The Diamonds |
Diamond's manager Barry Hunter will be familiar to Wrexham fans after
enjoying a successful spell at Racecourse in the 1990s. The tall central
defender joined from Irish side Crusaders after impressing for his team
during the Isle of Man tournament and signed for Wrexham in time for the
1992/94 season for £60,000. During his three seasons at Wrexham he made
122 appearances scoring six goals and picked up a Welsh Cup winners
medal in 1995 along with five international caps for Northern Ireland.
It was no surprise that me moved on to better things with Reading paying
a then record £400,000 in 1996 although his progress with the Royals was
hampered by injury. Hunter was appointed manager
at Nene Park 12 months ago after previously taking temporary charge for
a month after Brian Talbot left the club in March 2004. Ernie Tippett
was appointed on a full time basis but his reign only lasted nine months
with Hunter appointed initially on a temporary basis before his position
was made permanent with a one year contract in the summer.
With Rushden & Diamonds currently occupying the final
relegation spot, Hunter has had a busy New Year with many changes to the
squad in an attempt to freshen it up. In total seven players have been
added to the squad, four of which are on loan whilst John Dempster and
Andy Burgess, who refused to play in the last game, have joined former
manager Brian Talbot at Oxford. The players that have signed on a free
transfers are Ronnie Bull (Grimsby), John Turner (Cambridge) and
goalkeeper Dan Crane (Burton). The four loan players are Ashley Nichols
(Cambridge), Tony Stokes (West Ham), Peter Castle (Reading) and Tyrone
Berry (Crystal Palace).
The top goal scorer for Rushden & Diamonds is in form
striker Drew Broughton with his brace in the recent defeat against
Bristol Rovers taking his tally to five goals for the season, four of
which have come in the last five games. |
Past Encounters |
The two clubs have only met on four occasions in their history with
Wrexham yet to lose a game, winning two and drawing twice. The first meeting
came in the 2002/03 season with Wrexham drawing 2-2 at Nene Park and winning
the return match at the Racecourse 3-0. With both club's achieving promotion
that season, Wrexham returned from Nene Park with a 3-2 victory the
following season and were held to a 1-1 draw at the Racecourse. |
Form Guide |
Wrexham: LWDLWLLD
League
Position: 9th (26 games) |
Rushden &
Diamonds: LLWLLLLL
League
Position: 23rd (26 games) |
Rushden & Diamonds are on a bad run on form with seven
defeats in their last eight games with the only victory coming against an
under strength Chester side prior to Christmas. This victory was followed up
with a 5-1 hammering at Orient on Boxing Day and then a 1-0 home defeat at
home to Cheltenham. New Year's Eve resulted in Rushden making the trip back
from Torquay on the back of a 2-1 defeat and this was followed up with a 3-2
home defeat against Bristol Rovers. Last weekend Rushden were on the wrong
end of a 2-0 scoreline at Peterborough. After ending
a run of two games without a win with a 2-1 win over Rochdale on Boxing Day,
Wrexham then recorded two straight defeats at home to Grimsby, when they
were unlucky, and then at Shrewsbury, where they were shocking. Last weekend
Wrexham relied on a injury time goal from Mark Jones to rescue a point
against Lincoln but have only recorded one win on their travels this season,
a 3-0 victory at Oxford back in November. |
Bookies View |
Wrexham are favourites for the win with Stan
James, UK Betting and Total bet pricing the away win at 8/5. Bet Odd or Even
are offering the Rushden win at 17/10 with the draw priced at 9/4 with
Corrals, Pinnacle, Bet 365 and Premier Bet. |
Team News |
Wrexham Team News: Dennis
Lawrence and Lee Roche have been ruled out of the visit to Rushden &
Diamonds with hamstring and groin injuries respectively. They join Lee
McEvilly and Levi Mackin on the sidelines but the remaining first team
players have recovered from the injuries that kept them out of the postponed
cup match at Newport on Tuesday.
Michael Ingham starts in goal with a back three of Shaun Pejic, Dave Bayliss
and Danny Williams with Mike Williams on the bench as cover. Andy Holt
continues on the left with either Jim Whitley or Simon Spender filling in
for Lee Roche at right wing back. Darren Ferguson, Matt Crowell and Mark
Jones are expected to continue in midfield with either Dean Bennett or
Robbie Foy partnering Jon Walters up front.
Wrexham Squad (17): Ingham, Michael Jones, Danny Williams, Pejic,
Bayliss, Mike Williams, Spender, Whitley, Holt, Smith, Ferguson, Mark Jones,
Crowell, Walters, Bennett, Foy, Marc
Williams.
Rushden & Diamonds Team News:
Rushden & Diamonds are without the suspended Rob Gier and Alun Armstrong for
the game along with the injured Neil McCafferty who has had a hernia
operation this week. Also ruled out is Pete Hawkins (shoulder) with Garry
Mills undergoing a fitness test prior to the game. The game has also come
too early for Marcus Kelly and Daniel Chillingowrth with both players
expected to be available for first team action from next week.
League 2 Fixtures:
Bury v Torquay
Cheltenham v Bristol Rovers
Chester v Boston United
Darlington v Peterborough
Grimsby v Mansfield
Leyton Orient v Northampton
Lincoln City v Barnet
Macclesfield v Oxford United
Rochdale v Stockport
Rushden & Diamonds v Wrexham
Shrewsbury v Carlisle
Wycombe v Notts County |
|
Venue Guide |
Address:
Nene Park, Diamond Way, Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, NN9 5QF.
Telephone Number:
01933 652000
Fax Number:
01933 650418 |
Rushden & Diamonds Websites |
|
How to get there? |
By Car:
Leave the M6 at the junction with the M1
picking up the A14 towards Kettering. After 23 miles on the A14 turn right at the
roundabout onto the A6. Now heading in southerly direction follow this road
until you reach the Nene Park roundabout where you turn left and the ground
will then be on your left hand side. Distance from Wrexham = 130 miles, Time = 3 hours. By
Train:
Nearest Train Station is Wellingborough but is five miles from the ground,
so a taxi is your best bet. Click here for the Rail
Track Online Timetable or call national enquiries on 08457 484950. |
When you are there |
Car Parking: The car
park is located on your left after the ground but it does get congested
after the game. Alternatively you can turn right
at the roundabout by the ground and park along Station Road. If you
prefer a public car park then continue along station road are there is
one just off the roundabout before you reach the High Street. It will
take you ten minutes to walk back to the ground from here. Beer and Grub:
There are no pubs in
the vicinity of the stadium but on the plus side there are bars inside the
ground and visiting supporters have their own, called the Airwair bar. There
are two options to find pubs; take the 10 minute walk into the town centre
or drive further down the A6 towards Higham Ferrers. Heading towards the
town centre the first pub you will come across is The Bull, which is opposite the cross in the centre of town.
This is the main haunt for away fans but if you can be bothered to walk a
bit further then try the Horseshoe located further up High Street just
past Dillons. If you are looking for some guest ales then you will have to
continue past the Horseshoe up the hill until you reach the Oliver Twist
pub. The ground is located on the outskirts of the town and therefore you
will also have to walk into the town centre where you will find the usual
variety of outlets with Mai's Chinese take away & chippy one of the best.
This is located just further on from the Horseshoe.
Cash Machines: Abbey National machine at
Dillons Newsagents on the High Street. |
How much to get in? |
Airwair Stand:
Adults £15, Concessions £10, 9-16 year olds £4,
accompanied 9-16 year olds £2, Under 8s free. |
Disabled Facilities |
There are 17 wheelchair parking spaces
for all disability groups at the ground with at least 6 spaces in
available in the ground out of a total of 24 in the stand. There are two
adapted toilets in the Airwair Stand with varying snack bars. Disabled
Supporter £10 with helper admitted free of charge. The DSA is Kieran
Farmer/Nikki Roberts and they can be contacted on 01933 652936. |
Weather Forecast |
Cloudy with temperatures reaching a maximum of 9 degrees
Celsius and a 12 mph southerly wind. |
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