Game 900 – 17 August 2008

Game 900

At the start of the 2008/09 season Rushden & Diamonds reached the milestone of their 900th game.

Saturday 17 August 2008

(Blue Square Premier) Conference

Rushden & Diamonds 1 Wrexham 1

Nene Park, Irthlingborough

Diamonds 17th season had started well with a Maunsell Cup win over Peterborough United, and two wins from their first two League games. Although Wrexham were relegated from the Football League the previous season, they had started with an impressive 5-0 victory over Stevenage Borough, although they had lost to York City the previous Wednesday. Interestingly, Stevenage and Oxford United were propping up the table after losing both of their opening games.

Two names in the Wrexham line-up that would be familiar to Nene Park were Simon Brown, who was to join Diamonds on a one month loan in November, and Jefferson Louis.

Despite two wins, manager Garry Hill left impressive striker Dean McDonald out of the side, with Rob Wolleaston coming into the side for his first start for Diamonds.

Lee Phillips had a first half goal disallowed for offside, but it was the visitors who looked more dangerous during the first half and Alan Marriott had to be on top form to maintain a clean sheet at the break.

Sam Smith replaced Wolleaston on 56 minutes and with four minutes, he had put Diamonds in front. Wrexham had failed to clear Lee Tomlin’s ball into the penalty area, the ball striking Andy Burgess. He quickly took the ball to the byline and crossed low for Smith to tap in from close range.

The visitor’s equaliser was a somewhat controversial goal after play was stopped for an injury to Chris Hope. With Michael Corcoran waiting to return onto the pitch following a head injury, the referee re-started play with a dropped ball, and Diamonds down to nine men. Straight from the dropped ball, Simon Brown found Shaun Whalley who netted despite appeals for offside. Both sides had chances to win the game in the final fifteen minutes, but a draw seemed a fair result overall.

Team: Alan Marriott, Curtis Osano, Gareth Jelleyman, Chris Hope, Curtis Woodhouse, Lee Phillips, Andy Burgess, Lee Tomlin, Rob Wolleaston (Sam Smith 56), Sagi Burton, Michael Corcoran (Jake Beecroft 88).

Goals: Sam Smith 60 (1-0), Shaun Whalley 75 (1-1).

Attendance: 1805.

Statistics

(# = 1 game won on penalty kicks)

(* = 1 game lost on penalty kicks)

Click on the links below for the previous articles

Part 1Part 2Part 3Part 4

Part 5Part 6Part 7Part 8

Game 800 – 18 November 2006

Game 800

In the countdown to Diamonds 1000th first team game, we take a look at previous landmarks in the club’s history. We continue our review with a brief match report from Diamonds’ 800th game.

Saturday 18 November 2006

(Nationwide) Conference

St.Albans City 3 Rushden & Diamonds 2

Clarence Park, St.Albans

Diamonds had suffered relegation at the end of the previous season and were trying to settle back into the Conference. Barry Hunter’s time as manager had ended, and he had been replaced by Paul Hart prior to the start of the season, but he had then been sacked after just 16 League games. Goalkeeping coach Tony Godden was now in charge as caretaker, and this was his seventh game in charge.

Both teams had suffered a poor start to the season, Diamonds in 20th position with 17points from 18 games, and St.Albans in 22nd with 16points from 19 games. Oxford United were top of the table, and appeared to be heading for a swift return to the Football League.

The game turned out to be memorable, but for the wrong reasons. It took just seven seconds for the home side to take the lead. As the ball was played forward from the kick-off, Paul Watson made a complete hash of his back pass to Scott Tynan, and Elliot Benyon nipped in to tap the ball home. Just two minutes later, Lee Clarke converted a Damian Batt cross as the defence remained motionless.

The poor start got worse on 12 minutes, as Benyon pounced after another defensive error and although Diamonds had their fair share of possession, they were unable to get the ball past Paul Bastock in the St.Albans goal.

Diamonds came out fighting in the second half, and Lee Tomlin converted a Marcus Kelly cross shortly after the restart. The goal seemed to give Diamonds hope, and they created chance after chance. Just after the hour, a goalmouth scramble saw Kelly get the final touch just in front of Michael Rankine.

Diamonds should have equalised in the closing moments when Tom Shaw rounded the keeper only to see his shot into the open goal strike the post and rebound to safety. The loss saw Diamonds slip into the relegation zone and within a month, Graham Westley was appointed as manager.

Team: Scott Tynan, Paul Watson (Daniel Chillingworth 90), Chris Hope, Wayne Hatswell, Dave Savage, Michael Rankine (Simeon Jackson 62), Marcus Kelly, Lee Tomlin, Tyrone Berry, Tom Shaw, Chris Plummer.

Goals: Elliot Benyon 1 (1-0), Lee Clarke 3 (2-0), Elliot Benyon 12 (3-0), Lee Tomlin 46 (3-1), Marcus Kelly 62 (3-2).

Attendance: 1236.

Statistics

(# = 1 game won on penalty kicks)

(* = 1 game lost on penalty kicks)

Game 700 – 26 December 2004

Game 700

During the 2004/05 season Rushden & Diamonds reached the milestone of their 700th game.

Sunday 26 December 2004

(Coca-Cola) League Two

Rushden & Diamonds 3 Oxford United 3

Nene Park, Irthlingborough

A great deal had happened since Game 600. Promotion from Division 3 to Division 2 was followed by Brian Talbot’s resignation as manager after the home defeat to Peterborough United on 6 March 2004 (game #661). Ernie Tippett had taken over after a caretaker spell from Barry Hunter, as Diamonds slipped back into the renamed Coca-Cola League Two. This game was Tippett’s 31st in charge, the previous matches comprising 6wins, 7draws and 17defeats.

Diamonds were languishing in 21st place with just Shrewsbury Town, Cambridge United and Kidderminster Harriers below them. Oxford were also struggling, just 4 points ahead in 18th position.

In the few days before Christmas, the club had announced the suspension of long serving keeper Billy Turley after his indiscretions, and he was never to play for Diamonds again. Lee Worgan deputised and was making his League debut. Former Diamonds in the starting line up for the visitors included Leo Roget and Barry Quinn and the game proved to be an entertaining affair, with plenty of goals.

Oxford scored first when Jamie Brooks made a surging run forward and crossed for Chris Hackett to fire home from 6 yards. Leading goalscorer Craig Dove levelled the game on 37 minutes after firing a low shot past keeper Bradie Clarke from 18 yards, but just before the break, Oxford went in front again when Lee Bradbury volleyed home after Diamonds had failed to clear a corner kick.

Within six minutes of the restart however, Diamonds were level again as David Bell’s shot from the edge of the area beat the Oxford keeper at the near post. Rob Wolleaston made a substitute appearance for the visitors on the hour, but within two minutes of his introduction, Jason Taylor (who had replaced the injured Gary Mulligan in the first half) put Diamonds in front, heading home Bell’s cross at the far post.

Some poor defending allowed United a share of the points as Craig Davies equalised some 13 minutes before the end.

Tippett’s days at the club were numbered, and he was in charge for just five more games before the appointment of fans favourite, Barry Hunter.

Team: Lee Worgan, Peter Hawkins, Graham Allen, Rob Gier, Alex Hay, Stuart Gray, David Bell, Andy Burgess, Andrew Sambrook (Sean Connelly 12), Craig Dove, Gary Mulligan (Jason Taylor 12).

Goals: Chris Hackett 14 (0-1), Craig Dove 37 (1-1), Lee Bradbury 42 (1-2), David Bell 51 (2-2), Jason Taylor 62 (3-2), Craig Davies 77 (3-3).

Attendance: 4140.

Statistics

(# = 1 game won on penalty kicks)

(* = 1 game lost on penalty kicks)

Game 600 – 28 December 2002

Game 600

Whilst on their way to winning the Division 3 title, Rushden & Diamonds passed the milestone of their 600th game.

Saturday 28 December 2002

(Nationwide) Football League Division Three

Rushden & Diamonds 0 Oxford United 2

Nene Park, Irthlingborough

After the disappointment of the Play-Off Final defeat in Cardiff the previous season, Diamonds had gone from strength to strength and were topping the Division Three table at Christmas on goal difference from Hartlepool United. Oxford were eight points adrift, back in 6th place.

Oxford had several players in their side who were later the play for Diamonds, including goalkeeper Andy Woodman, midfielder Dave Savage and striker, Jefferson Louis, who came on as a second half substitute.

The stats for the game speak for themselves – Diamonds 14 shots on target, no goals, Oxford 2 shots on target, 2 goals. The fact that the visitors kept a clean sheet was thanks to some fine keeping by Woodman as the U’s defence came under increasing pressure. Totally against the run of play, it was Dave Savage who scored the opening goal after 13 minutes, skipping past three defenders and firing past Billy Turley.

The goal gave Oxford the confidence to go forward, and they grabbed a second on the half hour when Dave Oldfield’s 25yard volley beat Turley.

Diamonds went on the attack in the second half but were unable to beat the Oxford defence. Woodman produced a fantastic point blank save to deny Onandi Lowe, but despite ending the game with some twenty attempts on goal and 16 corners, they were unable to put the ball in the back of the net.

Hartlepool’s 3-0 win at home to Cambridge United pushed Diamonds back into second place – a tussle which was to continue until the final game of the season which eventually saw both clubs promoted and the Division Three title head to Nene Park.

Team: Billy Turley, Paul Underwood, Barry Hunter, Mark Peters, Stuart Wardley, Duane Darby, Stuart Gray (Andy Burgess 74), Marcus Bignot, David Bell, Paul Hall, Onandi Lowe.

Goals: Dave Savage 13 (0-1), Dave Oldfield 30 (0-2).

Attendance: 4891.

Statistics

(# = 1 game won on penalty kicks)

(* = 1 game lost on penalty kicks)

Game 500 – 3 March 2001

Game 500

Whilst on their way to winning the Football Conference, Rushden & Diamonds reached the milestone of their 500th game.

Saturday 3 March 2001

(Nationwide) Conference

Rushden & Diamonds 2 Woking 0

Nene Park, Irthlingborough

Brian Talbot celebrated his 4th Anniversary as manager of Diamonds with this win over Woking. It was his 218th game in charge and his 115th win. Diamonds previous nine games had seen them gain 23 points and moved them to the top of the Conference table on goal difference from Yeovil Town. Woking were mid-table, but they were also undefeated since Christmas.

Diamonds dominated the game from the kick-off however, and a mixture of missed chances and some fine saves from Australian keeper Vince Matassa kept the game goalless at the half time break.

Within a minute of the restart, Diamonds went in front when Duane Darby’s shot from the edge of the area was deflected past the Woking keeper. Shaun Carey added a second on 65 minutes after Justin Jackson had crossed to the far post for Darby to knock the ball back in for the former Norwich midfielder to nod home his only goal for the club.

Woking’s Jamie Pitman was sent off with 15 minutes remaining, but the score remained at 2-0 despite Diamonds finishing with figures of 12 corners, and 25 shots on goal. There was a big cheer when Mark Sale came on as a late substitute having spent eighteen months out of the game battling against cancer.

The win extended Diamonds lead in the Conference table after Yeovil’s 1-1 draw at home to Stevenage Borough, although the Somerset side still had the advantage with two games in hand. The season was to finish on a high with Diamonds winning promotion, some six points ahead of Yeovil Town.

Team: Billy Turley, Tarkan Mustafa, Gary Setchell, Shaun Carey, Mark Peters, Ray Warburton, Garry Butterworth, Jon Brady, Justin Jackson (Mark Sale 88), Duane Darby, Andy Burgess.

Goals: Duane Darby 46 (1-0), Shaun Carey 65 (2-0).

Attendance: 3680.

Statistics

(* = 1 game lost on penalty kicks)

Game 400 – 20 April 1999

Game 400

During the 1998/99 season Rushden & Diamonds reached the milestone of their 400th game.

Saturday 20 April 1999

(Nationwide) Conference

Rushden & Diamonds 0 Kingstonian 0

Nene Park, Irthlingborough

A heart-breaking defeat at home to Cheltenham Town earlier in the month had all but ended Diamonds hopes of the Conference title. A draw at Woking, and another home defeat against Yeovil Town had left Diamonds now back in 4th place, while Kingstonian were in 9th position.

Darren Collins returned to the starting line-up after a three match suspension after his dismissal at Woking, but Mark Cooper was out with a one match ban. Kingstonian fielded two former Diamonds – defender Matt Crossley and striker David Leworthy. Also playing was full back Tarkan Mustafa, who was to join Diamonds after the following season.

Both sides played out a goal-less draw, although it was a game Diamonds should have won. Carl Heggs had a great chance on 13 minutes when he had just the keeper to beat, but a weak shot allowed Steve Farrelly to push the ball away. Moments later, Colin West scooped the ball over the bar from 4yards, but his collision with the Kingstonian keeper resulted in both players suffering injury. West was unable to continue, and Mequel de Souza replaced him, while Farrelly continued due to the lack of a substitute goalkeeper.

Despite the keeper struggling for some 70 minutes, Diamonds were only able to test him on one occasion when a Darren Collins shot from Paul Underwood’s cross was blocked.

Having had the highest gate against Cheltenham some two weeks earlier, an attendance of 1818 was the first time the gate had fallen below 2000. A win would have lifted Diamonds up a place, but Cheltenham’s draw against Forest Green Rovers meant they only required two points from their remaining four games to secure the Conference title.

Team: Andy Collett, Carl Heggs, Darren Bradshaw, Michael McElhatton, Jim Rodwell, Guy Branston, Jon Brady, Garry Butterworth, Colin West (Mequel de Souza 21), Darren Collins, Paul Underwood.

Attendance: 1818.

Statistics

(* = 1 game lost on penalty kicks)