointed in the overall performance, but was quick to praise the players for their contribution over the entire season, as well as the excellent support from the Diamonds fans, both in this game and during the preceding season.

Teams:

Oxford United: Ryan Clarke, Damian Batt, Mark Creighton, Jake Wright, Anthony Tonkin, Dannie Bulman, Simon Clist, Adam Chapman, Matt Green (Alfie Potter 67), James Constable (Capt), Jack Midson (Sam Deering 88)

Subs: Billy Turley (GK), Kevin Sandwith, Rhys Day

Rushden & Diamonds: Dale Roberts, Shane Huke, Curtis Osano, Max Porter, Jamie Stuart (Capt), Simon Downer (Matt Pattison 62), Mark Byrne, Paul Terry, Aaron O’Connor (Craig Farrell 62), Jefferson Louis (Cliff Akurang 73), Lee Tomlin

Subs: Joe Day (GK), Kurt Robinson

Goals: Green (53), Constable (57)

Yellow Cards: Tomlin, Midson

Referee: Mr M Brown

Attendance: 11963 (Away 1109)

Images courtesy of Mal Swinden ©2012 Malcolm Swinden Photography