Lewis Hallford plays a long ball
Tuesday saw the Diamonds take on QPR in a top of the table clash in the Puma Youth Alliance South East Conference. The Diamonds went into the match top of the league, with QPR second - but with vital games in hand.
George Cox gets stuck in
Adam Sharpe takes a shot
The first half was a slightly scrappy affair , Diamonds in their traditional white, QPR in their all red away kit- both sides more than cancelling each other out in front of 92 supporters in the Nene Park Stadium.
Lewis Hilliard on the attack
Elvijs Putnins is all shook up after conceding a Rushden goal - but he has the last laugh as it is disallowed for offside
As the second half went on the Diamonds started to look the stronger - depite QPRs continued threats, Man of the match Lewis Hilliard was hobbled by an injury, but despite this Rushden closed with attack after attack, the clock ticking down as QPR were forced further and further back.
Lewis Hilliard goes close
The 90th minute came on the scoreboard, time was running out for the Diamonds to get that winner......suddenly a long QPR ball is knocked forward and the Rangers pacy forwards are onto it, Josh Parker controlling it down the left - squaring it to Antonio German to tap in a volley from close range. 0-1 final score, despite a solid performance, and long periods of pressure from the Diamonds youngsters against QPRs youth.
Paul Driver issues the commands
0-0 would have been a fair reflection of two teams who have cancelled each other out throughout the game. QPR go top with the 1-0 win, and the Youth team look on to the Midland Youth Cup Semi Final against Shrewsbury on Monday 9th March 2009.
QPR Celebrate their winner in the closing seconds
Rushden & Diamonds: 1 Joe Day, 2 Matt Evans, 3 Chris Kirby, 4 George Cox, 5 Sean Calcutt (Captain), 6 Jack Higgins, 7 Lewis Hallford, 8 Connor Hayes, 9 Adam Sharpe, 10 Lewis Hilliard, 11 Daniel Easlea
Subs not used: 12 Callum Earls, 14 James Freshwater, 15 Nabil Shariff, 16 Jake Gillingwater, 20 Michael Emery (GK)
QPR: 1 Elvijs Putnins, 2 Elliott Cox, 3 Aaron Waters, 4 Max Ehmer, 5 Danny Bailey, 6 Ed Harris (Captain), 7 Danny Davenport, 8 Joe Britain (12 Josh Parker), 9 Antonio German, 10 Cyrus Vanterpool (16 Terry Smith), 11 Danny Fernandez (17 Andy Perring)
Subs not used: 14 Jevonne Molloey, 15 David Morley
