Paul Carden produced his annual thunderbolt goal in the second half against Rushden & Diamonds last night to open his tally for the season and reduce the deficit to 2-1, and defender Brian Saah scored his first United goal to earn a point that had looked beyond the U's in the first half.

Afterwards Carden gave a typically frank assessment of the game, but he excluded left-back Darryl Coakley from his criticism and said the teenager deserved the 'man of the match' award given to Carden.

"I have to say that was possibly the worst opening half we have played since I've been here and we fully deserved to go in two goals down," he said.

"The wind can be used as mitigating circumstances, but to be honest we were second best in every position except one, and that was Daryl Coakley who was excellent throughout the game."

Coakley was in the side for the first time since the first four games of the season because senior left-back Anthony Tonkin was suspended, along with Robbie Willmott, and Carden was fulsome in his praise of the youngster.

"We asked him to come in and replace Anthony Tonkin as he did at the start of the season and it was like he had never been out of the side. His reading of the game and positional sense was superb and he didn't let his winger get in a meaningful cross throughout the game.

"I've been given the Man of The Match award but to be honest it should go to Darryl."

Martin Ling made his only substitution before the hour was up, sending on an extra striker Lee Phillips in place of winger Andy Parkinson, and United had scored their two vital goals within seven minutes of the change.

"In the second half we rolled up our sleeves and got at Rushden and battered them at times, which is all well and good, but we shouldn't be doing that from a position of being two-nil down," stated Carden.

"As for my goal, well, I try and do one once a year as everyone here knows! The ball broke to me in the centre circle and despite Jefferson Louis raking his boot down my Achilles I broke away. Seeing their defence stand off me I thought 'I'll have a go' and it provided the spark for us to really have a go at them.

"I think as the second half went on Brian Saah's goal was the least we deserved, if only for the way we played in the second half."

Interview by David Gray

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