Rushden & Diamonds beat Rocester 5-0 in the FA Youth Cup sponsored by e.on 3rd Round Qualifying - to secure their place in the First Round Proper against Northampton Town.
Sean Shields scored the first three goals, Paul Driver described all three goals as "well worked neat shots, although for the third the goalkeeper was mis-sighted"
Nabil Shariff scored the fourth, turning his man and poking the ball through the keepers legs - the best goal was the closing goal however, Sean Shields grabbed his fourth spotting the Rocester goalkeeper off his line and chipping him from 25 yards.
Head of Youth at Rushden & Diamonds Paul Driver commented "It was a good result, the game was nearly called off before it even started due to a waterlogged pitch - there was water everywhere and the pitch was cutting up. So I'm very impressed at a good result on a difficult narrow pitch.
I was very impressed with Rocester, they worked hard, closed us down and limited our play, but we got a goal early on, which relaxed our nerves.
We finished the first half three goals up, at the start of the second they had a good go - had they got a goal it would have made it very interesting - but as the half wore on Nabil got one and then Sean got one at the death to make it 5-0
We were neat and tidy without being world class, but its difficult to go to a place like that, so to come away with a win and another clean sheet I'm very pleased.
We needed to go and be professional, get the job done and deal with what was thrown at us - and we did that."
