For the second weekend in a row Beaconsfield returned home from one of the "fancied sides" with a hard earned and well deserved point.

This was The Rams first ever visit to The Dog & Duck Stadium, home not only of AFC Rushden & Diamonds but also their landlords Wellingborough Town.. A fire, suspected to be arson, decimated the club house only days before and full credit must go to the committees and supporters rallying around and enabling the game to go ahead.

Beaconsfield, minus injured talisman Charlie Losasso and with new signing Ash Artwell making his debut, took the game to their hosts and should have scored on eighteen minutes when Omari Patrick broke through but saw his shot well saved by Matt Finlay. Five minutes later they really should have scored but twice in as many seconds Callum Bunting saw efforts thwarted by Finlay.

The Diamonds were strangely subdued in the opening stages but are not favourites for the title without reason and on 43 minutes, very much against the run of play, the lively Tommy Berwick put them ahead with a well taken effort.

If Beaconsfield rued their missed opportunitis in the first 45 then Rushden did the same in the second. Tom Lorraine in particular had good chances to extend The Diamonds lead - a shot wide on 54 minutes, a header over on 60 minutes and then forcing a good save out of Brendan Hazlett on 75 minutes. The best chance, though, fell to sub Courtney Herbert who took advantage of a Rams defensive mistake to run in on goal but fluffed his lines when faced with the imposing Hazlett.

A great Rams free kick routine on 76 minutes saw a shot cannon off the home sides bar and, as Beaconsfield have found to their cost on many occasions, if you don't take your chances you usually regret it and so it was for Rushden when, on 88 minutes, sub Aaron Berry shot through a crowded area to draw The Rams deservedly level and silence the large home following.

This was an entertaining game featuring two good footballing sides with a draw probably a fair result. For Beaconsfield it extends the unbeaten run to six games and that should do wonders for their confidence.

Come On You Rams!

Beaconsfield Team:

1. Brendan Hazlett
2. Tom Gant
3. Andy Dean
4. Lee Togwell (Captain)
5. Alex Murray
6. Guri Demuria
7. Aaron MInhas
8. Ash Artwell (Sub: Jack Read, 56)
9. Callum Bunting (Sub: Aaron Berry, 70)
10. Tristan Campbell
11. Omari Patrick (Sub: Tope Fowudu, 77)

Sub Not Used:

12. Nathan Minhas

Attendance: 445