Rushden and Diamonds won the Maunsell Cup after a 3-2 victory on penalty kicks against Peterborough United after the tie finished 2-2 after 90 minutes at a chilly Nene Park.
After a quiet opening to the game on a chilly night at Nene Park, Rushden created the first opportunity of the match as Fry gave away a free-kick 25-yards from goal. Former Posh midfield man Darren Caskey stepped up, but saw his curling effort superbly tipped around the post by goalkeeper Lee Harrison.
Logan looped a header over the top from a Semple corner on 11 minutes, before Castle screwed a shot wide of the target at the other end after a forceful run out of defence. Pearson tested Harrison with a low drive on 28 minutes before Posh pressed at the other end.
A neat chest pass from Logan picked out the onrushing Fry on 37 minutes, but the midfield man saw his fierce shot saved by Tynan. Shaw then saw a shot smothered by Harrison as before Pearson was denied by the Posh shot-stopper as a flurry of chances were created.
Posh withdrew Plummer and replaced him with Shane Huke at the centre of the defence just before the hour mark as the scrappyness of the game continued with neither side in the ascendancy. Harrison tipped a Shaw shot over the bar on 62 minutes after a patient Diamonds build-up.
Pearson squandered the best opportunity of the game on 64 minutes. After anticipating the bounce better than St. Ledger, the striker fired goal-wards, but missed the target for the Diamonds, screwing his shot wide.
However, moments later, Diamonds were in front as CASKEY controlled the ball and fired a fine looping volley over Harrison and into the back of the net. Calum Willock replaced Benjamin midway through the second half and dragged a shot wide of the target seconds after his introduction as Posh pressed for a leveller.
Club captain Dean Holden was given a run-out for the last 20 minutes with Farrell making way and Day pushing onto the left-wing. Posh drew themselves level on 73 minutes as great pace from Semple saw him beat the full-back and deliver a teasing centre into the box which DAY powered past Tynan with his head.
Jamie Day gets his head on a Ryan Semple cross...
...to pull Posh level
Posh got their noses in front for the first time in the final on 85 minutes as a flighted ball across the box by Semple was met by DAY who volleyed home superbly with his left-foot past the despairing dive of Tynan to make it 2-1.
The lead didn't last long through, Rushden made an immediate response, a free-kick into the box was met by Diamonds manager HUNTER who levelled the scores up at 2-2. There were no further chances in the final and the game went to penalties.
Penalties
| POSH |
RUSHDEN |
| Day - saved |
Caskey - scores |
| Holden - scores |
Shaw - saved (twice) |
| Newton - scores |
Pearson - saved |
| Boucaud - saved |
Grainger - scores |
| Willock - saved |
Jackson - scores |
Final Score: Rushden & Diamonds 2-2 Posh
Rushden & Diamonds win 3-2 on penalties
Posh: Harrison, Newton, Day, St. Ledger, Plummer (sub Huke 54min), Boucaud, Fry, Semple, Farrell (sub Holden 71min), Logan, Benjamin (sub Willock 68min). Unused subs: McShane, Quinn.
Rushden: Tynan, Castle, Joseph, Nicholls, Hunter, Okuonghae, Shaw, Jackson, Pearson, Caskey, Grainger. Unsued subs: Wark, Margetson, Langdon, Stead, Lambley.
Referee: Paul Martin
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