Wednesday 5th May 2010 at Stonebridge Road, Ebbsfleet United FC

Conference Youth Alliance

Championship Play-Off Quarter Final

Ebbsfleet Utd Youth 1 - 1 R&DFC Youth (AET)

Rushden & Diamonds won 3-1 on penalties

Diamonds Youth progressed to the semi-final of the Championship Play-offs beating Southern Division 'C' Champions Ebbsfleet United on penalties after the game had finished 1-1 after extra time. The home side had gone in front deep into first half stoppage time after Matt Evans had missed a spot kick midway through the half. Diamonds pressure in the second period finally paid off when Lewis Wilson equalised with 9 minutes remaining.

The Kent side had gone through their entire League campaign unbeaten and they started strongly. Keeper James Broadbent earned a yellow card after just two minutes after colliding with a Fleet forward outside the penalty area in an effort to foil an early attack. Brendan Cullen sent the free kick just wide of the post. Diamonds responded well but despite winning a number of corners, failed to carve out a decent chance.

On 21 minutes, Matt Evans got forward down the right to send in a dangerous cross. The home keeper clattered into Adam Sharpe - the referee instantly awarding a penalty kick. The keeper certainly came off worse in the clash, and after receiving a yellow card, was forced to retire with a head injury. After some five minutes delay, Evans sent the spot kick to the substitute keeper's right, but he guessed correctly and saved low down.

The latter period of the first half saw Fleet going forward at every opportunity coming close on a number of occasions as Diamonds struggled to cope. In the fifth minute of added time, their pressure finally paid off as Cullen sent a free kick into the area for Dion Monaghan to head past Broadbent.

Half-time: Ebbsfleet Utd 1 - 0 Rushden & Diamonds

Diamonds started the second period with more urgency, causing lots of problems for the home side. Adam Sharpe twice came close, before a Nabil Shariff effort was ruled out for offside. As Diamonds piled forward, Fleet looked to catch them out on the break and on 59 minutes, they nearly increased their lead as one of their forwards rounded the keeper, only to put his shot wide of the empty net.

Morgan Phillips and Aynsley McDonald both headed narrowly wide, while Elliot Dent failed to test the keeper with another good chance.

Paul Driver replaced two of the three frontmen with fifteen minutes remaining, Lewis Wilson and Liam Read replacing Jake Gillingwater and Adam Sharpe. The change did the trick as a long punt upfield from Broadbent on 81 minutes, was nodded on by Shariff for Lewis Wilson to fire home from 15 yards.

Diamonds defence stood firm for the remaining ten minutes as they came under increasing pressure and Broadbent produced an excellent save in the dying seconds as he turned away a fierce 25 yard volley through a crowded penalty area.

Full-time: Ebbsfleet Utd 1 - 1 Rushden & Diamonds

Extra time saw Diamonds on top during the first quarter of an hour. Read struck the post, and although Dent followed up and bundled the ball over the line, he was adjudged to have handled and was subsequently booked.

Wilson came agonisingly close at the start of the second period after the keeper had come out to deny Shariff. His lob towards the empty net bounced in front of the goal and inches over the bar. In the final moments, Eddie Sharman came close for Fleet, while a McDonald header was ruled out for offside.

AET: Ebbsfleet Utd 1 - 1 Rushden & Diamonds

Nabil Shariff and Lewis Wilson both converted their spot kicks in the penalty shoot out, before Broadbent saved low down to give Diamonds the advantage. Despite Callum Earls' kick striking the post, Broadbent made another save before Aynsley McDonald converted to put them 3-1 up. Fleet's fourth penalty went high over the bar and Diamonds could celebrate reaching the Semi-Finals. They will play Southern Division 'D' Champions Dartford Whites in the main stadium at Nene Park next Monday (2pm kick-off).

Rushden & Diamonds: James Broadbent, Matt Evans, Callum Earls, Connor Hayes, Aynsley McDonald, Morgan Phillips; Nabil Shariff, Elliot Dent, Jake Gillingwater (Lewis Wilson 74), Adam Sharpe (Liam Read 77), George Cox. Subs not used: Anthony Stockman.

Goals Dion Monaghan 45+5 (1-0), Lewis Wilson 81 (1-1).

Attendance: 95