The Youth Team travelled the short distance to Luton on Saturday and came away with a 2 - 0 win against their local rivals thanks to goals in each half from Lewis Hilliard which moves them into 2nd place in the Puma Junior Alliance Southern Section behind QPR and just in front of Southend United who both drew their matches at the weekend.

Paul Driver picked the same team that had started the previous week's win against Barnet so Chris Kirby and Adam Sharpe continued their partnership on the left side after good performances in that game.

Rushden started brightly and had decent amounts of possession but were unable to turn this into clear cut chances and put themselves in front.

Towards the end of the half, there were big shouts for a penalty for a foul on John Wigglesworth which were waved away by the referee. Wigglesworth was accidentally injured in the incident and was taken to the local hospital but discharged after a check up.

Lewis Hilliard replaced Wigglesworth in attack and almost opened the scoring in the 43rd minute when he completed a neat move with a shot which was saved by the home Keeper.

He didn't have to wait long for another chance though as within minutes he rounded the keeper to give Rushden the lead on the stroke of half time.

Half Time: Luton Town 0 Rushden & Diamonds 2

Rushden continued to play well after the break and created chances - the best of which fell to Nabil Shariff who put the ball over from close range. Just after this, a precise cross from Lewis Hallford was flicked from the head of Hilliard by a Luton defender to stop the visitors extending their lead.

Luton had an excellent chance to equalise as the game entered the final ten minutes but their striker shot wide when through on Michael Emery's goal.

The points were sealed in the 85th minute when Hilliard cut inside and scored from 15 yards.

Full Time: Luton Town 0 Rushden & Diamonds 2

Paul Driver commented afterwards "This was another decent performance on a pitch made heavy with the recent rain by a young group of players who are working well for each other at the moment.

Fair play to Hilliard, he's come off the bench in both of the last two games, has led the line well and got himself three goals"

Even though we've played a couple of games more than some teams around us, it's still nice to see ourselves up there in second place in the current table as we go into the last league games before Christmas"

Rushden Team: Emery, Evans, Kirby, Cox, McDonald, Higgins, Hallford, Hayes, Shariff, Wigglesworth (Hilliard 38), Sharpe (Freshwater 78). Subs Not Used: Calcutt, Phillips, Broadbent (GK)