Rushden123 wrote:Another performance and result to put in the category job done for getting out of this league. Obviously brad the goal machine will get all the plaudits but I thought lamb Johnson was our best player, He's pace and directness was really good tonight and always looked like he would create and cause problems for them. Definitely right decision to start him.
EL-J deserves tremendous credit for not letting the boo-boys affect his performance.
As for Brad, he's now scored more Diamonds' league goals at Kempston than he has at the Dog & Duck, with his goal there last season added to today's brace.
There needs to be a special mention for Joe Merrill too, supporting EL-J really well and lasting the full game. Any blame he might take for their goal should be offset by the hospital pass he received from Bunting.
Last edited by Formic on Tue Mar 24, 2015 10:33 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I thought ELJ was excellent tonight and was my personal motm - but who can argue that the two goals from Brad earned it for him? Lots of movement and it was a shame we gifted them that goal when we did. I didn't hear any boo boys tonight?? :o
Thought we responded well and coped with a poor set of officials as well. I don't blame the ref, I understand it was only his second UCL game tonight, I blame the people that scheduled him to handle such a stressful match at the business end of the season, he was so far out of his depth it was embarrassing at times !!
On we roll, five wins out of the remaining six games sees us as champions no matter what anyone else does!! 3 wins out if six sees us promoted - It's creeping closer. Did the job well tonight and piles the pressure on Wisbech - I wonder if Kempston will perform to the same level against them on Saturday??
Raising awareness of Motor Neurone Disease RIP Dale Roberts - gone, but never forgotten!!
Elliot Was mom for me,absolutely destroyed thier left back,tracked back well,gets stuck in and just wasn't afraid to get on the ball so fair play to the lad,to be honest we played some nice football at times on a tricky pitch! Also well done brad what a season your having! Onto the next one!!!
What a performance from ELJ. Worked his socks off and absolutely terrorised their left back. Easy to give Brad the MOM for two crucial goals but for me it had to be ELJ. Agree with a previous poster that Joe Merrill slotted into the team like he'd never been away.
You got the feeling that was a massive 3 points for us. It was, on paper, our toughest remaining game. Kempston were a decent side and will certainly give Wisbech a scare. Wisbech must surely have to win every remaining game to maintain a challenge.
They say we've lost our money we're not famous anymore.....
Great performance after conceeding that silly goal just before half time. Elliott was immense and let's hope the boo boys lay off him in the remaining matches. The boy will only improve. Brilliant turnout once again by our fans, must have been around 275 I reckon which is staggering for a cold Tuesday evening.
Brilliant how Brad is getting into the box at vital times. Clearly a natural goalscorer. ;)
United Counties League - AFC Kempston Rovers 1 AFC Rushden and Diamonds 2 - Admission £6 - Programme £1 - Attendance 323
Rushden moved nearer the title with a hard fought win against 10 men Kempston, who put up a really good fight in front of their biggest crowd of the season (has any club in this division not had their biggest crowd for the Rushden match ?).
Kempston started like a train and Shane Bush went close twice in the first couple of minutes, but Bush did put them ahead in first half injury time when Dom Marsala's cross from the left wasn't cleared and Bush netted from 8 yards out.
Kempston were reduced to ten men on 52 mins when Seb Simpson received a second yellow card, but it took Rushden until the 68th minute to get back on level terms when Tom Berwick's low ball in from the right was converted by Brad Harris, and Harris then got what proved to be the winner on 76, when Matt Gearing's free-kick was met by the head of the visiting midfielder and the ball hit the inside of the left hand post before nestling in the net.
The home keeper, Martin Conway, who was playing his 150th match for Kempston, produced some terrific blocks and saves to keep the score down as Rushden created chances aplenty towards the end.
Entertaining stuff at a new ground for me, and good to have an atmosphere at a step 5 match, although, I felt that, at times, the appeals for free kicks etc from the visiting fans were more to put pressure on the officials than being realistic. That said, the referee was way out of his depth and struggled all match to keep control, as he made a series of baffling decisions that affected both sides. Someone said that it was only his second match at this level - if so, the league should ask themselves questions as to why they are giving a new referee at this level, a match that involves the top of the table side.
