AFC Rushden & Diamonds would not have been able to believe their luck, as some terrible defending handed the visitors 3 first half goals to guide The Diamonds towards 3 points, and further hampered The Blues depressing start to the season, as we conceded 5 goals at home for just the second time in almost 3 years.

Connor Pace scored his first goals for 18 months, as a much-improved second half gave us some late hope, before another defensive blunder sealed the points for Rushden & Diamonds at Grange Park, on a day we saw almost all seasons of the weather!

Brad Munn named a complete unchanged 16 from that which lost at Mickleover a week ago, meaning that Evan Garnett was once again named amongst the substitutes, though wasn't deemed fit enough to participate in the game, as the striker continues to recover from a hamstring problem. James Taylor was also fit, despite being forced off at Mickleover after suffering a facial injury. A black eye was still visibly evident from that clash a week ago, as the sides lined up before kick-off.

The Blues kicked off the game during a sunny spell, after a heavy downpour 20 minutes before kick-off.

The match had a relatively quiet start, a brief scuffle between Andrade and Cotterill, and a shot skewed over the bar by Davidson-Miller were all to note in the opening 11 minutes, before the game kicked into life.

A Blues attack was thwarted, and as Bucci was looking to start another move down our left, his pass was intercepted by O'Brien, and we were immediately in trouble as he marched towards goal. With only King in front of him, he squared to talisman Andrade, who under pressure from Atwal, smartly turned the ball into an unguarded net.

Long Eaton did respond well to once again conceding the first goal of the match - that the 9th time in 11 games so far this season. James Taylor made a marauding run from the left hand side, and when bearing down on goal, was brought down, just outside the area, only for Jamie Hanson's well taken free kick to be saved by Charlie Woods, who had an excellent game throughout in The Diamonds goal. From the rebound, Bucci had a sight on goal, but the offside flag was quickly raised.

On 16 minutes, Long Eaton should have been level. An excellent pass through the centre beat the offside trap, and Davidson-Miller was one-on-one with Woods, the Blues forward took it around the stopper, but carried the ball wide of goal and checked back in to strike it, giving the keeper time to recover, and with Taylor awaiting a square pass, Davidson-Miller decided to take it back around the keeper, only to then see his strike blocked.

The Blues would rue that miss as just a couple of minutes later, we were 2 down. A cross from Prickett-Reed seemed innocuous as it came towards King under little pressure, but it somehow deceived the Blues keeper, perhaps through the slippery conditions, and it rolled into the bottom corner of the net. O'Brien may have got a touch to bundle it over the line, or it may even go down as an own goal, whatever way, The Blues were now in big trouble. Having not conceded more than once at home all season, we were now 2 down inside 20 minutes, to a side unbeaten in the league all campaign.

Rushden then dominated most of the remaining minutes. King saved well from a flick-header from Andrade, then the same player miscued with only King to beat on 29. In between those chances, a further goal was chalked off for offside.

When The Blues did muster together some positive play, McLachlan was denied by a tremendous block when through towards goal, then Pace's goalbound effort was blocked by excellent defending.

From a Blues corner on 33, Rushden looked to break quickly, and McLachlan took a booking to ensure there wouldn't be a further goal.

The Blues looked to be ending the half strongly. Taylor had a typically powerful header on target, again blocked by a defender, whilst McLachlan and Davidson-Miller had reasonable chances to half the deficit. However, it was once again the visitors who were able to find the target, and again, it came from a defensive mistake. Harry Eden misjudged a cross which came in, and once more under little pressure, he was unable to guide the ball back to King, and that man Andrade was on hand once more to finish with ease and send The Diamonds into the break at 3 goals to the good.

Incredibly, overall, chances were probably split quite equally in the first 45 minutes, but The Blues had handed all 3 goals to AFC Rushden & Diamonds on a plate with little effort required to finish all 3.

A big effort was needed from Long Eaton after the break and to their credit, they did push hard for a large period. A lot of our attacks came via the flanks, with James Taylor a threat all afternoon, whilst McLachlan on the other side, through his direct play, was also a sporadic threat.

On 53, The Blues did get a lifeline, a header from a corner was deflected onto the bar, with Connor Pace on hand to bundle home - his first goal since April 2025, to make it 3-1.

Moments later, Eden riffled a shot just over, before Atwal and Hanson were replaced by Williamson and Howes.

On 72 minutes, The Diamonds appeared to put the game to bed. Prickett-Reed carried the ball forward, and perhaps given too much time, he was able to place a shot which went in off the inside of the post, just of the reach of King.

5 minutes later, McLachlan picked up the ball inside his own half, and with little other option, simply drove towards the opponents goal, with Woods' feet denying the winger a fabulous goal.

With time running out, Long Eaton changed their shape, and Bucci, now in a much more advanced position caused The Diamonds defence trouble and after his shot was saved the rebound came to Davidson-Miller who fired into the net to make it 2-4.

Just 5 minutes later, in the 85th minute, Long Eaton pulled another goal back. Pace who had gone a year and a half without a goal, had another, and there was a glimmer of hope for the majority of the 262 in attendance.

Rushden sub Maltby-Smith missed a glorious chance a minute from time to seal the points, when he sliced wide from 4 yards out with the goal at his mercy, but they wouldn't have to wait much longer to wrap the game up.

Another mistake from Long Eaton gifted Andrade with a simple chance, after The Blues pushed bodies forward for a free kick, which failed to get anywhere near the opponents goal, and with King, the last man stranded on the half way line, Andrade rounded the keeper and dribbled it right through into the penalty area before putting the home side out of their misery, to end what was certainly an entertaining match!