Preview : R&DFC v Barrow
Rushden & Diamonds v Barrow
Blue Square Premier
Nene Park, Irthlingborough
Saturday December 6th 15:00
With both teams closing out November in a memorable fashion, Saturday's clash at Nene Park will be a chance for both teams to kick off December with a victory. With Barrow having knocked Brentford out of the FA Cup and earning a trip to Middlesbrough in the New Year they will be trying to get as many points on the board before that (welcome) distraction.
As the season nears the midway point the Diamonds will be looking to build on the two consecutive victories over Eastbourne and Altrincham.
Barrow usually play in white and blue, so will wear their change colours of Claret. It will be only their second ever visit to Nene Park, the first visit coming almost 10 years ago.
Details of the fixture, including ticket arrangements and prices are here.
Our Opponents - Barrow AFC
Barrow were formed in 1901, and reached the Football League in 1921, remaining there for fifty years until the 1971-72 season when they were replaced by Hereford United.
After spending time in both the Northern Premier League and Conference, they had their previous stay in the top flight of non-league football for a single season in 1998-99, being relegated due to financial issues rather than performances on the pitch.
After a poor start last season, a late run of sixteen wins in twenty games unbeaten took them to the playoffs in the Conference North, and ultimate promotion after victory over Stalybridge Celtic.
For more details of their history, visit here
The Bluebirds are jointly managed by Dave Bayliss and Darren Sheridan - both of whom are still playing for the team, although they mostly take their place on the substitutes bench. They are currently 17th in the Conference with 24 points, eight less than the Diamonds, but with two games in hand. The team for the Brentford game was Martin, Pearson, Logan, Jones, McNulty, Henney, Joyce, Boyd, Walker, D Brown, P Brown.
Defender Paul Jones was at the club the last time the two teams met in the 1998-99 season. Mark Boyd partnered Adrian Littlejohn in attack for Port Vale when they drew 1-1 with the Diamonds in 2003, and then faced the Diamonds twice again in 2006 when captaining Southport. Paul Tait made a brief appearance for Southport in one of those games - and he had also faced the Diamonds during his spells at Bristol Rovers and Rochdale. Dave Bayliss was a unused sub for both Rochdale and Wrexham when they faced the Diamonds earlier in his career. Ex-Diamond David Brown has recently joined the club, and he scored the first goal against Brentford from the penalty spot, as well as earning an assist for the second.
Previous Meetings With Barrow
The two teams have only met three times before - twice in the 1998-99 season, then earlier this season at Holker Street.
The first fixture was played at Nene Park during the Diamonds sequence of seven straight wins at the start of that season, with the game ending 4-0.
The team that day was Mark Gayle, Tim Wooding, Darren Bradshaw, Michael Mison, Paul Wilson, Chris Whyte, Jon Brady, Carel Van Der Velden, Adrian Foster, Darren Collins, Paul Underwood with the goals scored by Mison, Underwood, Brady and Foster.
The return game was on a cold Saturday in January 1999 in a game sandwiched between the two games against Leeds United in the FA Cup. The Diamonds kept their focus, and adapted well to the conditions to run out 2-0 winners with goals from Cooper and De Souza. The team that day was Ian Feuer, Tim Wooding, Darren Bradshaw, John Hamsher, Jim Rodwell, Carl Heggs, Mark Cooper, Garry Butterworth, Adrian Foster, Miquel De Souza, Paul Underwood with Colin West as substitute.
The game at Holker Street earlier this season ended in a 1-1 draw, with Barrow getting their equaliser in injury time as the weather deteriorated. Leon Knight had given the Diamonds the lead midway through the first-half. The team for that game was : Alan Marriott, Michael Corcoran, Gareth Jelleyman, Chris Hope, Justyn Roberts,Curtis Osano,Rob Wolleaston, Curtis Woodhouse (Capt), Andy Burgess, Lee Phillips, Leon Knight. Subs : Sam Smith (for Phillips 8), Sagi Burton (for Jelleyman 40), Jake Beecroft (for Wolleaston 72)
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