(N)
AFC Rushden & Diamonds
John Holden
Boston United
Rob Peterson
Youth Cup Round 1
Head To Head Results
| S | M | COMPETITION | HOME | AWAY | WON |  | - |  | - |  | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8 | 1st Division | | 0 | - | 1 | | | 1 | - | 0 | - | 0 |
| 1 | 26 | 1st Division | | 1 | - | 1 | | | 1 | - | 1 | - | 0 |
| 1 | 36 | AP CUP FINAL | | 0 | - | 3 | | | 1 | - | 1 | - | 1 |
| 2 | 17 | 1st Division | | 2 | - | 0 | | | 2 | - | 1 | - | 1 |
| 2 | 38 | 1st Division | | 0 | - | 1 | | | 3 | - | 1 | - | 1 |
| 3 | 8 | 1st Division | | 0 | - | 0 | | | 3 | - | 2 | - | 1 |
| 3 | 26 | 1st Division | | 0 | - | 1 | | | 3 | - | 2 | - | 2 |
| 7 | 19 | AP Cup Quarterfinals | | 5 | - | 0 | | | 3 | - | 2 | - | 3 |
| 12 | 1 | FA Cup Round 1 | | 4 | - | 1 | | | 4 | - | 2 | - | 3 |
| 12 | 33 | Youth Cup Quarterfinals | | 1 | - (n) | 5 | | | 4 | - | 2 | - | 4 |
| 13 | 5 | 2nd Division | | 4 | - | 2 | | | 5 | - | 2 | - | 4 |
| 13 | 25 | 2nd Division | | 1 | - | 0 | | | 5 | - | 2 | - | 5 |
| 13 | 41 | FA SHIELD FINAL | | 2④ | - | 2③ | | /
| 5 | - | 3 | - | 5 |
| 15 | 28 | Youth Cup Round 2 | | 0 | - (n) | 1 | | | 5 | - | 3 | - | 6 |
| 18 | 20 | 1st Division | | 1 | - | 0 | | | 5 | - | 3 | - | 7 |
| 18 | 39 | 1st Division | | 3 | - | 1 | | | 6 | - | 3 | - | 7 |
| 20 | 20 | 1st Division | | 3 | - | 1 | | | 6 | - | 3 | - | 8 |
| 20 | 39 | 1st Division | | 4 | - | 2 | | | 7 | - | 3 | - | 8 |
| 21 | 4 | 2nd Division | | 0 | - | 1 | | | 8 | - | 3 | - | 8 |
| 21 | 21 | 2nd Division | | 0 | - | 1 | | | 8 | - | 3 | - | 9 |
| 21 | 27 | AP CUP SEMIFINALS | | 3 | - | 0 | | | 8 | - | 3 | - | 10 |
| 24 | 3 | AP Cup Group (2) | | 1 | - (n) | 2 | | | 8 | - | 3 | - | 11 |
| 29 | 5 | 2nd Division | | 2 | - | 1 | | | 9 | - | 3 | - | 11 |
| 29 | 25 | 2nd Division | | 2 | - | 2 | | | 9 | - | 4 | - | 11 |
| 34 | 8 | 2nd Division | | 0 | - | 0 | | | 9 | - | 5 | - | 11 |
| 34 | 26 | 2nd Division | | 1 | - | 0 | | | 10 | - | 5 | - | 11 |
| 36 | 20 | 1st Division | | 1 | - | 0 | | | 10 | - | 5 | - | 12 |
| 36 | 39 | 1st Division | | 0 | - | 1 | | | 10 | - | 5 | - | 13 |
| 40 | 16 | 2nd Division | | 1 | - | 3 | | | 10 | - | 5 | - | 14 |
| 40 | 39 | 2nd Division | | 0 | - | 2 | | | 11 | - | 5 | - | 14 |
| 41 | 17 | 2nd Division | | 1 | - | 1 | | | 11 | - | 6 | - | 14 |
| 41 | 38 | 2nd Division | | 2 | - | 0 | | | 12 | - | 6 | - | 14 |
| 42 | 24 | Youth Cup Round 1 | | 0 | - (n) | 2 | | | 12 | - | 6 | - | 15 |
| S | M | COMPETITION | HOME | AWAY | WON | | - | | - | | |||
Olmec Head Preview
Youth Cup• The deepest that AFC Rushden & Diamonds has reached in the Youth Cup prior to this season was:
• a season 18 semifinal loss to AFC Wimbledon 1-0.
• AFC Rushden & Diamonds exited the Youth Cup in the 1st Round last season when they lost to FC United of Manchester 3-1.
• Boston United has 1 Youth Cup Trophy.
• The previous Youth Cup Final appearances by Boston United include:
• a season 12 win over Luton Town FC 1-0.
• a season 21 loss to Shepshed Dynamo FC 0-0 (PK Shootout: 5-4).
• Boston United crashed out of the Youth Cup last season in a 2-1 loss to Hyde FC in the Quarterfinals.
AFC Rushden & Diamonds
• Axel Lacour (II/13 Df) is sidelined with a head injury suffered in match 19 against Hyde FC.
Boston United
• Nathan Esteve (SBY/4 Df - knee injury), and Taylor Alexander (II/13 Df - head injury) are all questionable for today's match.
Head To Head Meetings
• AFC Rushden & Diamonds and Boston United have met 32 times with 2 of those occurring in the Youth Cup.
• Boston United have won 14, lost 12 and drawn 6 of 32 matches against AFC Rushden & Diamonds.
MATCHUP AND PREDICTION
| AFC Rushden & Diamonds | Position | Boston United |
| 17 ✓ | Goalkeeper | 16 |
| 15 | Sweeper | 15 |
| 37 ✓ | Defenders | 28 |
| 27 | Midfielders | ✓ 40 |
| 51 | Forwards | ✓ 55 |
| 23 | Est. Attacks | ✓ 25 |
| 🅾 PREDICTION: RUS 1 – 1 BOS (Draw) | ||
🏦 Neutral venue
⚔️ KEY BATTLE: Forward line is the decisive area — Boston United (55) edge AFC Rushden & Diamonds (51) in attack, giving them a slight but meaningful advantage in the final third.
⭐ ONES TO WATCH: Kevin Hawkins (GK, TL:17) — RUS | Reece Wilkinson (GK, TL:16) — BOS
🎯 VERDICT: This looks set to be a closely contested draw, with both sides evenly matched across most areas. Boston United's midfield superiority (40 vs 27) gives them better control of possession and tempo, though AFC Rushden & Diamonds' strong forward line (51) keeps them very much in the contest. Martin Durham will be a key figure for Boston, helping to neutralise Rushden's attacking threat and keep the scoreline level.
Match Notes
AFC Rushden & Diamonds versus Boston United at a neutral venue. Two clubs, one ball, and the vast indifferent universe watching with considerably less interest than either set of fans believes.
Olmec Head Marvin (Goole AFC) 06/12 - 7:30 PM
Good luck John! We really want a Youth trophy, so not TOO much luck!
Rob (Boston United) 06/13 - 5:11 PM