AFC Rushden & Diamonds 7 – Leighton Town 1

AFC Rushden & Diamonds put in a scintillating attacking performance in beating Leighton Town 7-1 at the Dog & Duck on Tuesday evening, a win which puts them second in the Southern League Central Division Table with further games still in hand.

The game survived a late pitch inspection after heavy rain in the build-up but excellent work on the pitch enabled it to go ahead. It was the visitors who started the brightest and they took a deserved lead on 5 minutes through Josh Murray. Diamonds responded well though and equalised on 15 minutes through a Tom Liversedge volley after a Tommy Berwick through ball. The big striker added a second just 5 minutes later turning in from close range after Tommy Berwick’s cross-shot had been saved. The third came on 38 as first half-sub Tom Lorraine smashed home at the end of a surging run. The fourth was a much deserved 4th in 5 games for Tommy Berwick who finished coolly when played through by Liversedge.

4-1 at half-time and the game was a slow burner in the second half before Diamonds burst into life in the last 20 minutes. Tom Liversedge notched his hat-trick on 72 turning in Tommy Berwick’s squared ball, and added a 4th and Diamonds 6th just 2 minutes later in identical fashion. The 7th came on 83 as Claudio Hoban turned in the rebound after super provider on the night Tommy Berwick fired a rasping effort off the far post.

Manager Andy Peaks made one change to his starting line-up on Saturday with Tom Liversedge coming in up front in place of Tom Lorraine who dropped to the bench. He was joined by new signings Edi Appleton and Lewis Leslie.

The visitors belied their recent poor form with a positive approach to the game pushing Diamonds back and taking the lead on just 5 minutes. A free-kick from just inside the Diamonds half fell behind the retreating back four, was squared across goal for Josh Murray to bundle in at the far post off Matt Finlay.

The shock of the early goal seemed to galvanise Diamonds out of what had been a lethargic start and they started to create the chances they may have expected pre-game.

Claudio Hoban nearly turned in a Liversedge cross-shot that was just blocked, and Andy Hall scuffed wide from an excellent position after good work by Hoban down the left.

The equaliser Diamonds had been threatening came on 15 as Tommy Berwick played Tom Liversedge superbly into the right side of the area where the big striker took a good touch and volleyed home from 12 yards for a goal on his first full start.

After Lewis Leslie replaced the injured Andy Hall on 20 minutes for his debut Tom Liversdedge added his second on 21 with Tommy Berwick the provider again. The lively striker firing in a volley from 18 yards that Leighton keeper Kirkwood could only parry, Liversedge following up to tap home from an angle.

Diamonds were flooding forward in this period with Claudio Hoban prominent as ever. He had two good chances around the half hour mark. First firing across goal from 15 yards after a mazy run, and then striking a rising effort from the edge of the box that Kirkwood just held.

Liversedge came close to grabbing a first half-hat-trick with a 15 yard header that went just over, but it was the second first half-substitute Tom Lorraine, on for also injured Richard Bunting, who would grab the 3^rd. He ran onto a great through ball from Tom Liversedge surged into the area and fired low and hard past the hapless Kirkwood into the bottom corner.

Tommy Berwick had been superb in the first half and after crashing a volley on the turn onto the bar from 15 yards he grabbed a deserved 4^th for Diamonds right on half-time. He was played into the right side of the box and slid home expertly from 15 yards.

Half-time:  AFC Rushden & Diamonds 4 – Leighton Town 1

After an all action first half the second was more of a slow burner. Leighton continued their enterprising play trying to force a way back into the game but being repelled by a strong Diamonds back four.

Diamonds kept pushing forward and were always a threat in the final third. Sam Brown came close to that goal he’s been searching for when he and Tommy Berwick had close range shots blocked on 53 as they tried to create space in the box, and he had shot from 25 yards deflected wide as he ran onto a ball across the box from the impressive Lewis Leslie.

Tommy Berwick was dangerous all night and had a penalty appeal turned down on 60 as he fell under pressure in the box, and fired in a half volley straight at the keeper as the ball broke to him 15 yards out.

Tom Lorraine then sliced wide when well placed on 70 minutes after a great run before Diamonds burst back into goal scoring life.

Tommy Berwick became super provider twice for Tom Liversedge in the space of two minutes. Both times breaking really well into the left hand side of the box before squaring for Liversedge to grab his hat-trick on 72 and his and his 4^th and Diamonds 6^th on 74 sliding home neatly on both occasions.

The 7^th came on 83 as every Diamonds attack seemed to be resulting in a goal. It was Tommy Berwick again the provider surging into the right-hand side of the box and firing in a rasping effort that looked to be going in for a deserved 2^nd on the night but the ball came back off the post only for  Claudio Hoban to tap home the rebound.

Final Score: AFC Rushden & Diamonds 7 – Leighton Town 1

This was a scintillating attacking performance by Diamonds with all three “Tom’s” both scorers and providers in what were at times tricky conditions. Tom Liversedge and Tommy Berwick combined really well, with Claudio Hoban and in the early stages Andy Hall key providers along with Sam Brown on the overlap and debutant Lewis Leslie who replaced Hall midway through the first half. The exit of Hall and Bunting also in the first half will be a concern to Manager Andy Peaks but the quality of replacements Tom Lorraine and Lewis Leslie will be reassuring as Diamonds head into a difficult period of fixtures.

Next up is the longest trip of the season to Petersfield in Hampshire, followed by home games against table toppers St.Ives and Royston.

Man of the Match: Tom Liversedge as chosen by members MOTM app

Attendance: 297

Match Report by Paul Judd

Updated player profiles with appearance and goalscoring details are now available.