.

I said we needed five wins in January if we were serious about making a playoff challenge.
Having failed to win at the first hurdle (Mickleover) we now need to win our next five which is not impossible.

Our next four matches are against bottom half teams

Sat 07 Jan   Rushden & Diamonds    Home
Sat 14 Jan   Kings Langley                Away
Tue 17 Jan  Hednesford Town           Away
Sat 21 Jan  St Ives Town                   Away

If we were to win our next four very winnable matches it would give us confidence to take on Coalville at home on 28th Jan. But that would need a level of consistency that we haven't shown so far.

We start this run with Rushden & Diamonds at home, This is the easiest looking fixture and if we don't win that one I think we can forget the playoffs.






 

DATE: THU 05 JAN 2023   BY STEVE WHITNEY 

Weekend Match Preview
After the recent cold snap and then wet spell saw a number of matches in the four divisions of the Pitching In Southern Football League postponed just before and around Christmas time.



 However, Bank Holiday Monday’s weather relented and allowed virtually a full round of matches and Saturday sees another round of important games.

In the Premier Division Central, leaders Tamworth are involved in the game of the day as they make the relatively short trip to the Mander Cruickshank Solicitors Stadium to take on fifth-placed Coalville Town.Both won last Monday, with the Ravens winning 2-0 at Basford United and the Lambs easing past Alvechurch at home. Although Tamworth manager Andy Peaks will be concentrating all his efforts on guiding his team to promotion, having done a marvellous job since moving to the Lambs in February 2022, he will still be sad to see his former club, AFC Rushden & Diamonds, struggling so badly this season.Peaks spent eight years in charge of Diamonds and left them in a decent position to take over a Tamworth side who, at the time, were in the bottom three. One swallow doesn’t make a summer, but new manager Chris Nunn’s first win in charge on Monday at Hayden Road against St Ives Town will come as a big boost to everyone connected to the fan-owned club as they make a tricky trip to Ilkeston Town on Saturday – the Robins currently sitting in seventh place.

Another important clash in the battle to avoid the drop sees third-from-bottom Stratford Town welcome a Kings Langley side who are 18th to the Arden Garages Stadium.It will be the Bards first game since the tragic death of Cody Fisher, so it’s sure to be an emotional afternoon. 


 

Got to be aiming for 12 points from these four games. If we can do that anything is possible!

.
FROM NORTHAMPTONSHIRE TELEGRAPH

Vital win a 'big step in the right direction' as Diamonds gear up for Ilkeston

 Chris Nunn admitted AFC Rushden & Diamonds’ 2-1 win over St Ives Town on Bank Holiday Monday was “a massive step in the right direction”.

 Diamonds ended a run of seven straight defeats in the Southern League Premier Central as a goal from Jenson Cooper and Miguel Ngwa’s late strike sealed victory in Nunn’s first home game in charge and in front of the biggest crowd of the season so far at Hayden Road.

 The victory also lifted Diamonds off the foot of the table and moved them to within eight points of safety.

 Nunn knows the club still have a “massive job on our hands” if they are to avoid the drop this season but he is now looking to follow up the fourth win of the campaign when Diamonds head to play-off chasing Ilkeston Town on Saturday.

 “When I took over, I said the first step was to get off the bottom and then try to reel teams in,” Nunn said.
“But we have got to be realistic, it’s still a massive job on our hands.

 “What we have to do is be hard to beat and we create an atmosphere. We have got to make this place (Hayden Road) a fortress, not just with the crowd but by how we play.

 “We have to come here and get the crowd on side. You can’t just expect it because you play for Rushden. We’ve got to get them to follow us.

“You could see there was a bit more belief in the boys on Monday but, also, they’re playing for a shirt.

 “We had a right to bring in as many players as we wanted to after losing seven games on the spin and losing 6-1. The boys know they have to play well and they have to deliver.

 “It’s going to be hard but why can’t we go to Ilkeston and get a result?

 “We will go there and be positive, we will ask questions but if we show the same level of commitment and do the basics right before we over complicate things then hopefully we will be able to give them a good game.”

 Nunn, meanwhile, hailed the contribution of goalkeeper Dean Snedker who made a series of fine saves on Monday, including a stunning late stop from Enoch Andoh to preserve the three points.



 

We're approaching kickoff. It's bright sunshine but chilly in the clocktower stand.

Ilkeston are wearing their home kit.  Rushden are wearing Yellow shirts and black shorts.

In the first half Ilkeston are attacking the car park end.

We're off.........

Last edited by Matchman (07/1/2023 2:01 PM)

Early signs are good. Diamonds are being pinned back. So close to an Ilkeston goal following free kick as the loose ball is prodded just wide. Arlott John tries his luck but its high and wide.       0-0     13 mins

Decent effort from  distance by Jallow for Rushden but it's wide. Free kick Ilkeston on edge of area. Fenton's effort saved by Snedker. Joe Wilson head is just too high       0-0     28 mins

Brilliant run by Ward past three defenders before his effort is blocked.  Corner for Rushden.  It sails out on the other side. Campbell gets past the keeper but defender gets back to divert .  Snedker punches the corner clear 0-0    43 mins

UPDATES
Southern League
Hitchin Town 1 Bromsgrove 0
Bedford 0 Hednesford 3
Coalville 1 Tamworth 0
Leiston 3 Basford 0
Nuneaton 0 Redditch 0
Rushall 0 Needham Market 0
St Ives Town 0 Mickloever 0
Stourbridge 1 Royston 0
Stratford 1 Kings Langley 0

 

Campbell close to scoring again but thwarted by Snedker.   Fyfe replaced by OGrady on 59 mins,  Tomlin breaks but is fouled. O'Grady forces a save from Snedker. He only parries but then grabs the loose ball.
Tomlin lob doesn't curl enough      still only 1-0       64 mins
I thought it looked a good attendance.   It's  1320

Last edited by Matchman (07/1/2023 3:25 PM)

Outstanding piece of skill in the area by Tomlin.     Arlott-John replaced by Thabang Dube   on 72 mins

Tomlin and Ward have turned the clock back today.

 

Last edited by Matchman (07/1/2023 3:35 PM)

Great turn and shot by O'Grady but Snadker is equal to it with a fine save. 
Goal for Rushden        2-1       81 mins      Corden the scorer. 

Tomlin replaced by Bradley on 86 mins        3-1

UPDATES
Southern League 
Hitchin Town 2 Bromsgrove 0
Bedford 0 Hednesford 3
Coalville 1 Tamworth 0
Ilkeston Town 3 Rushden 1
Leiston 6 Basford 2
Nuneaton 0 Redditch 0
Rushall 1 Needham Market 0
St Ives Town 1 Mickleover 0
Stourbridge 5 Royston 1
Stratford 1 Kings Langley 1