Andy Peaks pleased with derby victory over Poppies in the Hillier Cup | AFC R&D p1-1 Kettering Town

 


AFC Rushden & Diamonds defeated their near neighbours Kettering Town on Tuesday and advance to the NFA Hillier Senior Cup semi-finals.

 

The match finished level after normal time and thus a penalty shootout was required to determine the winner but Diamonds triumphed 4-2 on spot kicks with Dean Snedker making two saves.

 

The visitors took an early lead as Jordan Crawford fired the ball across goal for Connor Johnson to turn in at the back post.

 

Rushden grew into the match and eventually found their equaliser as Ty Deacon bundled the ball home from close range to open his Diamonds account.


Sam Warburton, Will Jones, Nathan Tshikuna and Connor Furlong were all on target in the penalty shootout with Dean Snedker making saves to deny Kyle Perry and Claudio Ofosu and seal a Diamonds win.

 

Andy Peaks acknowledged that a pragmatic approach was needed against their National League North opponents but was pleased with the way his side managed the game.

 

“For me, it had to be a tight game,” said Peaks.

 

“We limited them, in the first half, probably to the goal which was disappointing but they didn’t create a lot else – neither did we – it was quite cagey. I wanted us to express ourselves a bit more.”

 

“I thought we started the second half a lot better, got our goal and then perhaps didn’t press quite as high but they had a lot more of the ball and created a couple of chances themselves which they’ll be disappointed they didn’t score but we rode it out.”

 

“We still looked a threat from set-pieces, nothing would quite drop, there were not a lot of chances but I didn’t expect there would be.”

 

The Diamonds manager admitted that the substitutions he made were not in preparation for a potential penalty shootout but he was pleased with the execution of the spot kicks and the performance of his goalkeeper.

 

“I never pick a team for penalties!” Peaks smiled.

 

“We just freshened it up. I knew the boys who would take penalties, we have practised them so we knew who was going to do what but they were particularly good penalties.”

 

“We picked the five [players] who were going to take them and we said if you can stick them in the net I’m pretty certain Dean will save one because that’s what he does. He saved two so we’re delighted for him.”

 

AFC Rushden & Diamonds have now progressed to the semi-finals of the competition where they will meet one of Bugbrooke St. Michael, Peterborough Sports or the winner of Brackley Town versus Daventry Town.

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