Joy at Last for Diamonds - Coalville Held

As often happens when a team’s fate has been settled, it is able to play in a more relaxed fashion – and that, unfortunately for visiting Basford United, is what happened on Tuesday evening at Hayden Road against AFC Rushden & Diamonds in the Pitching In Southern League Premier Division Central.

Diamonds had gone eleven games without a victory, their last coming on January 2nd at home to St Ives Town.

But, after their relegation was confirmed last Saturday, they were able to go out and express themselves against a more nervy Basford side who are now firmly embroiled in that bottom battle, being only five points above the drop zone.

After a goalless first half, the hosts broke the deadlock 5 minutes after the restart when half-time substitute Luis Pinto-Leite set up Jenson Cooper to beat Kieran Preston in the Basford goal.

The Nottinghamshire side tried hard to get back into the game, but Diamonds held firm, with the experienced Michael Harriman making a fine debut.

And then with 6 minutes remaining, the home side made sure of victory and it was Pinto-Leite who scored from just inside the area.

The game scheduled for Lye Meadow between Alvechurch and Royston Town was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, leaving the match at Bloomfields between Needham Market and title-chasing Coalville Town as the only other one on.

Maximum points for the visitors would have taken them above Tamworth and top of the table.

But they came up against an in-form Marketmen, whose last two games had seen them beat the Lambs 1-0 and hold fifth-placed Nuneaton Borough to a 0-0 draw, so Adam Stevens` side knew it would be far from easy.

Coalville had the better of the opening half without managing to break the deadlock against a stubborn home defence or the once again excellent Marcus Garnham in the Marketmen’s goal.

The second period saw Kevin Horlock’s men improve and Dan Morphew came close to giving them the lead on 69 minutes but his header hit the top of the crossbar.

So, Coalville had to make do with one point which lifted them level on points with Tamworth but now with only one game in hand.