Rushden & Diamonds 1 Stafford Rangers 1
Blue Square Premier
At: Nene Stadium
Kick-off: 3-00 pm
Attendance: 1533
Weather: dry, mild
Rangers extended their unbeaten run to three games with a hard-fought draw at Rushden & Diamonds. Marco Adaggio (78) headed Stafford into the lead but Simeon Jackson (84) levelled for the home side
Phil Robinson made one change with Chris Flynn coming in for Ross Draper.
A long throw from the left by Fred Murray, early in the game, delivered into the area caused problems for the home defence.
Stafford almost took the lead in the 8th minute. Djoumin Sangare rose at the far post to head Kevin Street’s left-wing corner towards goal. Defender Wayne Hatswell (or was it Martin Foster) cleared off the line with keeper Paul Nicholls beaten.
Rushden got forward and created a couple of scoring opportunities. Andy Burgess drilled a low shot wide of the right-hand post from 20 yards while Michael Malcolm sent an overhead kick into the arms of well-positioned Scott Loach.
Curtis Osano delivered a dangerous cross into the Stafford area from the right and Wayne Daniel needed to head the ball clear.
In what was becoming an entertaining end-to-end game, Street fed the overlapping Richard Sutton on the right who curled a shot wide of the near post.
Loach raced off his line in the 18th minute and collided with Simeon Jackson just outside the area. The keeper was unlucky to be booked but nothing came of Burgess’ free-kick.
Rushden, unbeaten in their last seven games, looked to apply pressure and were twice thwarted by a raised flag for offside.
In the 22nd minute, Burgess looked to put Malcolm clear down the right but Sangare got back to make a vital tackle to prevent the Rushden striker having a run on goal.
The referee gave a free-kick 27 yards out for a foul by Sangare on Malcom. Chris Hope drove the ball against the wall.
Kelly’s cross from the left was headed out to Burgess who juggled the ball 25 yards out before volleying over the Stafford bar.
In the 37th minute, Burgess skipped past Flynn and drilled a low shot wide of the right post through a crowd.
As the interval approached Asano was allowed to dribble all the way to the right bye-line. He pulled the ball back across the face of goal but no one got on the end and Sutton cleared.
In stoppage time, Sutton found Street with a throw. The midfielder worked a chance and sent a left-foot shot wide of the target from just outside the area.
Dean Howell sent a 25-yard shot flashing past the Stafford goal six minutes after the restart. Burgess delievered a deep corner to the far post where Hatswell headed over though the defender was penalised for pushing.
Rangers made the game's first change with Neil Grayson replacing David McNiven just after the hour mark and was soon booked for a foul on on Burgess.
In the 68th minute Paul Nicholls pulled off a fine diving save to turn round an acrobatic volley from Adaggio. From the resulting corner Adaggio bravely got in a header and sent the ball wide.
Jackson almost put Rushden ahead in the 72nd minute when he sent a dipping volley against the top of the Stafford bar.
Rangers got foward and Street was brought down by Foster just outside the home area. Grayson drilled the free-kick through the wall and just wide.
However, a low cross from the left by Howell found its way to the far post where Murray headed over the bar to concede a corner.
The deadlock was broken in the 79th minute. Fred Murray’s long throw was flicked on to the far post and Adaggio sent a header into the opposite top left corner of the net.
Adaggio could have scored again when put clear by Chris Flynn. He tried to flick the ball past Nicholls who in the end saved comfortably.
But Rangers held their lead for just five minutes before Rushden levelled in the 84th minute. Burgess’ long ball caught out the Stafford defence and Jackson forced the ball home.
Diamonds pressed for a winner but the well-organised Stafford defence stood firm during some six and a half minutes of stoppage time.
Rushden & Diamonds(white/white/white): 12. Paul Nicholls; 2. Curtis Osano, 5. Chris Hope (capt), 6. Wayne Hatswell, 24. Dean Howell; 11. Andy Burgess, 25. Simon Rusk, 17. Martin Foster, 18. Marcus Kelly; 23. Michael Malcolm, 10. Simeon Jackson. Subs: 4. Phil Gulliver, 7. Jon Challinor (for Foster, 80), 14. Michael Rankine (for Kelly, 80), 15. Lee Tomlin (for Malcolm, 84), 16. Tom Shaw.
Stafford Rangers (black and white stripes with white sleeves / black / black): 12. Scott Loach; 5. Wayne Daniel (capt), 26. Cedric Avinel, 6. Djoumin Sangare; 2. Richard Sutton, 8. Kevin Street, 7. Chris Flynn, 28. David Oldfield, 25. Fred Murray; 10. David McNiven, 20. Marco Adaggio. Subs: 9. Neil Grayson (for McNiven, 61), 16. Tom Ingram, 17. Ross Draper, 24. Steve Hopkinson, 1. Danny Alcock.
Referee: S Creighton (Berkshire).
Attendance: 1533 (88 away fans).
