Diamonds Youth team beat Rothwell Town 2-1 at Cecil Street on Tuesday evening to reach to Northants FA Boys Under 18 County Cup Final where they will play either Northampton Town or Corby Town.

Rothwell came under some early pressure as Diamonds pushed forward from the kick off. Liam Read went close after just 5 minutes after a long punt up field from keeper Kyle Swailes found the striker with space to chip the ball over the keeper, but his effort was cleared off the line. Callum Earls and Charlie Desmond both came close, while Lewis Wilson drilled another effort straight at the Bones keeper.

Diamonds went in front on 24 minutes after Wilson disposed a defender and fed the ball to Jake Gillingwater. His shot was blocked, but Read followed up at the far post and slipped the ball back inside for Lewis Wilson to score from close range.

The home side had created little problem for Diamonds, but keeper Swailes had to be alert to head clear a through ball which split the defence on the half hour mark, before they put a free header wide from a corner kick in added first half time.   

Just two minutes into the second half, Lewis Wilson was on the score sheet again after Gillingwater's long range shot was deflected into his path, and he fired home from the edge of the area to put Diamonds two up.

Diamonds seemed to take their foot off the gas as Rothwell gradually increased their share of possession, but the defence was able to snuff out any real danger. Elliot Dent forced a superb save from the Rothwell keeper on 74 minutes after Connor Montone and Wilson combined well on the right.

On 82 minutes however, Rothwell got back into the game after Michael Cirelli was brought down in the area. Harry Calver stepped up and placed the penalty kick wide of Swailes to make for a tense ending. Swailes made a good save from Cirelli in the final couple of minutes, but Diamonds saw out the remaining time to book a place in the Final.

Team:

Rushden & Diamonds: Kyle Swailes; Connor Montone; Callum Earls; Jerry Nash; Morgan Phillips(c); Max Harradine; Lewis Wilson; Elliot Dent; Jake Gillingwater; Liam Read; Charlie Desmond.

Subs not used: James Broadbent; Dominic Brennan; Joe Hopewell; Zack Reynolds; Femi Solesi.

Goals: Lewis Wilson 24 (0-1), Lewis Wilson 47 (0-2), Harry Calver 82pen (1-2).