Diamonds close in on play-offs, Doughboys frustrated, Steelmen beaten
AFC Rushden & Diamonds returned to action with a bang on Saturday, cruising to a 3-0 win at Rugby Town and rising to seventh in the Pitching-In Northern Premier League Midlands Division.
It was a brilliant day for Elliot Sandy's side, who now find themselves in the thick of the race for a promotion play-off place.
With all of the teams around them dropping points, Diamonds got maximum reward for their win and they are now just six points adrift of fifth-placed Coleshill Town, but with three games in hand.
They also closed to within four points of county rivals Wellingborough Town, and they also have two games in hand on the Doughboys.
Joel Nketia set Diamonds on their way at relegation-haunted Rugby with a 10th-minute header, and 10 minutes before the break it was 2-0 after a strike from Tyler Winters.
The win and the points were then sealed eight minutes into the second half when Winters added a second after being teed up by David Adegbola.
Diamonds are back in action on Tuesday night when they host Coventry Sphinx in what will be their first home game since January 20.
A win for Sandy's side will see them move to within a point of Wellingborough Town, who were left frustrated as they conceded late to draw 1-1 with Sutton Coldfield Town at the Dog & Duck on Saturday.
Things started brightly for Jake Stone's side as they went ahead through Joey Evans after just nine minutes.
But they couldn't find a second and were made to pay the price as Sutton Coldfield levelled from the penalty spot with just five mintes of normal time remaining.
That strike cost the Doughboys the chance to go above Coleshill in fifth on goal difference, but as it is they stay sixth, two points off the top five.
Borough are back in action on Wednesday night when they make the short trip to Corby Town.
The Steelmen have dropped to 14th in the Midlands Division table after they were beaten 1-0 at home by third-placed Basford United.
Leon Mettam's side are now 10 points away from the play-offs, and will perhaps now start to look over their shoulders as they are only seven points above the drop zone.
Basford claimed all three points at Steel Park on Saturday, with a second-minute strike proving to be enough for the visitors.