Rushden and Diamonds

Hunter welcomes Diamonds success
Rushden & Diamonds boss Barry Hunter was thrilled after a 1-0 win at Bristol Rovers took them five points clear of League Two's bottom club Torquay. "It was a great performance - very clever and very patient," Hunter said. "We're just pleased to get an away win under our belts, together with our first back-to-back wins of the season. "I think the momentum is with us now, but as I have said many, many times before, there will be loads of twists and turns before the season ends."

Bristol Rovers 0-1 Rushden
Drewe Broughton hit a crucial late winner to boost Rushden's hopes of saving their Football League status and dent Bristol Rovers' play-off hopes. The experienced striker latched on to a pass from substitute Tyrone Berry and coolly fired home in the 79th minute. Rovers had wasted a similar chance early in the second half when Sammy Igoe's pass split the Rushden defence only for Richard Walker to shoot wide. Second-half efforts from Rovers' James Hunt and Richard Walker were ruled out. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bristol Rovers: Shearer, Lescott, Hinton, Elliott, Carruthers, Igoe, Hunt, Disley (Campbell 52), Haldane (Gibb 81), Agogo, Walker. Subs Not Used: Horsell, Edwards, Lines. Rushden & D'monds: Tynan, Nicholls, Okuonghae, Gier, Bull, Stokes, Caskey, Savage, Kelly (Hunter 90), Broughton (Turner 90), Jackson (Berry 71). Subs Not Used: Woodman, Tomlin. Booked: Stokes. Goals: Broughton 79. Att: 6,432 Ref: R Lee (Brentwood).

Rushden & Diamonds 1-1 Rochdale
A late equaliser from Chris Dagnall saw Rochdale share the points with Rushden in their relegation battle six-pointer. Diamonds took the lead on 54 minutes when Drewe Broughton volleyed home a rebound from Ronnie Bull's free-kick. Rochdale were furious that their penalty appeals were turned down when Bull appeared to foul Dagnall. And they had to wait until into injury time before Dagnall fired past Scott Tynan to equalise after a mistake by Magnus Okuonghae. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rushden & D'monds: Tynan, Nicholls, Gulliver (Okuonghae 25), Hatswell, Bull, Berry (Savage 71), Stokes, Caskey, Kelly, Jackson, Broughton (Turner 61). Subs Not Used: Crane, Tomlin. Booked: Caskey, Hatswell, Broughton, Bull. Goals: Broughton 55. Rochdale: Gilks, Ramsden, Jackson, Griffiths, Goodall, Kitchen (Christie 58), Warner (Doolan 62), Jones, Cooksey (Cartwright 84), Dagnall, Lambert. Subs Not Used: Boardman, Gallimore. Goals: Dagnall 90. Att: 3,135 Ref: M Fletcher (Worcestershire).

Shrewsbury 4-1 Rushden
Rushden & Diamonds' hopes of survival in the Football League suffered a huge blow as Shrewsbury eased to victory. Mark Stallard fired the Shrews into a seventh-minute lead when he volleyed in off the post from eight yards. Jamie Tolley doubled the lead as he beat two defenders before burying a low 25-yard drive past Scott Tynan, before Darren Caskey's free-kick made it 2-1. But Stallard scored his second after an error by Wayne Hatswell before Sagi Burton headed home Neil Sorvel's cross. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Shrewsbury: Hart, Herd, Hope, Burton, Ashton (Leslie 83), Tolley, Sorvel, Hogg, Stallard (Adaggio 87), Langmead, Hurst. Subs Not Used: Thompson, Cowan, Cadwallader. Booked: Ashton. Goals: Stallard 7, Tolley 36, Stallard 55, Burton 81. Rushden & D'monds: Tynan, Nicholls, Hatswell, Okuonghae (Gier 90), Bull, Jackson (Berry 63), Savage, Caskey, Stokes, Kelly, Broughton (Turner 70). Subs Not Used: Crane, Hunter. Booked: Broughton, Okuonghae, Tynan. Goals: Caskey 47. Att: 4,239. Ref: A Leake (Lancashire).

Rushden v Wycombe
Rushden have injury concerns, with both Philip Gulliver (hamstring) and Marcus Kelly (ankle) struggling. Dave Savage is suffering from bruised ribs, but Magnus Okuonghae is expected to recover from a dead leg. Wycombe will have Charlie Griffin available, despite being taken to hospital as a precautiuon after suffering headaches. He had a metal plate inserted into his head following a fractured skull in pre-season, and may be on the bench.

Rushden 1-3 Wycombe
Tommy Mooney's brace for Wycombe left Rushden teetering on the brink of relegation to the Conference. The hosts took the lead on 22 minutes when John Turner set up Marcus Kelly to head home his third of the season. The visitors equalised after the break when Mooney tapped in at the second attempt and three minutes later Roger Johnson drove home Wycombe's second. With four minutes left, Rob Gier fouled Matt Bloomfield in the box, allowing Mooney to score from the spot. Rushden & D'monds: Tynan, Nicholls, Gier, Hatswell, Bull (Berry 78), Stokes, Caskey, Kelly, Broughton, Turner (Pearson 70), Jackson (Tomlin 78). Subs Not Used: Crane, Hunter. Sent Off: Gier (88). Booked: Gier, Hatswell, Caskey, Bull, Stokes. Goals: Kelly 24. Wycombe: Talia, Senda, Johnson, Antwi, Easton (Oakes 71), Betsy, Bloomfield, Lee (Burnell 79), Martin (Easter 90), Stonebridge, Mooney. Subs Not Used: Williams, Williamson. Booked: Lee, Martin. Goals: Mooney 62, Johnson 65, Mooney 88 pen. Att: 3,396 Ref: C Boyeson (E Yorkshire).

Boss Hunter vows to lift Diamonds
Rushden & Diamonds manager Barry Hunter will help his side bounce back after their 3-1 defeat by Wycombe sent them back to the bottom of the League. "We know exactly what the situation is. We need to win our last two games, that's for sure," Hunter insisted. "We have to pick the players up, and put the belief back into them - some of them need it. "We didn't get to grips with the second half, and I wasn't very happy with the way we conceded those three goals."

Boston v Rushden & Diamonds
Boston will again be without skipper Stewart Talbot (ankle) and Simon Rusk (knee) as they bid to secure their highest-ever League points tally. Victory will take the Pilgrims to 60 points, surpassing their previous best of 57 set during the 2003-04 season. Rushden boss Barry Hunter may have to play in defence with Phil Gulliver (hamstring) and Magnus Okuonghae out. But strikers Greg Pearson, Lee Tomlin and Petr Mikoland have hit form just in time for the must-win game.

Hunter devastated by relegation
Rushden and Diamonds boss Barry Hunter revealed that the defeat to Boston that sent the club back to the Conference, reduced his players to tears. "Words cannot explain how I'm feeling at the moment," said Hunter. "The management are deeply sorry that the club has been relegated and the players and the backroom team have given everything. "You only have to look at the players in the dressing room to know how much this hurts, some players are in tears." The defeat ends Rushden's five-year stay in the Football League and Hunter admits he is preparing for life in the Conference next term. He added: "We are already stating to plan for next season and we know who we will let go and have a list of players who we want to attract. "I already know what the team will be for Barnet next week and there will be plenty of surprises."

Rushden 1-2 Barnet
Liam Hatch inspired Barnet to a win over relegated Rushden as the Bees preserved their Football League status. Results elsewhere meant Barnet finished five points and five places clear of the drop but they started the day with relegation a real possibility. Hatch fired home from the edge of the box for the first before his shot was spilled by keeper Dan Cane to leave Nick Bailey with a simple finish. Simeon Jackson grabbed the consolation for Diamonds in the 85th minute. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rushden & Diamonds: Crane, Nicholls, Hatswell, Gulliver, Gier, Kelly, Stokes (Shaw 74), Caskey, Berry (Grainger 57), Tomlin, Mikolanda (Jackson 59). Subs Not Used: Tynan, Okuonghae. Booked: Caskey, Mikolanda. Goals: Jackson 86. Barnet: Flitney, Gross, Warhurst, King, Hendon, Hessenthaler, Vernazza, Bailey, Sinclair, Kandol, Hatch (Norville 81). Subs Not Used: Grazioli, Batt, Soares, Reed. Booked: Hatch, Sinclair, Bailey, Gross, Warhurst. Goals: Hatch 51, Bailey 55. Att: 4,174 Ref: R Styles (Hampshire).

Caskey makes switch from Rushden
Former Tottenham midfielder Darren Caskey has left Rushden to join Nationwide North side Kettering. The 31-year-old will become the club's new reserve-team manager as well as part of the first-team squad. Caskey made 17 appearances for the Diamonds after joining during the January transfer window. His agent Eric Hall said: "Darren has decided to help Kettering achieve their goal of getting into the Conference and then the Football League."

Hart takes over as Rushden boss
Paul Hart has been named new Rushden and Diamonds manager following the departure of Barry Hunter. The former Nottingham Forest boss assisted Hunter in a part-time role towards the end of the season. Player-manager Hunter left "by mutual consent" when his contract expired in May and after Rushden were relegated. Hart told Sir Stanley: "This club sold itself to me. We will now endeavour to make it an enjoyable experience to come and watch Rushden." A club statement said: "Paul is an experienced manager who followed an impressive 16-year playing career by successfully coaching many clubs. The statement added: "The board are delighted that a manager of Paul's calibre and experience has agreed to join the club and look forward to success for the team under his management." Hart, 53, began his managerial career at Chesterfield in 1988 before coaching the academy at Leeds and managing at Forest and more recently Barnsley during the 2004-05 campaign.

Diamonds swoop for ex-Gills star
Rushden & Diamonds have signed central defender Chris Hope on a free transfer. The 33-year-old, who was released by Gillingham at the end of last season after six years at Priestfield, has signed a two-year deal at Nene Park. \"He is a gutsy battler who shows great leadership,\" Diamonds boss Paul Hart told his club's website. \"His integrity and honesty is a terrific example, and he is the perfect role model for our younger players. His experience will be of great benefit.\" Peter Rolton has resigned as Rushden's chairman - just a month after taking up the role. A club statement explained that Rolton was stepping down from the board \"due to an unexpected increase in work commitments\". A board meeting of the club's Supporters' Trust, which was handed control of the club by the Griggs family in 2005, will meet on Monday to discuss his successor.

Ex-Grays keeper has Rushden trial
Rushden and Diamonds are giving a trial to former Grays Athletic goalkeeper Nicky Eyre. The 20-year-old was released by the Conference side after just one year of his two-year contract. Eyre began his career at Tottenham and came through the youth system at White Hart Lane but did not make a senior appearance for Spurs. He had a loan spell with Grays before making a permanent move in July 2005 but is now out to impress at Rushden.

Rushden v Grays
Grays are set to take an unchanged squad to Rushden. Defender Djoumin Sangare is still suspended while Stuart Thurgood will be out for three months after breaking a leg in pre-season. Rushden are also expected to be unchanged from the side that lost 1-0 to Crawley in the opening game of the Conference season. Seven summer signings made their debuts against Crawley with Andy Rigby the only new boy to miss out.

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