Honours even

A goal deep into added time earned Rushden a share of the spoils in this top of the table clash.

Despite the recent bad weather the Holloways Park pitch was in perfect playing condition and a big thank you must go to ground staff Lewis Clements and Paul Whitney.

In front of a season’s best crowd, it was the visitors who settled first, in particular Joel Gyasi who put an effort over in the early exchanges. The Rams gradually worked their way into the game and on 19 minutes Baj Pashaj nicked the ball in midfield, ran at the Rushden defence and put in a perfect cross that was met by Callum Webb to slot past Ben Heath.

Rushden are not top of the league without reason and they came back at The Rams, the lively Gyasi involved in most of their attacks. Spencer Weir-Daley also had a decent chance of an equalizer on 40 minutes but put his effort straight into debutant Rams keeper Nick Hamann’s hands whilst Pashaj should have doubled Beaconsfield’s advantage on the stroke of half time when well set up by Alex Cathline.

The second period saw Rushden go all out for an equaliser but a mixture of poor final ball and a strong Rams defence kept them at bay, particularly on 69 minutes when Hamann saved an effort by Weir-Daley. The home-side were playing mainly on the break and on 80 minutes Lee Barney beat the offside trap to set up Tony Mendy who’s cheeky flick was saved by the face of Ben Heath.

The equalizer came two minutes into added time when Rushden were awarded a penalty after a blatant handball. Sub Ryan Robins saw his kick saved by Hamann but he was first to the loose ball and put it into the empty net.

On balance of play a draw was probably a fair result and one that keeps both sides firmly in the battle for promotion.

Source Beaconsfield Town FC