AFC Rushden & Diamonds 7 Hitchin Town 1 - Jon Dunham’s review

Isn’t it amazing how much can change in the space of a week?

There was a shell-shocked feeling around Hayden Road after AFC Rushden & Diamonds had been hammered 5-0 by Newark in their FA Cup first qualifying round clash in what was their second game of the season.

I think that if I had told anyone associated with the club immediately after that loss that a week on they would be winning 7-1 on the same pitch, they probably would have found it hard to believe.

The recovery from that FA Cup loss actually happened in the 1-1 draw with Barwell last Saturday. For the final 25 minutes of that game, Diamonds seemed to find their mojo again and they finished strongly.

They then took that into Tuesday night. They looked confident, they were ruthless in front of goal and they defended well.

And that final point is crucial. Hitchin aren’t the worst team they will play this season. The visitors looked a threat when they were on the attack.

But Diamonds defended better than Hitchin, particularly in the second half, and when the chances came, Andy Peaks’ team were ruthless.

It was a fine win and one that ensured that FA Cup loss has been quickly thrown into the bin of bad memories.

It was an outstanding all-round display but this was Chris Wreh’s night.

There were a number of impressive individual displays from Diamonds.

I thought Alex Collard stood out. He produced a couple of superb blocks and also popped up with a goal. It’s been a long road back for him after injury but he looks like he is getting back to his best.

However, this night belonged to Chris Wreh.

I often have times when I believe I have pretty much seen it all in the 15-odd years I’ve been covering football. And, with the way this year has gone, I can’t believe there’s much more I haven’t seen!

But then, along came Diamonds’ summer signing. I’ve seen a couple of quickfire hat-tricks before but one player scoring four goals in just 10 minutes is a new one on me.

It was almost surreal by the time the fourth went in. Wreh’s finishing was accurate and clinical.

He was, of course, helped by some good build-up play on each occasion but when it came to the crucial moment, he was ruthless in front of goal.

In the space of just 10 minutes he became the joint-leading scorer in the Southern League Premier Central and his finishing took the game away from Hitchin.

Wreh showed why Peaks was so keen to bring him back to the club this summer and if he can continue this sort of form in front of goal, it will only enhance Diamonds’ chances of achieving something.

An outstanding display of finishing, which I was delighted to witness.

It now looks like a solid start, Diamonds must try to keep it going.

Take the FA Cup defeat out of it and Diamonds now look to have made a very solid start to the new season.

Draws with Nuneaton Borough and Barwell have been followed by a big win. Peaks’ team are unbeaten after three games and have five points on the board.

As the manager himself said on Tuesday night, he would have taken that if someone had offered it to him.

The aim now, of course, is to try to maintain such form during a ridiculously busy October, which will see Diamonds play five games in the space of 21 days.

There are some tough-looking matches in there as well with the likes of Hednesford Town and Tamworth visiting Hayden Road during the next month.

It’s very, very early days but it will be fascinating to see how Diamonds are shaping up when we head into November.