MATCH PREVIEW: Alvechurch (H) | Southern League Premier Central

 



AFC Rushden & Diamonds continue their Southern League Premier Central campaign as they host Alvechurch at Hayden Road on Saturday (16th).

 

Diamonds enter this match off the back of the midweek draw with Rushall Olympic and Andy Peaks will be hoping they can build on the positive aspects from that match.

 

The Diamonds manager acknowledges that Alvechurch have made an impressive start to the season and insists that his side will need to do the basics well if they are to win the match.

 

“They’ve won quite a few games,” said Peaks.

 

“They’re never an easy team to play against. I know Longy [Alvechurch manager] quite well and they’re always very competitive.”

 

“Every game in this league is hard. If you’re not at it and you don’t do the right things; you don’t win your tackles, your headers, track your runners, defend set-pieces well, you don’t win games of football. We’ve done that really well last two games; I want to do that again Saturday and I want to add that little bit of quality”.

 

Time to turn performances into wins

 

The Diamonds are enduring a run of four winless games however the performances have taken an upward trajectory over the last two matches in particular. Diamonds were rigid and compact over in Stourbridge as they made themselves difficult to beat defensively whereas in Tuesday’s match versus Rushall Olympic, they produced a lively attacking display and created a variety of goalscoring opportunities.

 

The challenge that now faces Andy Peaks and the coaches is to strike the correct balance in order to score more goals and concede fewer chances.

 

Diamonds have shown flashes of chemistry as team cohesion continues to build and as we close in on the winter segment of the season, a period where Diamonds traditionally begin to motor and find their form, the next weeks could start to define the season and the ambitions they will be fighting for.

 

Last five: WLLDD

 

How are Alvechurch getting on?

 

Alvechurch endured a torrid 2019/20 campaign and had it not been for the COVID-19 pandemic, relegation to Step 4 seemed inevitable but the club have rallied together during the crisis and have hauled themselves into upper mid-table.

 

Ian Long’s side have surpassed the expectations that some may have set them prior to the season. The Church currently sit tenth in the table having registered a healthy return of 14 points from ten matches.

 

Alvechurch are unbeaten in three league matches and recently recorded a 2-0 win over fellow surprise package Leiston with Anthony Dwyer and Charlie Dowd both on the scoresheet for the Church. Their recent results also include a 1-1 draw with St Ives and a narrow 1-0 success over Biggleswade Town.

 

Last five: WWDLW

 

Previous Meetings

 

These two clubs have met on three occasions in the Southern League Premier Central. The sides could not be split in their 2018/19 encounters as they both resulted in draws (0-0 at Lye Meadow, 1-1 at Hayden Road).

 

The only meeting of the disrupted 2019/20 season came at Lye Meadow with Diamonds coming away with a 2-1 thanks to goals from Nabil Shariff and Tom Lorraine.

 

Where is the match taking place?

 

AFC Rushden & Diamonds will host their West Midlands visitors at Hayden Road.

 

The club are continuing their three-for-two ticket offer for supporters to attend the upcoming home matches. If you buy two tickets for the Alvechurch, Barwell or Biggleswade Town matches you will receive a third ticket for free!

 

More information about the exclusive ticket deal is available on the official club website.

 

Hayden Road Sports Ground

Hayden Road

Rushden

Northamptonshire

NN10 0HX

 

How can I follow the match?

 

I will be alongside Paul Judd, Bruce Greenburg and Ollie Mortimer on media duties. You can tune into Radio Diamonds for live commentary of the match or follow text updates via the official club Twitter feed (@AFCRD).

 

After the match, keep an eye out for post-match interviews and the match report.

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