Diamonds rue their two points dropped
You can't win them all – but two points were thrown away by Rushden & Diamonds last night.
Two magical moments had put Justin Edinburgh's side in complete command until a quickfire double denied them an eighth successive win Lee Tomlin marked his return from suspension with a long-range free-kick and Jefferson Louis got off the mark to finish a flowing move which was equally full of quality.
Diamonds were in turmoil before last season's goalless draw at the Abbey Stadium after the humiliating FA Cup exit to Evesham United which led to eight players being put on the transfer list.
How times change. Now they are pushing for promotion and looking forward to Saturday's second-round tie at Brighton & Hove Albion.
Confidence is clearly high following a winning run which has also featured only two goals conceded away from home in seven hours prior to kick-off last night.
That was illustrated from the start as Diamonds took full control.
Kurt Robinson's burst into the penalty box was only halted by Danny Potter. But the Cambridge United keeper was left embarrassed soon afterwards.
Tomlin was tripped 30 yards out down the left flank and he surprised everyone inside the ground by smashing the free-kick inside the near post.
The lead was almost short-lived, though, as Michael Corcorcan tried to guide the ball back – only for Nathan Abbey to be challenged on the edge of the penalty area by Courtney Pitt.
However Chris Holroyd rolled it wide and Abbey pushed out Pitt's drive in the next attack.
Diamonds had another lucky escape as Pitt released Andy Parkinson who blasted over instead of squaring a pass for Holroyd who was unmarked in the middle.
Tomlin sent another free-kick off target from the same spot as his wonder strike.
Louis made it 2-0 with a tap-in after a clever one-two with Aaron O'Connor which led to Mark Byrne providing the assist six yards out.
Potter's poor kick nearly gifted a goal to Byrne whose 45-yard effort drifted narrowly wide of the far post.
After the break Cambridge sent on former Diamonds striker Lee Phillips and changed to a 4-3-3 formation.
Almost immediately U's captain Paul Carden cracked an unstoppable 35-yard drive into the top corner following weak challenges by Louis and O'Connor.
Four minutes later Brian Saah headed home the equaliser which had looked so unlikely until then.
It certainly should not have been allowed to happen.
Diamonds were heading for another win and it seemed so simple for an hour.
Yet they would have unquestionably settled for a point before the game.
The unbeaten run continues and bring on Brighton.
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Weather for Kettering
Thursday 09 February 2012
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