Arlesey stun Rushden & Diamonds

Arlesey Town secured arguably their finest win of the campaign with a 2-1 win over mighty AFC Rushden & Diamonds on Tuesday.
Tony Williams.Tony Williams.
Tony Williams.

With their own future in the Southern League Division One Central all but settled before kick off the Blues then went about delivering a hammer-blow to Diamonds’ promotion hopes.

Victory, coupled with Saturday’s success over Barton, confirmed beyond doubt Arlesey will avoid the drop at the end of a difficult campaign.

The visitors began strongly. Elliott Sandy’s header hit the post and Claudiu Hoban saw a couple of chances cleared off the line before their side broke the deadlock on 18 minutes.

Andy Hall intercepted the ball and played it through to Sandy who turned his man and fired home from the edge of the box.

Arlesey were given a golden opportunity to draw level when they were awarded a penalty after Lewis Wilson was fouled. But the keeper produced an excellent save from Christian Tavernier’s spot kick.

However the Blues drew level four minutes after the restart when they were awarded their second penalty of the night, this time for a foul on Jevani Brown, and Brown stepped up to score into the bottom corner.

And they took the lead on 66 minutes when the hosts broke forward with Tavernier playing in Tony Williams who slotted past Finlay.

Hall saw a free-kick well saved by Nick Thompson as Arlesey held out for the three points.

The Blues visit bottom side North Greenford United on Saturday.