City moved back into a play-off position thanks to a dominant performance against a Rushden side who were playing their second game in 48 hours. City travelled to the remote town of Irthingborough with a past record at Nene Park of P4 W0 D0 L4 F1 A9 so history was stacked against us. However Paul Tisdale has lifted another curse, within his reign we have won on TV and won away at Cambridge and Stevenage as well as getting to Wembley.

The lineup was different to the team that started against Aldershot with Jones coming in between the sticks, a back four of Tully, Taylor, Seaborne (c) and Friend. The midfield was Harley, Gill, Edwards and Moxey with Basham and Stansfield up front in the 4-4-2 formation. Former city player Jon Challinor started on the Bench for Rushden.

Rushden started strong and the first couple of chances came their way, the first being a freekick from about 20 yards which was hit safely into the wall and the second chance was a shot in the area comfortably held by Jones.

City ventured forward and a shot from outside the area was only parried by Anderson in the Rushden goal. Adam Stansfield was following up and from close range and a tight angle he shot and the linesman gave the goal after the ball was cleared despairingly by the Rushden defense.

In the 20th minute Basham went down with what looked like a calf injury and was replaced by Carlisle and City moved to a 4-5-1 formation. The rest of the half was played in the midfield with Diamonds having possession but constantly being pushed back by City and being forced to resort to a longer pass. City did threaten again a couple of times, an appeal for handball was turned down by the referee and a Carlisle shot from outside the box was well saved by the keeper as it was dipping under the bar. The first half was quite even but it was the Grecians who lead due to good goal poaching.

The second half was a different story and City started to get in behind the defense more and more. Stansfield broke down the right and put in a delicious cross only for Dean Moxey to miss the target from the 6 yard box with a free header. From a corner Matt Taylor also failed to hit the target from a type of opportunity that he has often got more from this season.

Then came the knockout punch. Good work down the right from Edwards, Carlisle and Tully released Stansfield inside the full back. The pulled back low cross was met by an incoming Ryan Harley who left the keeper with no chance from 10 yards and smacked it into the middle of the goal sending the travelling 359 into delirium.

From this point the result was in no doubt and City then carved out chance after chance against a tired Rushden side. Moxey volleyed over from the edge of the area and Carlisle, Harley and Gill all missed chances to add to the tally. Watson came on in injury time for Stansfield who left to a great ovation.

Overall the performance from City was similar to the one against Aldershot. Jones in goal took crosses and distributed well. In all fairness he was troubled little by a toothless Diamonds attack. The back four were part of this reason and they marshaled the line well with George Friend showing a maturity that has grown this season. The midfield was where the battle was won today. Edwards was his usual magnificent self showing all his experience that has to make him a contender for player of the season. Harley showed that he adds something different, he is a driving midfielder, getting forward and looking for the killer pass. Up front Stansfield was magnificent, he scored a poachers goal from a difficult chance. He also ran the channels, held the ball up well and his crosses were magnificent.

So another 3 points onto the tally and City are now on 79 points which is 3 more than Stevenage and 1 fewer than Burton and Cambridge with all teams having just 2 more games to play. On Tuesday City are home to already relegated Stafford, and as a City fan we know this won't be easy. Stevenage host Northwich, Cambridge are at home to Torquay and Burton travel to Kidderminster. But with our future in our own hands there is only the one game we need to worry about and you should all be down the Park in order to potentially see us cement a play-off place, all we have to do is go one better than Stevenage.

We are all on the edge of our seats, but if we can repeat the performances put in the the last 2 games then we will be in the play-offs.