ROBBINS TO THE RESCUE
RYAN Robbins’ stoppagetime goal earned AFC Rushden & Diamonds a crucial 1-1 draw against third-placed Beaconsfield Town.
The league leaders have failed to win in any of their last four Evo-Stik Southern League East games, but will be relieved to have come away with a point after Callum Webb’s first-half strike looked to have won it for the home side.
On a day when waterlogged pitches forced several games to be postponed, the league’s top three sides were all in action and are separated by just three points, after Hayes & Yeading’s 4-0 win at Fleet Town.
On a perfect playing surface at Holloways Park Beaconsfield edged a tight first half with Webb scoring after 19 minutes.
Rushden’s Tom Lorraine lost the ball in the middle of the park and Bajram Pashaj broke quickly down the flank and his deep cross found Webb, who nodded home at the back post.
Rushden had chances to equalise, notably via Joel Gyasi, who drilled the ball just wide of the post on 40 minutes, but Rams keeper Nick Hamann was rarely seriously tested.
On the stroke of halftime Spencer Weir-Daly should have scored with the goal gaping after Luke Fairlamb’s superb cross, but he mistimed his header, which went straight into Hamann’s arms.
The second period saw both sides struggle to make clear-cut chances, Weir-Daly going close for the visitors on 69 minutes and Tony Mendy for the Rams seeing a cheeky flick clawed away by Ben Heath ten minutes from time.
Fairlamb was pulling the strings for the visitors but Rushden found their efforts thwarted by good defence from the likes of Jerome Eccleston and a lack of quality in finishing positions when it mattered most.
The breakthrough came three minutes into stoppage time as Webb handled in the penalty area and Rushden were awarded a penalty.
Substitute Robbins’ effort was saved initially by Hamann in the Beaconsfield net, but Robbins pounced on the rebound and made no mistake with his second strike to secure a crucial point. Elsehwere, AFC
Dunstable missed the chance to stay within three points of Rushden after they succumbed to a 1-0 defeat away against Marlow.
Marlow have struggled on the road this season, but once again showed why they are so difficult to beat at Oak Tree Road as they fought hard to see off their high-flying opponents.
The only goal of the game came in the 17th minute from Curtis Chapple, following a fine run from skipper Chris Ovenden, which ended with a shot through a group of players.
Dunstable could not be criticised for a lack of trying as they peppered the Marlow goal with shots, and the home side were grateful for a string of fine saves from Simon Grant to keep their opponents at bay.
BJ Christie came closest to an equaliser for Dunstable as his ferocious strike thundered against the crossbar.
But Marlow held out for the win to pick up a useful three points ahead of Monday’s trip to Uxbridge.
Meanwhile, Dunstable will look to get back to winning ways at home to 23-placed Barton Rovers.
Elsewhere, all other games fell foul of the weather as only five EvoStik Southern League East games went ahead, with waterlogged pitches the norm.