Brackley Town 0 Rushden & Diamonds 2
The Diamonds faced BrackleyTown in their first pre-season friendly of the 2010-11 campaign.
The game at St James Park saw the new management team of Justin Edinburgh and Paul Driver give all of their new recruits some match action. All 21 fit professionals at the club took some part in the game, along with two triallists - striker Joe Yoffe and defender Danny Bailey. Michael Corcoran and Neil Cousins were both watching the game from the stand as they recover from injuries.
The game ended in a 2-0 win for the visitors, The Diamonds first goal came after 7 minutes when Ryan Charles volleyed past Billy Turley after a Justin Miller shot had been flicked back to him by Sam Smith. Sam Smith scored the second goal after 37 minutes when he shot home past a static Turley after good work from Miller on the right saw his cross diverted to Smith by Craig Farrell.
The Diamonds started with a strong back four of Miller, Stuart, Osano and Robinson, with a midfield trio of Huke, Keehan and Johnson, with Ryan Charles up-front on the left alongside Craig Farrell and Sam Smith with the latter keeping more to the right.
Ryan Charles had an impressive start to his Diamonds career, creating an early chance for Smith, before seeing an effort blocked after good work from Smith and Matt Johnson.
Although the Saints had Steve Basham and Matt Green up front, their main threat on goal came from ex-Diamond Owen Story, who had two decent attempts on goal during the half that the Diamonds dominated, looking especially dangerous down the flanks. At the back the hosts had fielded Michael Blackwood, Chris Wilmott and Tom Kemp.
In the second half the Diamonds made 10 initial changes, with only Curtis Osano playing in both halves, but the game lacked the quality seen in the first half. Brackley had fielded a strong team in that first half, but they too made many changes in the second.
The changes meant that Lee Tomlin and Aaron O'Connor took the wider roles up front, with triallist Yoffe taking a central role. The midfield trio was Porter, York and Power, with McDonald at right back, Osano and triallist Danny Bailey at centre back and Jamie Day at left back.
An early O'Connor shot was stopped by the substitute keeper, and he also did well to stop a Yoffee shot and a follow up by Tomlin. At the other end Joe Day had rather more to do than Dale Roberts had in the first half, but he dealt well with a couple of dangerous shots from the substitute strikeforce.
Justin Edinburgh was pleased with the workout, the quality of the opposition, and the welcome they had received - as well as the quality of the playing surface.
Diamonds Team
The starting line-up for the Diamonds was Dale Roberts, Justin Miller, Kurt Robinson, Jamie Stuart, Curtis Osano, Shane Huke, Joe Keehan, Sam Smith, Matt Johnson, Ryan Charles, Craig Farrell
The second half line up was Joe Day, Aynsley McDonald, Danny Bailey, Curtis Osano, Jamie Day, Max York, Alan Power, Max Porter, Lee Tomlin, Aaron O'Connor, Joe Yoffee. Nabil Shariff replaced Curtis Osano after 83 minutes.
The Diamonds now face Peterborough United at Nene Park on Saturday before setting off to Devon for their pre-season tour.
