The unofficial AFC Rushden & Diamonds messageboard

Is anyone else going along to watch the Youth Team at Rothwell tonight? It's the Northants U18s Cup Semi-Final, 7:45 kick off at Rothwell's Cecil Street ground.

So how did it go?

Won 2-1

Lewis Wilson scored both goals - brief match report
http://www.thediamondsfc.com/page/Youth ... 68,00.html

IF we get promotion, it will seriously enhance the Youth set-up. It will mean being able to offer scholars money and play decent opposition, which results in good players being attracted here.

2-1 against Rothwell is a bit lame, compared to our past years form. Saying that, I think the quality of Scholars has reduced significantly since the league days! Lets get it back... I will always remember the day we played Man Utd, and bar a scrappy goal, deserved and almost got a victory, and filled the AirWair!

Paul Driver does a great job with limited resources, Im shocked he hasn't been snapped up by another local club with the job he did, particularly last year (3rd in an Alliance with big league clubs). If we can get the funding and league back, I think we will be seeing more Tomlins and Jacksons in future years!

I was involved with it for a number of years so know what a big difference it will all make! Please donate heavily, EVERY source of money really makes a difference, and its clear the pay-back is the most beneficial.

Yes, offering your services in other ways such as to help clean the stadium is invaluable, but to think your small contribution is helping the development of future star players who we could make big money out of is a real big attraction!

Last night there were none of the 2nd yr players involvd, also the first choice goalie was rested, they have played again to ady and won 4-0 or it could be 5. a lot of players out there last night are still at school

5-0 win over Ipswich Town CT this afternoon with goals from Adam Sharpe/2, Aynsley McDonald, Lewis Wilson and Anthony Stockman. They now require 4pts from the remaining three games to confirm the League title. Those who played against Rothwell were all 1st years or Under 16's.

Morgan Phillips, Callum Earls and Lewis Wilson were the only ones to play in both games, the latter two coming off in the second half.

We also had an excellent turn out of fans as well , i believe the crowd was bigger last night than Rowl often for a first team again with a lot of Rushden faces, i would think it was over a 100

It was a very poor game last night in all honesty, not helped by the uneven pitch which led to the ball bobbling and bouncing all over the place and making it very difficult to actually get it down and play 'proper' football.

As Stagman said, none of the second years played so the starting XI consisted of 6 1st years (Morgan Phillips, Callum Earls, Elliot Dent, Jake Gillingwater, Lewis Wilson and Liam Read) and the remaining 5 were U16s. Wilson and Jerry Nash (one of the U16s) were the pick of the bunch.

BringBackDuane wrote:2-1 against Rothwell is a bit lame, compared to our past years form. Saying that, I think the quality of Scholars has reduced significantly since the league days!

I don't think that's true at all, and I actually thought the team we had last season was the best youth side I've seen since I began watching them over 10 years ago. There doesn't appear to be another Tomlin in the pipeline at the moment (but then, talents like him are very rare at lower league/non-league clubs) but the overall quality in the squad was superb, and Aynsley McDonald is probably the next best player I've seen come through our youth team after Tommo. Having said that, I don't think this seasons 1st years or U16s are as good as last seasons, but you never know how quickly some of them might progress in their final year (and I haven't seen as much of the youths this season as I have in previous years).

Dave, has Justin Dowling been playing?

I know him as he lives in Barton and went to my school, and i've noticed him appearing in youth team photo's as of late.

He was at MK Dons.