Rushden and Diamonds
After the roller coaster ride of Rushden and Diamonds first
season in the football league, the fans went into 2002/03
season wondering where the ride would end, the play offs again,
or could Rushden and Diamonds live up to the bookies tag as
second favourite and claim automatic promotion to Division
Two. Rushden and Diamonds kicked off the season in Swansea,
Paul Underwood's goal 5 minutes into injury time saw the ten
men of Rushden and Diamonds secure an opening point.
A disappointing draw at Shrewsbury was followed by a 2-0 win
over Scunthorpe. Rushden and Diamonds has started the season
flying but were brought down to earth by Cambridge. This was
Rushden and Diamonds first meeting with one of last seasons
relegated teams from Div2. The 4-1 scoreline actually flatted
Rushden and Diamonds, it could have been a cricket score.
By the end of September Rushden and Diamonds had slipped down
the table after a 0-0 draw with York City and another heavy
defeat at Bournemouth.
After a poor run in September Rushden and Diamonds started
to improve their form, as Christmas approached Rushden and
Diamonds were looking good for automatic promotion sitting
just behind Hartlepool in the table, a 0-0 on Boxing day against
Scunthorpe United saw Rushden and Diamonds move to the top
of the table, pole position was surrendered 90 minutes against
Oxford United at Nene Park. The first game of 2003 saw the
Diamonds secure a 5-1 win of Shrewsbury Town, further victories
against Kidderminster and Cambridge meant Rushden and Diamonds
were just two points of the top of the table, despite not
winning in February Rushden and Diamonds knew that automatic
promotion was in their own hands, the Championship was starting
to look a distant thought. |
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