The unofficial AFC Rushden & Diamonds messageboard

Not through yet, but as far as I can see from the region we're in, some of the teams we could be drawn against could be Royston, Daventry Town, Bedford Town, Hitchin/Arlesley, Barton Rovers, Harrow/North Greenford, Haringey, St. Albans, Hertford, Hemel Hempstead, or from Conference N/S Brackley, Boreham Wood or Bishop's Stortford, though they may start to expand the regions from now, I'm not sure. I have a feeling we might get Bedford, though whoever it is, I just hope we have the incentive of a home game in the next round on Tuesday!

Olly wrote: Back to us though, slightly disappointed today, not quite the performance we put in on Tuesday, Cockfosters weren't a bad side at all and seemed to get better and more in the match in the second half, credit to our boys for getting back quickly both times, but a draw was probably a fair result and it would have been good if we had tested Dom Littlewood in goal a bit more as he was a bit dodgy and a terrible kicker, no wonder the defender took over for goal kicks :lol:

I think you're being generous there Olly. It was a poor performance from our lot and our defensive frailties were laid bare once more. Their tall right midfielder was a constant outlet for them.

Big players went missing, but if there was a positive i'd have to say we're still in the hat because of the performances of our two central midfielders Harris and King, particularly Harris who kept calm amidst the chaos around him.

I have no doubt we'll do the business in the replay, and on that basis i'm pleased with the result on a woeful pitch.

Was speaking to a Cockfosters fan before the game who said the entrance fee had gone up £2 from the previous round. :?

Olly wrote:

Rushdenjim wrote:What the hell happened at the end of the Huntington game! Match abandoned in the 91st min after a 50 man brawl, ending with a huntington player sent ofc for headbutting the sleaford manager and a women on the floor needing medical help. Ambulance on route. This game was being featured on BBC 606 has part of nonlesgueday, great advert!!

Just heard this on 5live, Huntingdon manager along with others is on now, unbelievable, Sleaford were winning as well. Well at least its provided a bit of drama for 606's featured game, the last 5 minutes has been on it, the manager says both could be kicked out which I suspect may happen, which would end 5live's idea of covering every round

I heard this as well couldn't help but laugh, maybe we should of stopped the long throw as that's what they scored from past us. After seeing the Sleaford manger this season and the D&D it defo looked like one of his tactics.

I thought we were better in the first half than the second. We have to stop giving away stupid goals though, both were stoppable I thought

Thought we were well below par today against an average team. If we had got out of second gear we would have won comfortably. Thought the grass seemed to slow the ball down a bit too. Clean sheets seem few and far between. Thought Harris was pick of the team today, ran the midfield and made things look easy. Lot of players below par but I expect a comprehensive win on Tuesday.

If we beat Cockfosters, and we will have to up our game quite a lot on todays showing we probably wont be playing another Spartan League team as only Hertford and Biggleswade Utd remain.

Possible opponents could be Corby, Daventry, Bedford, St Ives, Cambridge City, St Neots, Spalding.
But how about a trip to Guernsey after they beat my home town Hastings Utd.

AS Incognito Kid says we may not play a League match in September and if we progress in Vase as well we may only play one game in October (5th)

Almost everything about today was poor. The ground and pitch were worse than several UCL clubs last season.
At least Alfie scored a cracking goal and I thought for a moment Dunks had hit the side netting.

If results and the draws now go our way we could be facing ten successive home games.

Cockfosters, Hoddesden, Huntingdon, FA Cup 2Q,Wellingborough,Harborough,S & L Corby or FA Cup 3Q, Posh NS, Vase 1st R, FA Cup 4Q. That takes us up to end of October!!!

Didn't go today and by all accounts we were lucky to get a replay, but we've putting in a couple of great cup runs and should be pleased we're still in the hat. With only two defeats during 2013 and still unbeaten at home in the league we can be proud of how far we've come in this short time. 7 cup games in a row by the time we play Huntingdon in the cup, we won't know what a league game is come October!

Just wondering, I know people are been saying that we've got defensive problems but who would you want an upgrade on out of Merrill, Deakin, Clarke and Brown? Obviously I've not seen any of the recent games but on paper that looks like a good back four to me, especially with Harris in front of them and Cross behind them.

Maybe the Spartan South Midlands League is of better quality than most of the UCLP? Or maybe it's just that we're coming up against teams who throw their all at us in the first tie and then are found out for what they're really like in the replay?

We've conceded daft goals against Deeping and Huntingdon though

Defensively most of the goals conceeded this season have come in a similar fashion with Deakins and Clarke getting caught out on corners, freekicks and long throws with Crossey usually ending up being stranded on the goal line. At times I would like to see our goalie be more proactive and take command and deal with these balls delivered into the box.