The Youth Team travelled to Cheltenham on Saturday for the next game in the Puma Junior Alliance Cup and, despite a good start, put in a lacklustre performance in a disappointing 5 - 1 defeat.

Rushden started well and took the lead on 7 minutes when Sam Smith bundled the ball home from a Lee Watts corner.

Further chances followed but were not taken and Cheltenham started to threaten the Diamonds' goal and deservedly equalised in the 40th minute to take the game into half time on level terms.

Half Time - Cheltenham Town 1 - 1 Rushden & Diamonds

The second half saw a change in Cheltenham and Rushden's play, almost complete Cheltenham domination ensued for forty five minutes, as they added goals in the 56th, 65th, 76th and 89th minutes to complete the rout.

Full Time - Cheltenham Town 5 - 1 Rushden & Diamonds

This gives the young Rushden side plenty to think about before the visits of Exeter and trip to Hereford, which have now become must win games if the side are to progress beyond the group stages to the knock out stages of the Puma Youth Alliance Cup competition.

 

Rushden & Diamonds (U18s) Team

:Knighton, Nunn (C), Phillips, Beecroft, Calcutt, Freshwater (Cox 71), Weston, Smith, Wigglesworth (Sharpe 66), Hilliard, Watts (Hallford 66).