The unofficial AFC Rushden & Diamonds messageboard

Having said all that, I am amazed that after that tremendous game last night, most of the discussion has been so negative.

Tiny incidents last night in the grand scheme of things, well dealt with by the club. Board members ask for a bit of extra support in such situations, cant those of us on here who are regulars just say yes, and all get along 8-)

No need to throw stones either way, I think. As others have said, it is preaching to the converted in a medium like this, none of us want the club getting fined, and in my experience, none of the regulars have done anything to warrant a fine all season. On the whole, the atmosphere was fantastic at times last night, especially those last 15 minutes.

I agree - we have a great setup that needs no more than the odd tweak as more people offer to get involved.

Regarding the atmosphere, there was a point not long after the penalty miss when things went a bit quiet, and then as the substitutions were made the PDB chirped up with some good songs that people could join in with, and the whole ground was lifted - which might have helped us get that vital first goal.

RE Bookings:
Jack Wis was definitely booked near the end.
99% sure it was Kingy after the penalty too.

I was standing to the right of the PDB for all of the match, the atmosphere was IMMENSE. That's the loudest I've heard the PDB this season. I should've taken a picture really, because looking at it side-on and seeing it rammed was really awesome.

I would hope that we could recreate it in a week's time but I doubt that game will have the same intensity, even though it might be a party atmosphere. Our current league average is 535, to get to 550 we'd need a crowd of 794, hopefully we could get that as long as we win on Saturday.

So glad that I manged to get that shift off work!

What a game that was. Like previous posters have said, we were nowhere near our best for the first 70-75 minutes, but Lance Allen seemed to invigorate us, and gave us more energy that we were crying out for against their defence. Don't get me wrong; I thought they defended really well in the 2nd half, but we played into their hands by constantly playing long balls, that their no. 4 (who had a great game) gobbled up for the majority.

To be fair, they did harry us effectively into numerous mistakes; Alfie had a largely forgettable game (apart from the cross for Lance's goal), Sean and Kingy weren't able to dominate the midfield as much as they usually do etc. I did feel though, just before our 1st goal, that we were starting to crank up the pressure, and that Eynesbury were starting to show the odd crack in their armour here and there. I thouyght after that flurry of chances early in the 2nd half (Alfie's penalty miss, his saved 1-1, and Matty's header being well saved) that it wasn't going to be our day. So glad that I was wrong.

Lovely cut back by Alfie for Lance's goal, and I thought he did remarkably well to just calmly stroke it into the middle of the goal, under that amount of pressure. Safe to say, the terrace went mental; I think I nearly broke my Dad's neck by jumping on him!! Then a couple of moments later, Sam found himsself free down the left, and it was clear to see that he was looking to pull the ball back for Lance, who was crudely tripped by one of their CB's just outside the penalty area. In a way, I'm glad that did happen. The thought of 'F*** it, I'll just have a pop' must have ran through Sam's mind as he hit it. There was that split second for me (maybe just me?) where it hit the underside of the bar, and I was wondering where it was going to go. Then it just hit the side of the net, and again, that split second to realise what had actually just happened. Then the terrace went absolutely bonkers; though that doesn't really do it justice. Everyone lost it (including me). I thought that the reaction after Alfie's goal against Sileby, and Kingy's goal against Oadby, wouldn't be beaten. But that blew it out of the water. Then THAT penalty call from the referee, which threatened to ruin things.

On the way back from the game, and after a bit of time, I realised that I would've have taken a draw after 80 minutes, when it looked like promotion would be out of our hands again. It was just the way in which we ended up drawing that made me feel really down inside. But it's as you were. 2 wins and a draw will be enough to take us up. And what a season it has been overall. I've loved every minute of it, and it's just a darn shame that I've only been to about 13 games this season (due to living in Scunthorpe).

It was certainly a night that I'll never forget for a very long time. That reaction from the players, staff and fans in the terrace after Lance's, and especially Sam's goal, still gives me goosebumps when I think about it now. What a night!!!

Formic wrote:

Everyweeker wrote:This is probably best aimed at Formic:

On the match report, the only yellow card mentioned is for Freshwater, presumably for his shirtless celebration of the penalty.

However, there was certainly a yellow card after the award of our penalty (I remember it being given), with some suggestion it was Aaron King?

I did indeed see that card - but it wasn't clear who it was shown to, especially from the distance I was from the incident, so rather than falsely award it to the wrong player I'm waiting to see if there is any official word. There's a similar question about whether Jack Wisniewski received a card near the end as well.

This forum used to be a really good source of information from people who were closer to certain incidents in the game, so by the time I got home an hour or so after a game at Nene Park, things could be corroborated, but these days only a few positive incidents get discussed (along with several pages on the negative side of things) - although BartonRaz continues to be a reliable source.

Thanks. ;)

Aaron King was definitely booked. As soon as the penalty was awarded he went up to one of their players (I think it was Coles) and antagonised him. The ref seemed to have his yellow out very quickly.

Watching Sam's goal back now... I'm smiling so much. What a moment that was and what a noise on the video. The only shame is that it doesn't show how rocking the PDB appeared from the stand! That has to be my moment of the season. What a finish. Hopefully you can all enjoy it as much as me when they go up on YouTube.

I bumped into Starms after the game and all I could say was 'thanks - I enjoyed that!'; I'm enjoying the whole season. What a ride, and if anything, that penalty (it looks a dreadful decision on the vid, and the free kick looks worse) only makes the final straight that bit more interesting.

I'm just glad I've got witnesses that can vouch I was sat in the main stand with my grandad ;)


I think abit of common sense is required here. I saw some liquid go flying towards the eynsbury players celebration from the main stand, now if that was unprovoked (I don't know) and was hot tea, then for me, that crosses the line! (And that's saying something!) the lads who ran onto the pitch are absolute morons. They're not proper AFC diamonds fans, think it was the first game they've been to.

I'll openly admit, iv committed both of these crimes this season but to a far lesser and more understandable extent, I think common sense is needed when dealing with these sort of issues!

TwinkleToesTomlin wrote: the lads who ran onto the pitch are absolute morons. They're not proper AFC diamonds fans, think it was the first game they've been to.

issues!

I think its the first time I've seen them at AFC, but a couple of them definitely used to attend Nene park. I'd agree with you saying they're not proper AFC fans, as they displayed a blank England flag and would point to the fact they had been out celebrating St. Georges days and had a few too many!

Only just been able to put forward my view of the game last night, as I got back late last night, and have been at work today.

What a game, possibly the best atmosphere at the dog & duck at one of our games all season. Great attendance, which I mistook as being the record attendance!!! I forgot the Thrapston attendance :oops: (a few of the guys who do, or don't follow me on twitter, will know I made the mistake!!!) :oops:

When that free kick went in, I thought it was going to be one of those nights, and we really were below par for the majority of the game, Starms said that himself after the game..Regarding Alfie's penalty miss, I don't think it helped with Eynesbury pissing about, and then the ref did the same.

Absolutely incredible goal from Sam Brown, has to be up there with Kingy's goal, for goal of the season.

Lastly, regarding those "fans" who ran on to the pitch, I could see they were getting wound up beforehand from where I was standing, throwing toilet paper at the lino. They should be banned, simple as that.