RUSHDEN AND DIAMONDS 3 HINCKLEY UNITED 1

Attendance: 1540

By ANDY GIBBS at NENE PARK

HINCKLEY United bowed out of the FA Cup as they found Rushden too powerful for them, United were second best throughout the game and could have no complaints at the result.

Justin Edinburgh is building an impressive side to match the surroundings at Nene Park, a youthful and energetic outfit complemented by the wise old heads of Jamie Stuart and Paul Terry and that this was their fifth straight win is evidence of Rushden’s progress.

Dean Thomas made one change to his side, Chukki Eribenne replacing Matt West up front and Hinckley, roared on by an enthusisastic away support, enjoyed the better moments of a largely scrappy opening. They created a couple of half chances when Andy Hall’s corner found Neil Cartwright who’s header was scrambled to safety before Eribenne’s flick sent Adam Webster clear but the striker’s weak finish from the edge of the area was easily held by Nathan Abbey.

Little was seen of the home side as an attacking force prior to them taking the lead on the half hour. Abbey’s clearance was helped on by Craig Farrell into the path of Aaron O’CONNOR who cut in from the left and beat Chris MacKenzie with a low shot from the edge of the area.

That triggered a spell of Rushden pressure either side of half-time and MacKenzie made a marvellous save at the feet of Farrell who seemed certain to score before an outstanding run from box to box by the impressive Curtis Osano ended with a neat pass to Mark Byrne who fired straight at MacKenzie as Diamonds ended the half on top.

That pattern of play continued after the break, dangerman Lee Tomlin was kept largely quiet, but he worked himself an opening when he fired across the face of goal before MacKenzie again kept his side in contention with a tremendous save as he made good ground across his goal to keep out Byrne’s far post header.

United were hanging on, but against the run of play, they levelled on 64 minutes. Alex Taylor found a yard of space on the left to wrap his foot around an inviting cross that WEBSTER buried from close range in front of the 500+ travelling Knitters. It was a wonderful moment to savour, but the joy was cut brutally short as Rushden regained their lead within a minute. A long ball over the top was a fraction too high for Connor Franklin and the pacy O’CONNOR got in behind to apply a precise finish just inside MacKenzie’s post. 

From such a high to the depths of despair in an instant and that was the crucial moment of the game as United visibly tired and try as they might, they couldn’t mount any sustained pressure on the home goal and Diamonds secured their progress when BYRNE fired home their third with seven minutes remaining.

The final incident saw Neil Cartwright receive a second yellow card in time added on for pulling back James Reid and Hinckley’s Cup run was over.

HINCKLEY UNITED: MacKenzie, Taylor (Collins), Giddings, Lavery, Lister, Franklin, Hall, Gooding, Webster, Eribenne , (West), Cartwright. Subs not used: Roberts, Hamilton, Dillon, Mace, Hinds