Monday 30th August 2004 – League Two

Rushden & Diamonds 0 Bristol Rovers 0

Millwall forward Kevin Braniff has been Diamonds' biggest goal threat

Goals: none

Booked: none

Attendance: 3,367

FootyMAD report (from www.rushdenanddiamonds-mad.co.uk):

“Rushden and Bristol Rovers played out a draw that was probably a fair result on the balance of play.

Rushden started well and in the second minute Kevin Braniff was pulled back by Christian Edwards when in on goal and the defender received a booking.

In the fifth minute only a saving tackling by Steve Elliott denied Alex Hay and nine minutes later Hay was in the thick of the action again when he shot well over from ten yards out.

The Pirates created their first real opening in the 20th minute when Stuart Campbell burst down the left and crossed to forward Junior Agogo whose shot was well-saved by Billy Turley.

Both sides found it difficult to create clear chances and the two keepers were rarely tested in the first half although a minute before the interval Gary Mills produced a good save to keep Kevin Miller's 20-yard effort out.

In the 49th minute Edwards did well to deny Hay as the striker raced towards goal.

Rushden began to dictate the game and on the hour they almost went ahead when David Bell cut in from the right and his shot rebounded off the post. The following up Braniff was unable to get his header on target.

On 63 minutes Andrew Burgess saw his header cleared off the line by Robbie Ryan. Rovers came much more into the game in the closing stages and Turley made a fine point-blank save from substitute Jamie Forrester after the ball had been flicked on Agogo.

Agogo had an excellent chance to snatch a winner in the 76th minute after Ali Gibb's effort had come back off the crossbar but his effort flew well over the bar.

Turley came to the rescue again three minutes later when he made a fine save from Gibb. Both sides battled vainly to grab the winner but neither was able to test the keepers.”

Saturday 28th August 2004 – League Two

Yeovil Town 3 Rushden & Diamonds 1

Rushden & Diamonds: Billy Turley; Rob Gier, Sean Connolly, Peter Hawkins, Gary Mills; David Bell, Stuart Gray, Andrew Burgess (Craig Dove 64), Alex Hay (Simeon Jackson 76); Phillip Gulliver, Kevin Braniff. Subs not used: Lee Worgan, John Dempster, Andy Sambrook.

Goal: Mills 83

Booked: Hay

Attendance: 5,088

FootyMAD report (from www.rushdenanddiamonds-mad.co.uk):

“Last time Rushden travelled to Somerset was three years ago when they pipped the Glovers for promotion from the Conference.

This time Yeovil hit back with a terrific first-half performance that left Rushden three down and the second half a mere formality.

It took Yeovil 18 minutes to go in front. Kevin Gall burst down the right and got in a good cross that was met by a powerful diving header from Phil Jevons.

It brought an equally good save from Billy Turley but the keeper could not hold the ball and Lee Johnson tapped in his fourth goal of the week.

Yeovil's other goals came in the last three minutes of the half. Bartosz Tarachulski got in a high cross from the right and after Jevons knocked it down the big Polish striker was on hand to head home.

Two minutes later Jevons himself scored the third. The new summer signing from Grimsby found space on the edge of the box and fired a crisp drive past Turley's right hand.

The only setback for Yeovil was an early injury that could put full-back Adam Lockwood out for two to three weeks.

The second half was an anti-climax. Rushden pushed forward more in hope than anticipation and most of there shooting was wayward.

It was not until seven minutes from time that they got their consolation goal - although it was worth waiting for.

Sean Connelly hammered across a long ball from the right and an excellent header by Gary Mills had goalkeeper Chris Weale well beaten.

Although both these clubs are now well established in the Football League, the attendance of 5,088 was 3,800 down on the last time they met in the Conference.”

Tuesday 24th August 2004 – Carling Cup first round

Rushden & Diamonds 0 Swindon Town 1

Rushden & Diamonds: Billy Turley; Rob Gier, Sean Connolly, Peter Hawkins, Gary Mills; David Bell (Craig Dove 85), Stuart Gray, Andrew Burgess, Alex Hay (Marcus Kelly 85); Phillip Gulliver, Kevin Braniff. Subs not used: Lee Worgan, John Dempster, Andy Sambrook.

Goals: none

Booked: none

Attendance: 1,672

FootyMAD report (from www.rushdenanddiamonds-mad.co.uk):

“Swindon grabbed their winner in the 90th minute to send Rushden & Diamonds out of the Carling Cup at the first hurdle.

The Robins made several changes to their line-up from Saturdays win over Bristol City.

On four minutes Lloyd Opara almost got on the end of a cross after Billy Turley failed to gather and two minutes later Diamonds skipper Stuart Gray had a golden opportunity when left unmarked from David Bell's corner, but he shot well over from ten yards out.

Grant Smith went close for Swindon with a fierce shot from 20 yards and a minute later Alex Hay almost put the Diamonds ahead, but Steve Book produced a fine save to deny the striker.

On 27 minutes a fine flowing move by the Diamonds involving Hay and Gray ended with Andrew Burgess shooting wide when he should have done better.

Smith was in the thick of the action again when he volleyed just wide following a cross by Steve Robinson. On 53 minutes Grant Howard went close for the visitors with a drive from 20 yards out.

Swindon manager Andy King made three substitutions, bringing on Sam Igoe, Sam Parkin and Sean O'Hanlon and this seemed to make a difference straight away.

On 68 minutes O'Hanlon headed just over following Igoe's corner and minutes later Parkin shot just over from ten yards out.

On 86 minutes Parkin almost broke the deadlock when he was inches wide when stretching for Igoe's cross and two minutes later Rory Fallon had the ball in the net only to be ruled offside.

Swindon grabbed the winner in the 90th minute when skipper Matt Hewlett shot home from ten yards out after Igoe's cross was not cleared and the home side were unable to put any pressure on Swindon in injury time.”

Saturday 21st August 2004 – League Two

Rushden & Diamonds 1 Grimsby Town 0

Rushden & Diamonds: Billy Turley; Graham Allen, Sean Connolly, Peter Hawkins, Gary Mills; Rob Gier, Stuart Gray, Andrew Burgess, Alex Hay (Marcus Kelly 85); David Bell (Craig Dove 56), Kevin Braniff. Subs not used: Lee Worgan, Andy Sambrook, Phillip Gulliver, Marcus Kelly.

Goal: Braniff 74

Booked: Allen, Dove

Attendance: 2,924

FootyMAD report (from www.rushdenanddiamonds-mad.co.uk):

“Rushden took all three points against Grimsby who must count themselves unfortunate after dominating the match for much of the game.

Grimsby started the game the better side and, on five minutes, Dean Gordon was inches over with his well struck free-kick. Jason Crowe then found himself in space for the visitors on 10 minutes but he shot weakly at keeper Billy Turley.

On 17 minutes Crowe was again in the thick of the action when he blasted over after a bad defensive mistake by Rushden.

Both sides found it hard to create clear-cut chances and both goalkeepers were rarely tested in the opening half-hour. On 34 minutes Ashley Sestanovich tested Turley with a long-range effort.

The game followed much the same pattern in the second half with the visitors in control for much of the time and on 50 minutes Terry Fleming produced a fine save from Turley, whilst Crowe almost converted a cross after clever work by Andy Parkinson.

On 66 minutes the powerful Michael Reddy forced Turley to make another good save at the foot of his post.

In the 71st minute Rushden took the lead when following Stuart Gray's free-kick Andrew Burgess saw his shot blocked but the ball fell to Kevin Braniff 10 yards out and the on-loan striker from Millwall shot powerfully home leaving Anthony Williams helpless.

On 75 minutes Rushden almost increased their lead but a magnificent save by Williams denied Braniff.

Grimsby pressed forward in an attempt to get an equaliser but the Rushden defence held firm and the only scare came in the 84th minute when Turley brilliantly denied Thomas Pinault when his effort looked to be heading for the back of the net.”

Saturday 14th August 2004 – League Two

Lincoln City 1 Rushden & Diamonds 3

Rushden & Diamonds: Billy Turley; Graham Allen, Sean Connolly, Peter Hawkins, Gary Mills; Stuart Gray, Andrew Burgess, Alex Hay, Craig Dove; Phillip Gulliver, Kevin Braniff. Subs not used: Lee Worgan, John Dempster, Andy Sambrook, Marcus Kelly, Simeon Jackson.

Goals: Braniff 39, Hay 68, Dove 89

Booked: none

Attendance: 4,127

FootyMAD report (from www.lincolncity-mad.co.uk):

“Out of form Lincoln struggled in front of their home fans as they went down to a disappointing defeat.

The Imps fought back after going a goal behind, but were then hit twice on the break to end up a well-beaten side.

To make matters worst they finished with 10 men after using all three substitutes and then having defender Paul Morgan stretchered off with a ligament injury.

Things looked bad for Lincoln earlier on with Rushden creating chances.

Stuart Gray shot over in the fourth minute before Kevin Braniff broke clear only to be tackled by Morgan.

Gary Mills shot inches over from 25 yards before Rushden & Diamonds went in front in the 39th minute. Andrew Burgess crossed from the left for Braniff to hit a low shot in off the post from the edge of the box.

Lincoln picked up after the half-time break with Peter Gain beating two defenders before hitting his shot into the side netting.

Marcus Richardson beat Rushden keeper Billy Turley to a 48th-minute cross, but bundled his effort against the post.

Lincoln drew level in the 55th minute when the Rushden defence backed off allowing Gary Taylor-Fletcher to run at them before finishing with a 20-yard shot.

Taylor-Fletcher missed another chance eight minutes later but Lincoln where badly caught out in 69th minute when an excellent pass from Andrew Burgess split open their defence leaving Alex Hay in the clear to score.

Lincoln's Morgan went off injured 12 minutes from time and from then on Rushden were in control.

Craig Dove went close in 85th minute but four minutes later found the net when he went round two defenders inside the box before shooting home.

Lincoln were nearly caught out again in stoppage time when Braniff got into a good position only for his shot to be blocked by Lincoln's Gareth McAuley.”

Summary – Shrimpers vs. Diamonds last five matches

Southend United

W2-1 (home; Macclesfield Town; League Two; Adam Barrett 2)

L1-2 (away; Bristol Rovers; League Two; Adam Barrett)

L0-2 (away; West Ham United; Carling Cup)

D0-0 (home; Cambridge United; League Two)

L0-2 (away; Rochdale; League Two)

(Won 1, Drawn 1, Lost 3, Scored 3, Conceded 7)

Rushden & Diamonds

D0-0 (home; Bristol Rovers; League Two)

L1-3 (away; Yeovil Town; League Two; Gary Mills)

L0-1 (home; Swindon Town; Carling Cup)

W1-0 (home; Grimsby Town; League Two; Kevin Braniff)

W3-1 (away; Lincoln City; League Two; Kevin Braniff, Alex Hay, Craig Dove)

(Won 2, Drawn 1, Lost 2, Scored 5, Conceded 5)