Rushden 1-2 U's: Magic In The Airwair
Tuesday 8th April 2008 - Rushden 1-2 U's: Magic In The Airwair
"Quinn out! Quinn out!" The chants echoed loudly all around Nene Park as United's under-fire boss oversaw another limp, forgettable performance from his charges. Thankfully, that was fourteen and a half months ago, and tonight Rushden's ground resonated with nothing but optimism, triumph and praise for Jimmy'n'Willy as the Mighty U's marched on towards the playoffs.
The memory of that 3-1 defeat last season, in freezing cold with United glued to 22nd place in the table, was a low in a season of all too many lows; Andy Duncan wandered bewilderedly around central midfield, oldies Dean Hooper and Paul Crichton puffed around at the back, and the strike force of Dean Holdsworth and Wayne Purser never got a sniff.
Five United players survived from that evening to play again this season: Michael Morrison, Rob Wolleaston and Courtney Pitt still sported the black and amber, while Mark Albrighton and Wayne Hatswell had swapped sides, having played for Rushden in the clubs' previous Nene Park encounter. In fact, only skipper Chris Hope survived to play again for the Diamonds tonight.
The sleepy town of Irthlingborough was subjected to a noisy, good-natured invasion as the amber hordes filled the away end, the Airwair Stand, to all but outnumber the home support long before kick-off. The best thing about Rushden & Diamonds these days is its ground, Max Griggs' most substantial legacy to the club which he built almost single-handedly; in fact should United ever get round to that move, they could do a lot worse than echo its design (albeit on a larger scale), including the retention of a terrace for those home fans who prefer to stand, although I'm not sure we would need the concrete owls who loom spookily over the four corners of the ground.
Diamonds' team, however, is no longer of Football League quality, slumped in mid-table mediocrity, having sold its top scorer, Simeon Jackson, in January, and perhaps suffering something of a hangover tonight from their penalties defeat to Aldershot in that oh-so-important Setanta Shield final last week, with the resultant prospect of massive fixture congestion for the rest of the season.
Their most well-known player these days is Curtis Woodhouse, ex-Posh hatchet man and sometime boxer, who with the growth of a shaggy Afro and a white headband seems to have morphed into a lookalike of Ivan Campo, although he might need a couple of pillows up his shirt to complete the illusion. Captain Hope is a well-respected old pro, and one ex-U was on the bench in the form of lightweight Frenchman Abdou 'Gary' El Kholti.
Back on track after victory at Droylsden at the weekend, JQ's only change was to bring back Mark Albrighton against the club to whom he was loaned by Boston last term in place of injured Josh Coulson, Michael Morrison moving to right-back in a repeat of Saturday's 4-4-2 setup. With Mark Peters (described as a Rushden 'legend' in the programme) also unfit, youth team keeper Phil Smith took his place on the bench.
In stark contrast to last season's doom and gloom, the atmosphere generated by the bouncing, singing away contingent was so electric it could have filled a boiling teapot for everyone in the country. The Nene Park turf was impressively lush and verdant on an evening of rapidly dropping temperature as the teams trooped out, the hosts matching United's formation although surprisingly playing ex-Cambridge City midfield man Jon Challinor as a striker alongside target man Michael Rankine, pointing to a marked lack of depth in their squad, not to mention money.
Early exchanges were inconclusive, Pitt looking lively down the left, but a brief spell of pressure for United on 10 almost produced an early breakthrough. Pitt's corner from the left was cleared to the right wing where Ben Farrell picked it up and pumped it back into a crowded box; another clearance and it was back with Pitt out on the left, and this time his cross fell invitingly to Hatswell with a clear scoring chance on his old stamping ground ten yards out, but his goalbound stab was well blocked by home keeper Dale Roberts.
In a trice Diamonds had broken at pace down the other end, and Challinor bore down on goal through the right channel. Entering the box, he had Rankine available to his left, but chose to shoot and drove wide of Danny Potter's far post.
After that brief flurry Rushden began to assert themselves, as hardworking a side as you would expect from that nice Garry Hill, and their midfield pushed up on their United counterparts man-for-man, giving them no time to move or pass. The inevitable outcome was that the U's middle four was forced to knock it back to their defenders who, in the absence of anyone available close by, simply lofted it long in the general direction of front men Mark Beesley and Lee Boylan. A ridiculous number of high balls were pumped towards the latter, while all attempts at penetrating through balls foundered through insufficient accuracy.
The hosts were playing the better football, United having temporarily lost their passing boots, and it was fortunate for the visitors that the best chances fell to striking rookie Challinor. Woodhouse blasted one over on 20, Rankine set up Challinor for a header two minutes later from ten yards which bore insufficient power to trouble the clutching Potter, and on 24 Challinor again got his head to an Andy Burgess cross but flashed narrowly wide.
United were unable to create anything of note, their midfield stifled and out of sorts although Farrell forayed energetically, and a hopeful high ball forward on 32 fell for Boylan to nod towards the top corner, but Roberts pulled it out of the sky without too much trouble. The next ten minutes were something of a stalemate, Diamonds on top territorially but creating nothing of note, while the PA announcer broke in to intone the latest Champions League scores at regular intervals to remind us what we were missing on the box. All very well, but what about the latest news from Salisbury??
The United fans remained vocal, however, with an extended rendition of the 'left side/middle/right side' song, and were rewarded with the excitement of a booking on 42 for Rankine for dissent at a free-kick award. There were thrills of an even more unwanted variety shortly afterwards when Woodhouse and Paul Carden clashed heads going for a high ball and both required substantial treatment. Carden eventually resumed with a makeshift bandage around his bonce and a fresh numberless shirt while Woodhouse received more TLC in the dressing room. Perhaps they were conducting an emergency repair job on his Afro.
Danny Brown picked up United's first yellow just before the break for a pointless lunge at Lee Tomlin as he ran the ball out of play in the corner, but nothing came of the ensuing free-kick and a fairly forgettable first 45 trundled to a close, in which the U's support had performed considerably better than their team. Could the hosts continue their energetic closing-down game into part two?
The interval was mainly notable for that rarest of sights, a gents' loo with a massive queue next to a ladies' with no queue at all. The second half could only get better.
The restart took place in surreal circumstances as United resumed with only ten men on the pitch, Carden having failed to re-emerge and presumably undergoing some hurried examination. Beesley dropped deep as United were forced into some early defending, Tom Shaw blazing over, and with almost five minutes of the half gone, the U's finally got round to making up the numbers.
Stephen Reed was Carden's replacement, although as the latter was not on the field the fourth official indicated that the number '0' was being replaced in some rather desperate improvisation. Confused, Mr PA announced that number 10 Boylan was coming off, but he eventually realised his mistake a few minutes later. Parity was restored.
United upped the tempo and, perhaps fazed by their team changes, Rushden this time looked more vulnerable. Pitt, for so long unwilling or unable to go past his man to the byline and cross like a proper winger, started to test his marker Michael Corcoran, gaining his side a corner on 55, and after it was repelled at the expense of a second flag-kick, this time Hatswell arrived late into the box to head Wolleaston's cross goalward. It appeared to be bouncing in at the near post until acrobatically turned behind by Roberts.
Roared on by the amber faithful, more corners ensued, and number four found the buzzing Boylan's head; again Roberts saved and Farrell saw his follow-up shot also stopped. Still the U's pushed for the lead, and on 57 a pinpoint Reed cross found Boylan again six yards out, but his glancing header fell agonisingly wide of the post with Roberts reduced to watching and praying.
The hosts finally responded with a Shaw corner on the hour that appeared to have been woefully underhit until it rolled to Burgess on the edge of the box, who fired over. Five minutes later another home corner ended with a swift breakaway, Reed sprinting down the left channel almost to the byline. He then knocked it inside for Boylan who squared it to Wolleaston. Spotting the run of Beesley, he slid an exquisite ball between Rushden's centre-backs and Beesley controlled, turned and stroked a cool precision finish low past Roberts and in at the far post. 1-0!
It was a rare moment of quality football in a game of huff and puff, and it was greeted like the winner in a cup final by the deafening amber hordes. Game on. Challinor picked up his side's second booking soon after for a clumsy hack at Reed, and although Tomlin netted on 68, the offside flag had long since beaten him to it like a protestor to the Olympic flame.
If United's opener had been a great team goal, their second on 74 was created by one man: Pitt. Sprinting from halfway, he shook off Corcoran, hared to the byline, cut inside, looked up and picked out Beesley racing in at the near post, and his lashed cross was rammed unceremoniously home from point-blank range for Beesley's third goal in two games. The Number of the Bees is 2-0.
The U's supporters were still celebrating when Diamonds struck back almost immediately. Wolleaston and Pitt were both lying injured on the ground as Tomlin sped down the left and arrowed over a low cross which Rankine forced in from a couple of yards. 2-1.
United's much-improved second half pressure had merited a lead, but it was by no means over yet. Rankine almost bustled through on 80, only to be stopped by a tremendous challenge from Brown, who hurt himself in the process. Diamonds surged forward again but were halted by the offside flag despite Brown, still in a heap, appearing to play them on. Burgess was booked for his not entirely unjustified protests, and after some treatment Brown was withdrawn in favour of Jack Jeffery, the West Ham youngster going to right wing, Farrell moving inside and Reed to left-back.
Rushden pressed for parity but lacked the punch upfront to threaten unduly. At the other end Hatswell saw a header from Wolleaston's corner blocked on 85, Beesley raced in to follow up but from the narrowest of angles chose to lash a difficult shot at goal with two colleagues waiting for a simple cross in the goalmouth, and it flew high and wide. A minute later the hosts made an attacking change in replacing Challinor with Sam Smith.
Still searching for that hat-trick, Beesley came close on 87 with a superb blaster from the edge of the box, which Roberts fumbled unconvincingly around the post. From the resultant corner the ball fell to Albrighton but his low drive was stabbed clear by Woodhouse; Rushden broke, but Tomlin slashed wide.
United saw out the four added minutes comfortably, Jeffery, Farrell and Wolleaston retaining possession well, and the tireless Boylan was rewarded with his own ovation as he was replaced by Magno Vieira at the death. There were memorable scenes at the end when over 1,100 U's fans and their triumphant team and management saluted each other in carnival style. Particular kudos to the chap down the front who expressed his delight via the medium of expressive dance, who deserves a YouTube channel all of his own.
Three of United's rivals won, but Exeter lost. There look to be sufficient points available from United's run-in matches to attain their goal, but those chickens must for now remain uncounted. Contrast the U's fixture list with that of Rushden, who are about to pay the penalty for that cup run with an end-of-season spell of seven games in fifteen days. Quite preposterous, and vindication of United's policy of concentrating on the league (ahem...). With support like they had tonight, anything is possible; bring on the Stafford.
Statto Corner
United started the season with two 2-1 wins, and that scoreline has become the most popular score in record-breaking numbers. So far in 2007-08, the U's have won 2-1 thirteen times in all competitions and lost 1-2 five times. Their previous record for 2-1 victories was ten in 2002-03, although that included two LDV Vans Trophy golden goal triumphs. This term includes six occasions on which United have come back to win 2-1 from a goal down.
Lowest number of 2-1 wins was one in 1999-2000, 1978-79 and in five consecutive seasons from 1981-82. The latter season also saw the highest number of 2-1 reverses, eleven. Runner-up is 2004-05 with ten. The only season in which United have never lost by that score was 1975-76.
Wayne Hatswell is the fourth player to move from Nene Park to the Abbey after Robert Duffy, Daniel Chillingworth and Leo Fortune-West. In addition, Trevor Benjamin was a junior at Diamonds before joining the U's.
Six players have moved the other way: Chilli (again, before he came back), keeper Andy Lomas, our old chum Ashley Nicholls, Ben Sedgemore, John Turner and Paul Wilson.
Player Ratings
Potter 7. Looked solid throughout. No chance with the goal.
Morrison 6. Never looked entirely comfortable at right-back, but stuck to his task.
Albrighton 7. Welcome return from the skipper.
Hatswell 8. Enjoyed his return to his old stamping ground and looked impressive at both ends.
Brown 6. Defensively excellent, in stark contrast to his frequently wayward passing.
Farrell 7. Did a thoroughly decent job wide right and later in the middle.
Wolleaston 7. Quiet first half, much improved second.
Carden 6. Middling first half, like most of his team-mates, and did not emerge for part two.
Pitt 8. Greatly improved set pieces and brilliant run and cross for goal number two.
Boylan 8. Tirelessly hard-working throughout despite far too many high balls aimed at his vertically-challenged head.
Beesley 8. Another goal machine is born.
Reed 7. Stepped in for Carden with aplomb.
Jeffery 7. Good late contribution.
Vieira 5. Another late, late non-ball-touching cameo.
Match Summary
A tremendous, battling second-half performance kept United on course for glory with a hard-fought local(ish) derby win thanks to a brace from yet another striker who has found his shooting boots just when they are needed. Keep your eyes on the finishing line, U's, but make sure you don't trip up in the process.
Man of the Match
Mark Beesley. So now we know: he's not just an elegant creator, he's a supreme goal poacher, too. It's taken some time, but it's been worth the wait.
Ref Watch
Mr B.Malone 6. Bugsy tried to help the game flow, despite his trigger-happy linesman on the main stand side, but infuriated the U's fans by repeatedly ignoring United players who wanted to re-enter the field of play after treatment for injury, making them wait for no apparent reason other than the little man's arrogance.
Non-League Player's Name of the Week
St Helens Town's ever-comfortable Craig Cushion.
Soundtrack of the Day
Metronomy 'My Heart Rate Rapid'
The MP3 Files
Mark Peters lends an ear to the Nene Park sounds. "I don't know if I have ever mentioned it, but I am from Wales and proud of it. Ours is a musical nation, and whether it is hard rock, classical or anything in between you are wanting, you will find something satisfying from our great little country. Cambridge can't compare, of course, but it has its own modest musical history, from Pink Floyd to the Soft Boys to Dolly Mixture to Colonel Hathi. And not many people realise that Matt Bellamy, the leader of Muse, was born and grew up in the city. Amazing guitarist, right up there with Deke Leonard! So it was nice to hear some Cantabrigian sounds tonight, from Katrina & The Waves and, a particular favourite of mine, the classic '2-4-6-8 Motorway' by the Tom Robinson Band. Great driving music!
"The rest was a bit of a mixed bag. It's always nice to hear that lovely Cymraeg songbird, Duffy, and Kim Wilde's 'Kids In America' seems to get better with age! The Pigeon Detectives are catchy young lads, as are the Hoosiers, although they've been listening to too much ELO in my opinion. As for the rest, fairly obvious stuff like '500 Miles' and 'Beautiful Day,' but no outright horrors, for a change! Hwyl!" MP3 verdict: 7/10.'
Andrew Bennett
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