The Diamonds Youth emphatically sealed their place in the Semi-Finals of the Midland Youth Cup on Wednesday, with a 7-1 victory over Lincoln City, who knocked the Diamonds out of the competition last year.
Wearing their Red kit, on a cold but sunny December afternoon on pitch 3, the youth team wasted no time in getting their scoring boots on. Lewis Hallford scored the first on five minutes to make it 1-0, getting the ball down the left Hallford shaped to cross, instead sending a looping ball towards the goal, beating the keeper.
Hallford was in the action again on the 24th minute, receiving a yellow card along with Lincoln's number 3 for arguing over a throw in.
The second goal had a hint of fortune about it, Calcutt received a free kick from a long way out (near the half way line) and punted it in towards George Cox, the ball took an unexpected bounce, straight over the onrushing goalkeeper and into the net, Cox peeled away celebrating, claiming he had got something on it. However, the referee and opposing goalkeeper agreed after the match it was a freak bounce, with Sean Calcutt's long distance effort making it 2-0.
Nathan Adams for Lincoln got one back in injury time of the first half, scoring a one-on-one to make the first half a close affair.
Half Time: R&DFC Youth 2 - 1 Lincoln City Youth
After an evenly matched first half, the youth team came out all guns blazing for the second, with Hallford making it 3-1 after 53 minutes. After good work between Hallford and Shariff, Hallford's shot was parried by the keeper, but the Diamonds youngster reacted first, tapping the ball in to make it 3-1.
The third goal so early in the half seemed to knock the stuffing out of Lincoln, with Hallford bagging his hat trick, making it 4-1 on the 55th minute, cutting inside after a run down the left and looping a shot-come-cross into the net, leaving the goalkeeper stranded in no mans land as he expected a cross.
Lewis Hallford saved the best until last, scoring his fourth, and Diamonds fifth in the 63rd minute, receiving the ball in central midfield, and without any immediate options, Hallford unleashed a screamer from only just inside the Lincoln half, leaving the beleaguered goalkeeper with no chance.
Jack Higgins made it 6-1 rising above the opposing defenders to head in from a left wing corner.
An Own Goal completed the Diamonds rout after the City Defender accidentally poked the ball into his own net after being put under a lot of pressure from Wigglesworth, who had come off the bench following being rested for concussion last week.
Lincoln were by no means a poor side, more than matching the Diamonds in the first half, and even at 3-1 looked very dangerous, however they caught the Diamonds Youth in the middle of a spell of great form, and consequently suffered a heavy defeat.
Full Time: R&DFC Youth 7 - 1 Lincoln City Youth
Rushden & Diamonds Youth team will now face an away trip to Shrewsbury in the Midland Youth Cup Semi-Final - date and time to be arranged.
The Diamonds Youth Team are in action in the Northants Boys Under 18 Cup on Saturday 20th December at 11am against Peterborough United.
Then the Youth have their winter break, so the next League game will be against Peterborough United in the Puma Youth Alliance on January 10th 2009.
Head of Youth at Rushden & Diamonds, Paul Driver said "I'm really pleased to have played so well against a really good opposition. We were really strong, particularly in the second half so it is a good indication of where we are and how far we've come, especially as Lincoln City comfortably knocked us out of this competition last season.
Lincoln were only narrowly beaten by Birmingham after extra time in the FA Youth Cup last week, so they're a quality side.
The win and performance supplements nicely going to the top of the League in the Puma Youth Alliance, however we've got to kick on, we can't sit back and relax now, we've got to push on to maintain this run of form."
