Diamonds Wade Through To The End - AFC Rushden and Diamonds vs. Biggleswade Town

There was a big crowd for this top of the table clash

As I'm back down in London I'm now back at the mercy of public transport. After much deliberation and changing my mind I eventually settled on the fourth versus fifth clash in The Southern Premier League Central between AFC Rushden and Diamonds and Biggleswade Town. My first memory of Rushden and Diamonds was when they beat Scunthorpe in The FA Cup while they were still in The Conference and relativity more recently I saw them come back to draw 3-3 at Hayes and Yeading's old ground. I've visited Langford Road again a little while ago when they played Berkhampsted in The South Midlands League and I think Berkhampsted disappeared the week afterwards. Today's game promised to be a cracker and Biggleswade were looking to complete the double having won the first match up one nil.

Waiting for the linesman to clear off

In a quiet first half, it is Biggleswade who have the only chances of note. firstly they have a half volley that is straight at the keeper before a free kick from distance goes wide of the target. Hopefully the second half would provide more entertainment.

Biggleswade keeper claims a cross

Biggleswade take the lead when a defensive slip lets the forward in on goal and he doesn't waste the chance to make it one nil. Rushden now have a spell of pressure with a last ditch block preventing a shot on goal. They get the equaliser when a cross from the left is put in to the net at the back post. You sense that Rushden now have the momentum but things don't pan out that way. The Biggleswade defender is tripped in the box and the penalty is buried to restore Biggleswade's lead. Things get even better for the visitors when the attacker smashes a shot from distance past the Rushden keeper to establish a two goal lead with ten minutes to go. The home side are given a glimmer of hope when they are awarded a penalty of their own for a high boot which also sees the Biggleswade player receive a second yellow. The resulting spot kick is dispatched and Rushden have two minutes to find an equaliser. And they find it from a third penalty deep in injury time which is again put past the keeper to claim an unlikely draw.

Rushden attacking in the second half

So for my first trip not in a car for a couple of weeks, I first took a train from St Pancras to Kettering which takes around an hour. Then from the town centre I took the 49 into Rushden and this section takes forty minutes or so. The stand out pub in Rushden is the brilliant Hopmaster General which had an amazing selection of beers on draft as well as a large section of bottles and cans. If you just want to watch the early game then The Rose and Crown is a good spot. The ground is then less than ten minutes from the town centre. The clubhouse had the usual selection of drinks and also had BT Sports. I liked Hayden Road and hopefully they do something to get the main stand back in use.

Tree line side of Hayden Road