Rushden defeat all-but ends Dons' play-off hopes

Terry Brown praised his players’ character after defeat against Rushden all-but ended their season – then told them to pick themselves up or hit the road.

Craig Farrell’s strike ten minutes after half-time virtually kills off the Dons’ play-off chances.

They are eight points behind fifth place York and the injury-ravaged south-west Londoners have certainly lost their sparkle.

But Brown was pleased with his team’s efforts despite another frustrating game at Kingsmeadow.

“I said before the game that this was must win and we’ve fallen short,” he said. “But as manager you won’t find me throwing in the towel, until it is mathematically impossible we will aim for the top five. You can’t give it up.

“The players are on the floor and they’ll take some picking up. You’re always thinking all the while about next year, and I’ll make my judgment on what I see from now on. I want to know who will lift themselves. Those that don’t won’t be here next season, it’s as simple as that.

“But I asked for some character and they showed me some. I was proud of the performance.

“The difference between the two sides was our miss just after half-time and their man putting theirs away after 55 minutes. It was always going to be a close encounter.

“Performance wise I am delighted but we need to be creating more chances and start putting the ones in that are coming our way.”

Rushden’s Aaron O’Connor was kept at bay by James Pullen in the first-half’s only chance of note, but he had a big say in the opener ten minutes after the re-start.

O’Connor played in striker Farrell who was given too much space and the keeper had no answer.

Rushden should have been a goal behind by that point but Will Hendry, from Danny Kedwell’s cross, didn’t work Dale Roberts hard enough when free at the far post.

It proved costly as Rushden frustrated the home crowd to enhance their top five chances.

Diamonds boss Justin Edinburgh said: “Those two moments at the start of the second half were crucial. They missed theirs and we took ours – it’s a fine line between success and failure at the business end of the season.”