POINTS SHARED AFTER A MADCAP OPENING!
JORDAN GRAHAM’S Diamonds double came in an explosive opening seven minutes – but Coalville Town pegged them back as the promotion-chasing pair had to settle for a point each.
Coalville boss Adam Stevens felt his side could have gone onto get the winner after Chris Robertson’s equaliser but was, overall, happy.
He said: “It’s another point for us against a good side. On another day with the chances we created we should have won it.”
An entertaining encounter got off to an explosive start. With five minutes on the clock a ball was played down the left, Ravens defender Alex Dean misjudged the flight of the ball Connor Furlong nipped in behind him squared the ball to Graham who volleyed the ball in.
The lead was short lived and Coalville were on level terms within two minutes. Tim Berridge crossed the ball to Tom McGlinchey who’s glancing header evaded Dean Snedker in the Diamonds goal.
The match was end to end and the frenetic opening ten minutes were rounded off with another goal for the visitors. Nathan Tshikuna did well to get a cross into Graham. The striker controlled the ball superbly before looping his shot over Tiernan Brookes and into the top corner.
Coalville had a number of chances and after a succession
of corners they were unlucky not to draw level when Connor Smith headed against the post.
Berridge was next to come close to an equaliser after a mazy run beating four players and a low shot which was well saved by Snedker.
The Ravens got back on level terms in the 58th minute in a controversial fashion. A corner came in from the right which came off a Rushden head to Robertson at the back post who stabbed the ball home. Initially the goal was ruled out for offside but after a consultation between the referee and his assistant the decision was overturned due to the ball coming off the defender.
Tyrell Waite was denied by Snedker and another Ravens chance went begging in the 73rd minute, Luke Shaw raced down the left and flashed a cross over and McGlinchey couldn’t get a connection with the goal gaping. STAR MAN: Jordan Graham (AFC R&D)
ENTERTAINMENT: