Rushden & Diamonds 0 - 1
Another costly mistake from 'keeper Nicky Eyre gift wrapped three points to the visitors at
Diamonds made two changes from the side that beat
The visitors should have taken the lead with their first attack but James Dudgeon miskicked after finding himself in space 18 yards out. At the other end, a great turn from Tomlin gave the youngster time and space but the shot lacked any real pace.
Tomlin blazed over before the teenager was rightly yellow carded on 21 minutes for a dangerous looking tackle on Dudgeon. Nathan Peat then saw his long range shot fall nicely to the unmarked Craig Farrell but he shot weakly at the goalkeeper from 12 yards out.
On the half hour, Simeon Jackson got a cross in from the left but Jon Ashton, leaning back, headed wide of the right hand upright.
On the stroke of half-time
Half-time Rushden & Diamonds 0 - 0
The second half was only three minutes old when disaster struck the Diamonds defence. A long ball appeared to be shepherded back to Eyre by Wayne Hatswell but unfortunately the Diamonds goalkeeper delayed his clearance too long and then could only look in horror as the ball rebounded off Donaldson and meandered into his own net. Clearly the lessons of
That was only York's second 'shot' on target but it seemed to inspire them. On 56 minutes Mark Convery's cross caused danger in the home defence but Hatswell cleared under the nose of Farrell while at the other end Glenn Wilson's long throw was flicked on by Michael Rankine but Tomlin flashed his close range shot over the bar.
On 69 minutes
Two minutes later Diamonds missed a glorious chance themselves to equalise when
Referee Ward was finding it hard to keep control of an increasingly feisty game and his failure to deal effectively with an incident between Donaldson and Wilson was to prove a catalyst as the situation escalated.
On the football front Convery struck a free-kick over the wall into the arms of Evans while Neal Bishop's tame long range shot came to nothing.
Diamonds players were becoming increasingly frustrated with some of referee Ward's decisions as the game became more and more heated and out of control. Farcical scenes ensued after a free-kick was awarded four minutes from time. A full two minutes was taken up trying to get the wall back into position before Watson drove the ball into the 'keepers chest. In the middle of all that Steve Bowey was rightly booked for encroachment.
Still Diamonds wouldn't give up and
In injury time Steve Bowey was sent off for violent conduct following an off the ball incident but Diamonds were more livid because Jackson was clear when the refereee's whistle blew. It was one of those days!
Teams:
Rushden & Diamonds: - Nicky Eyre, Glenn Wilson, Paul Watson, Jon Ashton, Chris Hope (c) Wayne Hatswell, Dave Savage, Michael Rankine (Leo Fortune - West 67), Simeon Jackson, Lee Tomlin (Daniel Chillingworth 68), Tyrone Berry
Subs Not Used: Danny Crane, Ugo Udoji.
York City - Tom Evans, Darren Craddock, Nathan Peat, Neal Bishop, David McGurk, James Dudgeon, Mark Convery, Emmanuel Panther (c), Clayton Donaldson, Craig Farrell (Ross Greenwood 75), Steve Bowey.
Subs Not Used:
Booked: Tomlin 12 (Foul), Nathan Peat 65 (Persistent Fouling), David McGurk 83 (Dissent), Steve Bowey 85 (Encroachment),
Sent off: Steve Bowey 90 (Violent Conduct)
Referee: Mr G Ward
Attendance: 2,416 (416 Away fans)
Diamonds Man of the Match: Tyrone Berry - An all action performance on his first start of the season.
By Chris Barritt
