The Youth Team returned to winning ways after two narrow defeats away at Colchester and Luton by beating Brighton and Hove Albion 3 - 0 at Nene Park on Saturday morning.

Both teams lined up with young sides - Rushden due to Jake Beecroft and Sam Smith both coming on as substitutes for the First Team against Exeter that afternoon and Brighton due to resting senior players ahead of their Puma Junior Alliance Cup Final against Colchester two days later.Rushden also gave a debut to Keeper, Michael Emery as he deputised for the unwell Joe Day with Under 15 Keeper, James Broadbent providing cover on the subs bench.

Rushden played against a strong wind in the first period and the visitors' best chances came from set pieces using the elements to cause problems to Emery and his defence.

It was Rushden, however, who took the initiative in the 21^st minute when Lewis Hallford set up Ben Nunn for a cross and his excellent far post delivery was volleyed back across the goal by Dan Easlea where Andrew Tidswell timed his run perfectly to head home from six yards.

The lead was extended on 36 minutes following a Brighton corner which was cleared to Lewis Hilliard and his through ball met the run of Nabil Sharif which took him clear of the opposition defence and he made no mistake with his left foot effort from the edge of the box to give the young striker (celebrating his 16^th birthday on the day) his first goal at Under 18 level to add to his tally of 16 at Under 16 level over the season.

Half Time: Rushden & Diamonds 2 Brighton and Hove Albion 0

After a comfortable start to the second period thanks to the help of the wind in their favour, Rushden endured some problems after the introduction of a couple of substitutions by the visitors but the now familiar back line stuck to their task well in front of Emery to show why they boast the second best defensive record in the league behind leaders QPR.Even more encouraging for the future is that three of the four - plus keepers Day and Emery - are eligible to play in the Puma Junior Alliance next season.

The best chance of the early stages of the half fell to Sharif who dragged his effort just wide of the post.

Shortly afterwards, James Freshwater and George Cox were introduced for Easlea and Sharif respectively as a formation change was made to counter the new threat from the opposition and it was Freshwater who put the game beyond doubt just inside the last ten minutes with a neat finish from ten yards.

Alex Phillips replaced Lewis Hilliard shortly before the end of normal time and immediately afterwards the hosts were forced to play out time with ten men as an unwell Lewis Hallford was helped from the field suffering from a viral complaint.

The victory and other results mean that Rushden rise to 7^th in the table with a respectable 22 points from the campaign so far leading into the final game in a fortnight away to Wycombe Wanderers at Bisham Abbey - before which there is a Northants Youth Cup Semi Final against Wellingorough Town on Pitch 2 at Nene Park on Wednesday 23^rd April.

Full Time: Rushden & Diamonds 3 Brighton and Hove Albion 0

Rushden Team: Emery, Nunn ©, McDonald, Hilliard (A Phillips 88), Calcutt, Higgins, Hallford, Tidswell, Wigglesworth, Shariff (Cox 74), Easlea (Freshwater 69). Subs Not Used: Hayes, Broadbent