Moulton Magpies Youth 1 - 8 Rushden & Diamonds Youth
Despite a slow start, a young Diamonds youth team coasted into the last 16 of the Northamptonshire Boys Under 18 County Cup with an 8 - 1 victory over Moulton Magpies. With the senior youth players involved in the important FA Youth Cup tie against Northampton Town at Nene Park on Monday evening, Diamonds fielded a mainly under-16 side.
Diamonds took the lead on 20 minutes, when Callum Earls fed the ball through for Sam Watkins to shoot home from 15 yards. Magpies nearly pulled level when Josh Harnden struck the top of the bar with a 25yard strike but moments later, Elliot Dent found Ben Sparrow who beat the keeper from the edge of the area.
Any hopes of a comeback from the homeside were dispelled in the opening eight minutes of the second half as Diamonds scored three times. First, Liam Read laid the ball back for Lewis Wilson to score into the bottom left corner. Jordan Pendered was fortunate to see his cross sail over the keeper into the net in the windy conditions, then Wilson powered in an effort from just inside the area which the keeper could only parry into the net.
The home side got a goal back on 57 minutes, when keeper Kyle Swailes failed to clear a backpass - Danny Reynolds slotting the ball home.
Diamonds scored a further three goals in the final fifteen minutes. Wilson was up-ended in the box, with Liam Read converting the spot kick. Watkins got his second with a fierce shot from just outside the area, before Read completed the scoring three minutes from time after Zak Reynolds picked out the Diamonds striker fifteen yards out.
The Youth team face Northampton Town at Nene Park on Monday evening (7pm kick-off), as they aim to enter the draw for the FA Youth Cup 2nd Round.
Team: Kyle Swailes; Zak Reynolds; Callum Earls; Jerry Nash; Max Harradine; Elliot Dent; Jordan Pendered; Sam Watkins; Liam Read; Lewis Wilson; Ben Sparrow.
Goals: Sam Watkins 20 (0-1); Ben Sparrow 37 (0-2); Lewis Wilson 48 (0-3); Jordan Pendered 50 (0-4); Lewis Wilson 53 (0-5); Danny Raymond 57 (1-5); Liam Read 76(pen) (1-6); Sam Watkins 79 (1-7); Liam Read 87 (1-8).
