The Youth Team completed a good eight days work with their third victory in a row following a 3 - 1 win away to Hereford United in the Puma Junior Alliance Cup.

There was just one change from the start line up that beat Kettering Town in the FA Youth Cup with Anthony Weston replacing the injured Lee Watts on the left side of midfield.Under 16s, Lewis Hallford and Nabil Sharif remained on the bench and were joined by Morgan Phillips with George Cox and Adam Sharpe returning to their own squad to get valuable match practice.

Rushden started well and the Hereford Keeper was forced into action in the 3^rd minute to make a fine save from a John Wigglesworth drive from 20 yards.Sam Smith then found space for a clear run on goal in the 10^th minute but put his effort over the bar.

The opening goal came in the 26^th minute when Ben Nunn got onto the end of a Jake Beecroft through ball to put his left foot shot into the corner of the net.Nunn then had a chance to increase the lead when he got onto the end of a cross following some good interplay between Smith and Beecroft but his effort went wide of the mark.

Just before half time is always a good time to score and that was certainly the case when, in injury time, some good hold up play by Wigglesworth found Nunn whose cross fell to Smith in the six yard box and he stabbed the ball home.

Half Time: Hereford United 0 Rushden & Diamonds 2

Rushden kept the pressure up as the second half opened and could have increased the lead in the 47^th minute when a Lewis Hillaird cross found Weston clear at the back post and his effort was well saved by the opposition Keeper.The resulting corner caused a scramble in the box which was eventually cleared to safety.

Morgan Phillips celebrated his 15^th birthday on Friday with his debut at Under 18s level when he replaced James Freshwater in the 61^st minute and the lead was increased within four minutes when another Wigglesworth drive into the box fell to Beecroft whose initial attempt fell nicely for a follow up tap in to make the score 3 - 0.

Hallford and Sharif replaced Nunn and Smith respectively as the game entered the final quarter with the only meaningful action being a late consolation goal for the hosts in injury time.

Full Time: Hereford United 1 Rushden & Diamonds 3