Diamonds vs Crawley match report
A stoppage-time goal made it six games without a win for Rushden & Diamonds since the opening week of the season.
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Substitute Steve Fletcher headed home in the third minute of injury time to win it for Crawley Town.
Garry Hill's side didn't manage a single shot on target during the first half – although August's player-of-the-month award winner Alan Marriott wasn't really tested at the other end either.
Crawley wasted an early chance as Simon Weatherstone's free-kick was blocked and it took 25 minutes for Marriott to be called into action from Thomas Pinault's 20-yard shot.
Rob Wolleaston, Andy Burgess, Leon Knight, Curtis Osano and Curtis Woodhouse all failed to trouble Reds keeper Simon Rayner before the break.
On the hour mark Knight was tripped and Burgess' 25-yard free-kick was parried.
Diamonds had a penalty appeal rejected when Knight was barged over. But Burton was perhaps fortunate to escape punishment for what appeared to be a trip on Danny Forrest inside the box.
One of few clear-cut chances fell to former Diamonds striker Jamie Cook who fired a hat-trick in Crawley's win last season. However he was denied this time by Michael Corcoran.
Diamonds: Marriott; Corcoran, Hope, Burton, Roberts; Osano, Wolleaston (sub Beecroft, 79 mins), Woodhouse, Burgess (sub Kelly, 79 mins); Phillips (sub Rankine, 55 mins), Knight. Subs not used: Gulliver, Smith.
Crawley: Rayner; Wilson, Quinn, Wright, Rents; Bulman, Weatherstone, Pinault; Forrest, Cook (sub Douglas, 86 mins), Killeen (sub Fletcher, 65 mins). Subs not used: Stevens, Giles, Thomas.
Referee: R West.
Goal: Fletcher (90 mins, 0-1).
Bookings: Burton, Woodhouse, Hope (all fouls), Knight (dissent).
Attendance: 1,376.
Don't miss Sport on Monday in the Evening Telegraph for full reports, pictures and reaction to all Saturday's games
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Weather for Kettering
Saturday 11 February 2012
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