The Youth Team completed their pre season schedule with a hard fought 1 - 0 victory away to Boston United Under 18s on a short and wide pitch at RAF Cranwell on Saturday 5^th August.

A change to the regular back four which had equipped themselves so well in the midweek friendly for the First Team against Wellingborough was required, as Centre-Back, Callum Reynolds came out of the match with a slight knee injury.Ugo Udoji switched to the middle of the defence with 14 year old George Cox coming into the right back position in which he had done well in the previous match against Oxford United.

Boston had the slight edge in a first half where there was very little flowing football as the sides appeared to cancel each other out and chances were few and far between for both sides.

Lawrence Lambley had the best chance for Rushden on 35 minutes when he was put through by Andrew Tidswell but the Boston Keeper made a good block to deny him while at the other end, Martyn Margerson tipped a shot onto the post on 40 minutes and was quick to collect the rebound before the Boston strikers could get in to score.

Rushden lost the influencial Ugo Udoji with a knee injury just before the break following a collision with a Boston defender at a corner and he was replaced by Alex Phillips from the Under 16 squad.

The discussion at half time was centred around making better use of the width of the pitch by getting the ball wide quicker and stretching the play more to allow space to get our passing game working better and this was taken on board as the half progressed.

The break through came on 63 minutes following excellent work wide on the right side from Lee Nevin whose precise cross was headed into the corner of the net from 12 yards by Andrew Tidswell.

Further changes came on 65 minutes with another 14 year old, Aynsley McDonald, making his debut at Right Back in place of George Cox and Antony Weston replacing Lawrence Lambley in attack.

The main features of the final 20 minutes were the continued good work from Lee Nevin in attack - a delightful piece of skill followed by an inviting cross which just eluded the strikers being the main highlight - and another excellent defensive display from Dominic Langdon who led the back four well and always seemed to be on hand to stamp out any danger from the Boston strikers.

So, with limited scares in the final stages, Rushden held on for a deserved and hard fought victory against a much more experienced side which should set them up well as they go into the league campaign next week at home against Colchester United.