Match Summary
Diamonds won the battle of the in-form sides with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Stourbridge at Hayden Road on Saturday afternoon.
There was little sign of the recent attacking form from either side in a goalless first half on a bobbly pitch and in a strong wind. Stourbridge had a close range header from a corner and a 20 yard effort saved by Dean Snedker with Diamonds just having nearly moments for Ben Diamond and Connor Furlong snuffed out by away keeper Charlie Price.
The second half started with a bang for Diamonds with a Nathan Tshikuna fierce free-kick deflected up to the far post where Alex Collard headed through Charlie Price’s hands to give them a vital lead. Stourbridge had two efforts cleared off the line and one clawed back by Dean Snedker as they tried to respond. Diamonds defended the area well though and were moving the ball much better on the break. On 67 minutes Nathan Tshikuna won the ball near halfway and strode in on goal for a cool finish and a 2-0 lead.
Match Report
Andy Peaks made one enforced change to the side that had won so impressively at Alvechurch. Ravi Shamsi who picked up an injury in training was replaced by Connor Furlong. Charlie Nixon came onto the bench.
In a quiet opening period both sides struggled with the strong wind and bobbly pitch. Diamonds had nearly moments through Nathan Tshikuna’s floated ball in that was just plucked off Ben Diamond’s head and Diamond’s ball out to Connor Furlong who skipped past his man but was just seen out by a second defender.
Stourbridge started to shade possession mid half but were restricted to distance efforts from the impressive Reece Styche. The best chance came on 26 minutes as a right wing corner was met by Reece King 10 yards out but headed straight at Dean Snedker.
Diamonds improved in the final minutes of the half with Connor Furlong nearly getting in between defender and keeper as a ball in blew all over the place and Ben Diamond came close to connecting with a right wing corner but it was goalless at half-time.
Half-time: Diamonds 0 Stourbridge 0
The second half started with Diamonds attacking the Peter De Banke and they won a free-kick on their first foray forward 35 yards out on 47 minutes. Nathan Tshikuna struck it fiercely and saw it deflected high to the far post where Alex Collard jumped highest to head past Charlie Price in the Stourbridge goal who couldn’t keep it out.
Stourbridge responded well by pressing forward and getting balls into the box and saw three efforts cleared off the line including one clawed back by Dean Snedker when the Glassboys thought they had scored.
Reece Styche then saw a well positioned free-kick just deflected wide before Diamonds struck again. They had been better on the break in the second half and this time on 66 minutes Nathan Tshikuna picked a ball missed by a defender and ran in on goal and coolly finished to send the home fans into raptures.
Fernando Bell-Toxtle nearly repeated the trick 6 minutes later running in from halfway but saw his effort drift wide.
Stourbridge continued to fire balls into the box in the closing stages but Alex Collard, Liam Dolman and Ben Diamond late on got in great clearances.
A final snap shot from the edge of the box by Stourbridge went wide and Diamonds ran out 2 0 winners in the battle of the form sides.
Full-Time: Diamonds 2 Stourbridge 0
This was a closely contested game of few chances in at times difficult conditions. Diamonds won by virtue of making fewer if any defensive mistakes in a commanding performance by the back 5. They put better pressure on the Stourbridge defence when they broke and took advantage of errors with clinical finishing.
Next up a trip to Rushall Olympic as Diamonds look to beat another inform side for the third week running.
Man of the Match: Alex Collard
Attendance: 478
Match Summary: Paul Judd
AFC Rushden & Diamonds
13 Dean Snedker, 2 Patrick Casey, 3 Sam Warburton, 4 Fernando Bell-Toxtle, 5 Liam Dolman, 6 Alex Collard, 7 Nathan Tshikuna, 8 Ben Diamond, 9 Ty Deacon, 10 AJ George, 11 Connor Furlong Subs 12 Matt Slinn (for Bell-Toxtle 77), 14 Jack Snelus (for Deacon 90 +2), 15 Ryan Hughes, 16 Will Jones (for Furlong 87), 17 Charlie Nixon
Goals: Alex Collard 47, Nathan Tshikuna 66
Yellow Cards: Liam Dolman, Alex Collard
Stourbridge
1 Charlie Price, 2 Lee Vaughan, 3 Ben O’Hanlon, 4 Joseph Hull, 5 Kyle Rowley, 6 Reece King, 7 Darryl Knights, 8 James McQuilkin, 9 Reece Styche, 10 Jason Cowley, 11 Jack Wilson Subs 12 Lathaniel Rowe-Turner (for Rowley 73), 14 Kayleden Brown (for Wilson 77), 16 Daniel Gyasi (for Cowley 84), 15 Marshall Willock, 20 Joshua Marsden
Goals:
Yellow Cards: Ben O’Hanlon, Kayleden Brown
