Diamonds Becomes Victims of FA Cup Upset

The Pitching In Southern Football League lost another of its clubs from the Emirates FA Cup on Sunday afternoon.

Essex Senior League side Enfield FC beat Premier Division Central club AFC Rushden & Diamonds 2-1 at the R&D Advisors Stadium to cause a First Qualifying Round upset.

The hosts took a 21st-minute lead when a short pass out from the back was capitalised on by Danny Norton and he calmly chipped Diamonds` keeper Dean Snedker from 20 yards.

The E’s held that lead until half-time and the second half began with the visitors putting the Step 5 side on the backfoot.

And 15 minutes from time, Diamonds equalised when substitute Jack Connor made the most of a mix-up between a home defender and keeper James Bransgrove to equalise.

But in stoppage time at the end of the game, Enfield grabbed the winner when Norton scored his second, squeezing a shot past Snedker at his near post.