Rushden & Diamonds Youth Team recorded a 5-0 win against Leighton Town in a tricky FA Youth Cup sponsored by e.on 1st Round Qualifying tie.
Adam Sharpe on the ball
The first half was a very even affair, with Leighton putting in a very good performance and just one goal from Adam Sharpe seperating the two teams, reacting first to a blocked Nabil Shariff shot. The second half saw a substitution changing the game, with Sean Shields replacing Adam Sharpe.
Sharpe celebrates
The goals finally came with Nabil Shariff scoring from a looping long ball to make it 2-0, Sean Shields got the 3rd hitting a hard and low shot from a Lewis Hallford cross, Connor Hayes got the 4th, poking in a cross after good work down both right and left wings, Sean Shields grabbed his second, and the game's 5th late on.
Lewis Hallford caused trouble down the right
Sean shoots
and scores
This result sees the Diamonds through to the Second Round Qualifying, where they will host Luton Town (details will be announced once decided betwen the two sides).
Sean Shields celebrates another goal
Head of Youth Paul Driver said "In the end its a good result, very disappointing first half, all of the things we've worked on with them over the last two weeks on the training pitch and talked about weren't done and that's why we've put in a poor performance first half. Second half they reacted well, you've got to give them credit for that. I think the change was putting Sean Shields up there has made a major difference because he's linked the play, got involved with the goals, scored two goals and he's the difference, it sticks with him and he brings others into play. So second half, better decisions, still not good enough, still not at the level that we expect but still probably a move forward from the S and L game."
Nabil Shariff on the ball
R&DFC lineup - 1 James Broadbent, 2. Matt Evans, 3 Aynsley McDonald (c) (sub 14 Chris Kirby), 4 George Cox, 5 George Artemi, 6 Jake Gillingwater, 7 Lewis Hallford, 8 Connor Hayes, 9 Nabil Shariff, 10 Adam Sharpe (sub 15 Sean Shields), 11 Dan Easlea (sub 16 Lewis Wilson). Unused Subs 12 Morgan Philips, 17 Liam Read
Leighton Town lineup - 1 M Blower, 2 S Slatter, 3 J Kempster, 4 J Poulton, 5 R Smith, 6 O Forsythe, 7 S Richards, 8 M Porter, 9 A Denton, 10 C Friar, 11 J McGill, 12 A Clark, 14 C Sagoo, 15 K Durka, 16 A Bradley, 17 J Batton
