Rushden & Diamonds 2 Tranmere Rovers 1

Last updated : 24 February 2004 By Footymad Previewer

Rushden & Diamonds turned the recent Division Two form book on its head by ending Tranmere's 12-match unbeaten run with a 2-1 win at Nene Park.

The home side went into this game with only one victory in their previous seven matches, and on the back of three straight defeats. But they emerged with a welcome league double over the FA Cup Quarter-finalists.

Rovers could consider themselves desperately unlucky. They carved out the lion share of the chances and twice struck the woodwork, with leading scorer Eugene Dadi hitting the post midway through the second half and Iain Hume holding his head in disbelief after his late effort did likewise, before rolling along the goal line and away to safety.

Rovers’ boss Brian Little said: "That was the sort of performance that will yield more wins than defeats if we continue in that vein. Our efforts merited something from the game - for long periods, we were the better side." Chances were virtually non-existent in the first half, although Onandi Lowe headed over the crossbar in the third minute and Dadi fired into the side netting just before the break.

The game burst into life shortly after the restart with Lowe bagging his 15th of the season. It stemmed from good work by Stuart Gray and Gary Mills, before Lowe swivelled sharply on the edge of the box to fire in off a post for his 15th goal of the season.

Diamonds’ joy was short lived as Danny Harrison's 55th minute header from a Ryan Taylor cross squared things up and, just five minutes later, Harrison spurned a good chance when he blazed over the crossbar.

But Mills settled the issue with his first goal for Diamonds in 116 appearances when he took a return pass from Lowe before beating Rovers goalie John Achterburg from just inside the penalty area.