Rushden and Diamonds 1 Alty 1

7:00pm Tuesday 30th September 2008

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THIS was the clearest sign yet that an Alty revival is afoot.

The Robins confounded their critics once more to earn a thoroughly deserved point against Rushden and Diamonds.

Just two weeks ago, such a result seemed impossible.

But from crisis has come conviction - a sense of collective responsibility bolstered by a renewed impetus and belief.

Few observers would have expected Alty to take anything from Nene Park on Monday night but they won their first ever point at Rushden’s home to jump above Oxford into 19th in the Blue Square Premier.

Colin Little’s 44th minute opener had allowed Alty to dream.

It came at the end of a half in which Diamonds had looked more likely to score, the striker receving a cutback from the outstanding Lee Elam to slam a shot in off the bar and stun the home fans.

But if Alty’s opener had been slightly unexpected, the hosts’ leveller was even more so.

Leon Knight struck after a 15-minute spell of Robins dominance, the front three of Little, Elam and Chris Senior running Rushden ragged at times.

Still, a point is a more than welcome return from a game that could have been out of their grasp within the first 10 minutes.

With 19-year-old Lee Tomlin as their attacking fulcrum, Diamonds made a strong start.

Tomlin’s pace and invention unlocked the Alty defence but Stuart Coburn scrambled away his powerful blast.

The alarm bells were ringing even louder when the Rushden winger’s cross found a teammate completely unmarked at the far post. Luckily it was centre half Phil Gulliver, who sliced a weak effort wide when just a touch more composure was required.

That opening spell aside, Diamonds hardly dazzled.

In fact, Alty were in the ascendancy as half time approached.

Seven minutes before the break Elam sliced straight through midfield before clipping a sublime through ball over the defence to Little.

Puzzlingly, the striker opted to cut onto his right foot rather than shoot first-time on his left and that gave Curtis Osano just enough time to recover, deflecting his effort wide of the post.

But the same combination soon made their quality count.

After Gulliver failed to clear a loose ball from Little, Elam raced to the by-line. At first the winger looked to be in trouble as the recovering Gulliver pushed him wide, but he managed to slide a pass to Little, who rammed the ball past Alan Marriot from 15 yards.

Spurred on by a red-faced Garry Hill - the manager frustrated by his team’s ineptitude - Rushden recovered somewhat immediately after the break.

Osano looked to have created the opening his side needed after a driving run down the right but he flashed a wild shot across goal when a cutback would have been far better.

Then Coburn came to the Robins’ rescue, rushing out to make a close range block from substitute Lee Phillips.

Despite that, Alty provided plenty of threat.

Little turned a near post cross from Matt Doughty over the bar, while Senior’s rasping drive was saved by Marriott.

Elam also got in on the act, combining with Little to carve open the Rushden rearguard only for his shot to be blocked at the last by Gulliver.

But, 13 minutes from time, Diamonds dashed the visitors’ dreams.

Coburn failed to gather Tomlin’s corner and when Gulliver headed back across goal, Knight nipped in to prod home.

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Alty man of the match: Lee Elam. In his past few outings, Elam has begun to show the class Alty expected from him.

Bright and skilful on the ball, his movement off the ball also causes no end of problems for opposition defences, creating plenty of space for his fellow forwards.

But what has been most pleasing is his work ethic. Against Rushden, Elam got up and down the flank like a man possessed, only letting up when he was substituted 15 minutes from time.

Alty (5-4-1): Coburn 7; Densmore 7, McGregor 7, Lane 8, Young 9, Doughty 7; Senior 7 (Denham 70, 6), Lawton 7, Danylyk 7, Elam 9 (Peyton 75); Little 7 (Johnson 83).
Subs not used: Street, Meechan.
Goals: Little 44

Rushden and Diamonds (4-4-2): Marriott; Osano, Gulliver, Hope, Corcoran; Tomlin, Woodhouse, Wolleaston (Phillips 59), Burgess (Rankine 73); Knight, Clare (Kelly 73).
Subs not used: Day, Jelleyman.
Goals: Knight 77
Booked: Corcoran 90

Attendance: 1,341