The unofficial AFC Rushden & Diamonds messageboard

Deeping v Huntingdon.
Best result would be a win for Deeping, although that would temporarily drop us a place.

I am concerned about the continuing postponements at the D & D. Will Welly game tonight v Sileby be able to go ahead. Was cancelling the youth game last night a precaution only?

sussexdiamond wrote:Deeping v Huntingdon.
Best result would be a win for Deeping, although that would temporarily drop us a place.

I am concerned about the continuing postponements at the D & D. Will Welly game tonight v Sileby be able to go ahead. Was cancelling the youth game last night a precaution only?

Hope Welly get to play tonight as we are heading for a fixture backlog at the D&D. Until promised end of season on Sat 26th April including tonight but not Tuesday 22nd April as follows Bank Holiday, the are 8 Saturdays, 7 Tuesdays and The Bank Holiday Monday, both Welly and us have 7 home League games each to fit in + Welly V Deeping in Cup on Tue 25th March.
Going down to Div 1 for my footy tonight, Eynesbury V Harrowby.

sussexdiamond wrote: I am concerned about the continuing postponements at the D & D. Will Welly game tonight v Sileby be able to go ahead. Was cancelling the youth game last night a precaution only?

The pitch currently looks ok for tonight for WTFC. Some very light rain forecast but that should be ok.

The pitch was not playable yesterday - lots of standing water (from the very heavy rain Sunday evening as forecast). The DnD generally needs 24 to 36 hours after heavy/persistent rain to drain and be playable. We've just been unlucky with it raining within that window the last few times, hence the postponements on the day.

The WTFC game called off on Saturday would have been fine same time on Sunday [before it later rained]. It was just too wet/sticky in the morning, and was still not really playable at 6pm - even though forking etc.. was done from 8am. The forking helps a bit, but generally it's best to just let it drain as it does do that quite well really.

Latest Scores:-

Deeping 1 Huntingdon 0
Desborough 2 Yaxley 1
Wellingborough 1 Sileby 1

Latest scores:-

Deeping 1 Huntingdon 1
Desborough 2 Yaxley 4
Wellingborough 1 Sileby1

Huntingdon dropped 2 points, so its looking likely Spalding will be able to clinch the title when they visit the D&D with the right result against AFC R&D - if they haven't clinched it by then.

If Spalding win their next 3 games before they play us on April 5th they would have 91 pts..we can only get 90 if we win all our remaining 10 games.

Those 3 games for Spalding are Sileby (a) Welly (a) and Kempston (h)

At present Spalding have 82 points, another 12 would clinch the title.(Unless Huntingdon drop some points)
Huntingdon max is 93
AFC max 90
Deeping max 85

Spalding have been extremely fortunate with the fixtures as their last 4 games, which may well be of no significance, are against AFC R & D (a) Huntingdon (h & a) and Deeping (a)

Stating the obvious "The race is really on for that second place" and with the fixtures as they are I would say we are favourites.

Regarding promotion spots, there are now two vacancies in the pyramid as Hinckley and Eastwood have folded and possibly Bashley will follow. That second place becomes evermore vital.......if we want promotion!

sussexdiamond wrote:Regarding promotion spots, there are now two vacancies in the pyramid as Hinckley and Eastwood have folded and possibly Bashley will follow. That second place becomes evermore vital.......if we want promotion!

I still think that will mean reprieves for relegated clubs, not extra promotion spots...but I hope I am wrong ;)

sussexdiamond wrote:If Spalding win their next 3 games before they play us on April 5th they would have 91 pts..we can only get 90 if we win all our remaining 10 games.

Those 3 games for Spalding are Sileby (a) Welly (a) and Kempston (h)

At present Spalding have 82 points, another 12 would clinch the title.(Unless Huntingdon drop some points)
Huntingdon max is 93
AFC max 90
Deeping max 85

Spalding have been extremely fortunate with the fixtures as their last 4 games, which may well be of no significance, are against AFC R & D (a) Huntingdon (h & a) and Deeping (a)

Stating the obvious "The race is really on for that second place" and with the fixtures as they are I would say we are favourites.

Regarding promotion spots, there are now two vacancies in the pyramid as Hinckley and Eastwood have folded and possibly Bashley will follow. That second place becomes evermore vital.......if we want promotion!

I think perhaps even the supreme optimists in our ranks might realise the set of circumstances we face reading that.

Its also worth noting that Huntingdon have a very busy March, so if they are to drop points some of them might be before we meet Spalding, so 91 points may already be enough for Spalding by the time they meet us.

Regarding second place, Huntingdon may gain advantage from the fact their two games with Spalding may be after the title is sealed, so Spalding might have eased off by then. I don't think they'll ease off against AFC R&D whatever happens given we took their 100% and unbeaten records.

Everyweeker wrote:
I still think that will mean reprieves for relegated clubs, not extra promotion spots...but I hope I am wrong ;)

I think you are right. Unfortunately according to many of the Groundhoppers on the Non League Matters Forum they are of the general opinion there is, to quote, 'an awful lot of dross at Step 4 level' and a single promotion place from each of the 14 Step 5 leagues does nothing to improve the situation.

As an aside I see that Vauxhall Motors are requesting demotion from Step 2 Conference North due to financial difficulties.