On a freezing cold and damp Monday night with plenty of standing water to make the game a slippery affair, the Diamonds took to the pitch in their white, blue and red, up against Walsall in their dark green and black stripes in the Midland Youth Cup Quarter Final.
Easlea came close 12 minutes, but his lunging foot failed to connect with the cross, moments later he came close again, with a header he ought not to have won, being outmuscled by the defender, however his shot went across goal.
Walsall found their opportunities minimised by the Diamonds back five, with a handful of crosses, corners, a long range shot from Geddes and a long range free kick move from Keenan all to show from the opening part of the first half.
On 31 minutes, Nabil Shariff came close, his shot parried by the keeper, with Sean Shields following up with a long-range effort moments later.
The first half finished goal-less, with Walsall's number 8 limping off to be replaced by Jake Jones as the referee blew for half time. The first half was a midfield dominated affair, something exacerbated by the rain and water. When either the Diamonds or Walsall did manage to get into the oppositions box they looked dangerous, with the Diamonds having slightly the better of the chances.
Half Time: R&DFC 0 - 0 Walsall
In the 49th minute, Lewis Hallford surged down the right, only to slice his shot in the rain wide. George Cox had a shot moments later deflected wide of the post, leaving the goalkeeper stranded. The next few minutes saw Walsall in the ascendency, with a number of increasingly dangerous chances. On the hour mark Walsall had the best chance of the game, Bowerman's powerful shot was stopped by James Broadbent, with the onrushing McCourt looking likely to score he instead blasted it over the bar and into the empty Airwair stand. Broadbent then plucking a Jones shot out of the sky minutes later. Diamonds were not without chances however, Shariff showed his strength and with the keeper diving early unfortunately shot over the bar.
The Walsall goal came on 72 minutes, George Barrowman surging through the defence via some neat one-two's poking the ball past a stranded Broadbent. On the 85th minute Walsall came close again, a Morgan Phillips clearance slicing up into the air almost going into Broadbents net, however the keeper was able to collect it to save a freak own goal from happening. Partridge came close for Walsall with a volley from the edge of the box as the final whistle drew near.
Full Time: R&DFC 0 - 1 Walsall
After an evenly matched first half the Youth Team will be disappointed to go out of the Midland Youth Cup at the Quarter Final stage, as there seemed to be little between the League One and the Blue Square Premier sides.
Goals: 0-1 Bowerman (72)
Rushden & Diamonds: 1 James Broadbent, 2 Matt Evans, 3 Aynsley McDonald (Captain), 4 George Cox, 5 Morgan Phillips, 6 George Artemi, 7 Lewis Hallford, 8 Connor Hayes, 9 Nabil Shariff, 10 Sean Shields, 11 Dan Easlea
Subs: 12 Elliot Dent, 13 Kyle Swailes (GK), 14 Liam Read, 15 Lewis Wilson, 16 Jake Gillingwater
Walsall: 1 Tim Cooney, 2 Rory Wood, 3 Louis Keenan, 4 Sean Geddes, 5 Alex Hickman, 6 Dan Partridge (Captain), 7 Tom Overfield, 8 Aaron Forde (Sub 45 mins 12 Jake Jones), 9 George Bowerman, 10 James Patterson, 11 Jordan McCourt
Subs: 14 John Haynes, 15 Jack Cresswell, 16 Joe Butlin, 17 James Wren (GK)
Attendance: 108
