Northern Premier League | Midland Division | Saturday 26 October 2024

This was the most disappointing display of the season to date and on completion of the ninety minutes the Mikes could not complain of the final result. There were two enforced changes in the starting line-up, Kyle Burke and Corey Cooper replacing Oliver West and Theo Rowe.

The pitch looked quite heavy and Boldmere defended the slope in the first period. The home side looked big and robust particularly in the defensive area and for the majority of the afternoon they completely dominated the smaller physical Mikes forwards. Generally favouring the long ball Rushden held the balance of play and a lot of their forward endeavours were helped by the lengthy throw ins from left back Bleu McNeil.

It was from such a throw that the hosts opened the score in the 18th minute. A left-wing projectile from McNeil somehow went through the packed penalty area to the far side. Cairo Taylor retrieved the loose ball tricked his way past Harry Sweeney and his cross was bundled home at the far post by Tejan Thomas.

Following this setback, the Mikes attempts to claw their way back to parity came to little. Corey Cooper and Sweeney made some headway but poor final balls hardly troubled the Diamonds defenders whilst on the other flank Daniel Gyasi found it difficult to make any sort of progress.

Tom Edge who appears to have settled in well since joining the club was busy in midfield but despite his efforts Ben Heath in the home goal was not troubled. Things got worse just after the half hour mark Burke stretched for a ball in midfield and a ricochet off Taylor allowed Aidan Webster to set Ethan Johnson on a run for goal. He looked offside but expert witnesses said that Lewis Allison played him onside. Johnson had some ground to make up on goal but fired coolly past Jonathan Brown as the keeper looked to shut down the angle. Two down at half time with little threat offered to date didn’t bode well for a fight back.

Matters got worse on the hour mark; Johnson broke free again and was cleaned out by Brown who might just have considered pulling out of the challenge as the ball had been pushed well wide of goal. A yellow card for Brown and the resultant penalty by Ryan Inman slammed straight down the middle put the game to bed.

A raft of Mikes substitutions did result in a better territorial advantage but the consolation goal was shrouded in mystery. Gyasi crossed the ball, Heath collected, had the referee awarded a foul against a Mikes forward? It was difficult to weigh up. Heath put the ball down scuffed what looked like an attempted clearance or free kick, the ball rolling a couple of yards to Liam Murphy who slammed it into the unguarded net. Both sides protested for different reasons and referee Potter was obviously unsure what had happened. After lengthy consultation with his assistant the goal was awarded. Would the decision have been the same if the sores had been level? Who knows? It mattered little in the circumstances as the Mikes completed a season’s poorest performance.

AFC Rushden & Diamonds: Ben Heath, Charlie Green, Bleu McNeil, Ryan Inman, Tejan Thomas, Tarik Dallas, John McHugh, Calvin Green, Ethan Johnson, Aidan Webster (Mila Ehsani 88), Cairo Taylor. Subs not used: Aaron Dickens, Joe Malkin, Dan Porter, Michael Harriman
Boldmere St Michaels: Jonathan Brown, Lewis Allison (Pierre Phillips 79), Harry Sweeney, George Cleet, Joe Hull, Kyle Burke (Hisham Chiha 52), Corey Cooper (Alfie Taylor 71), Tom Edge, Liam Murphy (Callum North 79), Charlie Manners, Daniel Gyasi (Jake Collins 71)