The Mikes 2-2 AFC Rushden & Diamonds

Which set of diamonds would turn up? The ones dumped 7-1 by Quorn a month ago, or the ones who defeated Cambridge City 4-1, and overcame League leaders Harborough Town 2-0, a fortnight past? It turned out to be something in between, accompanied by a sizeable contingent of partisan fans. The Mikes were without Johnny Johnston, recalled to Redditch.

Before we’d time to settle down, the visitors were ahead. A fine through ball from Reuben Wyatt found Ethan Johnston. The Mikes looked in vain for an offside flag, as he slid the ball past Kieran Boucher, on twenty-nine seconds. The early omens hereafter were not good. Boldmere were frequently out jumped for aerial balls, though the long, straight ball to Owen Parry (who, for once, wasn’t marked by a man-mountain) looked to spell danger. A quarter of an hour in, slippery Diamonds winger Miguel Ngwa was at the heart of a five-man heap on the near post, as the Mikes defended a corner. He ended up crashing into the veranda wall, and five minutes later, had to limp off. Stray passes were letting the hosts down, and Rushden were looking the more organised unit. As time went on, however, Boldmere realised they had the beating of their opponents’ defence down the right wing, and Ben Usher-Shipway, ably assisted by Adrian Owiredu-Gyamera and Callum Gittings, began to swing the tie Boldmere’s way. As the break loomed, the Mikes were turning the screw, a Joe Hull header from an Usher-Shipway pass being pushed over the bar. The first half’s closing minutes saw Rushden encamped in their own box, defending a succession of corners, from which Joe Hull scrambled the ball home, with seconds left. Half time: 1-1.

Boldmere began the second half as they’d ended the first, on the attack. With six minutes gone, defender Tejan Thomas was spotted holding Hull’s shirt, from a corner. Owen Parry sent the resulting penalty (once our referee had arranged everyone’s feet) netwards. Looking to increase their lead, a fine cross field movement ended with Parry bringing out a fine save from Ben Heath. The Diamonds seemed rattled by their change of fortunes; two yellow cards issued in the next few minutes. Early pressure having evaporated, Boldmere sometimes looked to be playing out time: Boucher seemed to have a variety of ways to do this! A presage of what was to come arrived with the three-quarter mark gone. A complete muddle in the Mikes’ rearguard let in Wyatt, who was only denied by a reflex Boucher save. Rushden were now gaining momentum, and as time passed, the Mikes were forced further and further back. Our young referee was now handing out yellow cards to, and awarding fouls against, Boldmere, such that one voice from the Stand enquired, “Has he got this down for a draw?” Ten men were now frequently guarding the Boldmere goal, but to no avail. With twelve minutes’ standard time left, a well-placed corner was forced home by full back Jacob Scott. The Mikes managed to hold out for five minutes’ added time, even when (as a last throw of the dice) the Himalayan Tom Lorraine came on, in hopes of heading a Rushden winner.

A draw was a fair conclusion to a fluctuating game, leaving the Diamonds just above the relegation places by a goal difference of one, from fellow points sharers Rugby Town. The Mikes remain entrenched at thirteenth in the table.

Boldmere St Michaels: Kieran Boucher; Adrian Owiredu-Gyamera; Harry Sweeney; Joe Hull; Harry Craven; Jack Byrne; Callum Gittings (Andre Brown 87); George Washbourne; Owen Parry; Ben Usher-Shipway; Callum North (Callum Ballinger 71).
Subs. not used: Lewis Allison; Kai Knight; Pierre Phillips.
AFC Rushden & Diamonds: Ben Heath; Jacob Scott; Luis Punto Leite; Tejan Thomas (Tom Lorraine 90+6); Tarik Dallas; Jarvis Wilson; Miguel Ngwa (Dylan Wilson 19); Ryan Inman; Ethan Johnston (Luke Emery 77); Reuben Wyatt; Cairo Taylor.
Subs. not used: Joe O’Neill; Luca Purse.