Stevenson targeting the title after a good start with Diamonds

Jon Stevenson has scored two goals in as many games since joining AFC Rushden & Diamonds

The experienced frontman signed for the club two weeks ago and has made an immediate impact after scoring on his debut in the 8-1 drubbing of North Greenford United before following it up with another in the fine 4-2 success at Aylesbury last weekend.

Those victories have resulted in Andy Peaks’ side regaining their place at the top of the Evo-Stik Southern League Division One Central and they are a point clear of second-placed Chalfont St Peter ahead of Saturday’s trip to Beaconsfield SYCOB.

Stevenson’s role will become all-the-more important after joint-top scorer Tommy Berwick left the club due to personal reasons at the end of last week.

And the 33-year-old insists that now Diamonds have hit the summit, they want to stay there until the end of the season.

Stevenson said: “Now we are at the top, we want to stay there. Anything less than being top now would be a disappointment.

“We want to go on and win the league and we also have the game in hand as well so it’s a good position to be in.

“It’s another away game this weekend and I am sure it will be tough.

“It’s pretty clear that anyone can beat anyone in this division so we just have to keep going.

“We have to take our chances, roll our sleeves up and just take it game-by-game to stay where we are.

“It has been a really good start for me. I came in for training on the Tuesday before the North Greenford game to see if I could fit in with the boys and it went really well.

“So I came back on the Thursday and had a chat with the manager and I told him that I would love to join the club.

“Obviously the first game was great, it was a big win and I got on the scoresheet as well.”

Last weekend’s success saw Diamonds inflict just a second league defeat on last season’s runners-up.

And Stevenson felt they showed battling qualities to get the job done as Andy Hall, Shawn Richards and Claudiu Hoban also scored.

“I don’t know a great deal about the division and the clubs in it to be honest but the lads knew it would be a harder game and the pitch was horrendous,” he added.

“It was one of those games where we were able to pass it around pretty well in the first half but we really had to dig in after half-time.

“It showed that the lads are capable of battling for a win and that’s a good thing to have.”