The Youth Team were made to fight all the way by an excellent Sileby Rangers side at Fernie fields on Tuesday evening before eventually coming out 3 - 2 winners in the 2nd Qualifying Round of the FA Youth Cup.
Rushden started well and took an early lead when John Wigglesworth bundled the ball home from close range in the 3rd minute.
Despite a number of good chances, the lead wasn't increased and the home side nearly equalised when Adam Robinson was clear through on goal but his effort went just past the post. Then former Diamonds player,Craig Heard was only narrowly offside when putting the ball into Michael Emery's net midway through the half.
Further chances came for Rushden with Wigglesworth striking the post and having a goal bound shot well saved by Tom Cooke.
Half Time: Sileby Rangers 0 Rushden & Diamonds 1
The early exchanges in the second half were made in the Rushden half with Sileby pressing hard to gain an equaliser and it was now the visitors goal that was leading a charmed life with Matthaus Marriot looking increasingly more dangerous down the left hand side for the hosts.
The reward for Sileby didn't come, though, and the lead was increased on 69 minutes by James Freshwater from a corner. Freshwater was injured in scoring and was replaced by Dan Easlea.
Undeterred, Sileby continued to press and deservedly pulled a goal back when Robinson beat Emery from 12 yards following a corner from Marriot.
Nabil Shariff and Alex Phillips replaced Adam Sharpe and Wigglesworth with 15 minutes to go and Shariff appeared to have made the game safe shortly afterwards with a neat finish to re-establish a two goal cushion but Sileby struck again through Heard to set up a nervous last 6 minutes.
Rushden managed to hang on, though, to book their place in the final qualifying round against either Stotfold or Northampton Spencer at Nene Park in the weeks commencing the 20th October or 27th October 2008 - Full date and time to be confirmed once our opponents are known.
Final Score: Sileby Rangers 2 Rushden & Diamonds 3
Rushden Team: Emery, Evans, McDonald, Cox, Calcutt, Higgins (Captain), Hallford, Hilliard, Wigglesworth (Phillips 75), Sharpe (Shariff 75), Freshwater (Easlea 65).
Subs Not Used: Hayes, Kirby.
Also in the FA Youth Cup - FootballCV reds won 2-0 against Wellingborough Town to book their place in the final qualifying round - They will face Cogenhoe at Nene Park Pitch 2 on Thursday 23rd October with Kick off at 7:45pm
