Rushall Olympic 1 AFC Rushden & Diamonds 1

The first half saw both sides play some enterprising football and it was the visitors who had the first opportunity when a long throw from Sam Brown caused problems for the home side but Alex Collard wasted a good opportunity by firing wildly over and moments later Morgan Roberts did well out when he cut in but saw his low shot pushed wide for a corner by Jon Flatt.

The home side then began to get into the game and young Eesa Sawyers, making his full debut, hit the side netting and Shaquille Whittingham`s shot was saved by Ben Heath.

On eighteen minutes the visitors were ahead when Matthew Slinn`s corner was headed back across goal by Ryan Hughes and Liam Dolman fired home from close range,

Diamonds `keeper` Heath kept his side on level terms beating away a fierce shot from Alex Moore and then keeping out a shot from Whittingham but on the stroke of half time the Pics were level when Sam Whittall headed home a well worked corner,

In the second half both sides went for a winner Flatt making a superb save to keep out Dolman`s downward header.

Whittall had a header disallowed for offside but the best chance of the day fell to Morgan Roberts who neat the offside trap and with only Flatt to beat placed his shot wide of the far post.

RUSHALL OLYMPIC

Flatt, Mendez-Jones, Mitchell, Flanagan, Clarke, Whittall, Whittingham,

Moore (O`Callaghan 88), Lund (Waldron 79), Sawyers (Finn 69), Letford

Unused Substitutes: Charlton, Pendley,

AFC RUSHDEN & DIAMONDS

Heath, Hicks, Brown, Hughes, Dolman, Collard, Acquaye (Akubuine 79), Farrell, Dove (Bowen 88), Roberts, Sinn

Unused Substitutes: Casey, Gosnal-Tyler, Cooper

Attendance 236