Having returned to winning ways against Northwich Victoria on Tuesday night with a comfortable 3-1 victory, Town are back at the Shay again on Saturday, this time hosting Northamptonshire side, Rushden & Diamonds.

The sides ground out a 0-0 draw in last season's corresponding fixture back in March, though Town had previously triumphed 1-0 at Nene Park earlier in the season, courtesy of an early goal from Steve Torpey.

Chris Wilder's men will certainly be looking to add to Tuesday's victory against the side currently 16th in the League Table and will be wary of Diamonds' excellent 2-1 away victory at Weymouth on Tuesday.

A Bit About Our Opponents

The Diamond's relegation to the Conference along with Oxford United in 2005/06 was their second relegation in just three years, having made the drop from League One just two seasons previously. The ascension to such dizzy heights marked a watershed in the Northamptonshire side's brief but dynamic history. Formed as recently as 1992 in an amalgamation of Southern League Rushden Town and United Counties League Irthlingborough Diamonds, they started life in the Southern League Midland Division. With the financial backing of the R Griggs Group (famous for Dr Martens and Airware footwear) they swiftly ascended the ranks to achieve promotion to the Conference in the 1995-6 season. Just five seasons later (and just nine years into their existence) the Diamonds secured promotion to the Football League proper in 2000-01 - though a major highlight for them came in the 1999 FA Cup Third Round, when they held the then high-flying Leeds United to a goalless draw at Nene Park and even led 1-0 at Elland Road, before eventually being overcome by 3 goals to 1.

In their first season in League Two, they suffered the heartache of losing the play-off final (3-1 to Cheltenham Town), but were promoted as champions the season after (2002-03). Their season in League One, however, was marred by off-the-field problems, and the Diamonds were relegated at the first attempt. The following season, they narrowly avoided consecutive drops, finishing third from bottom of League Two, but succumbed the season after, finishing bottom. Interestingly, the club was handed over by its owner, Max Griggs, to a Supporters' Trust in June 2005 - becoming the first football club to be entirely owned in this manner. This was to be a short-lived arrangement however - with control passing to new investor, Keith Cousins, in November of last year.

Stats of the Day

P-10, W-2, D-3, L-5, F-8, A-15


Full Record Against Rushden:

Tue 13 Mar 2007 H League D 0-0
Tue 10 Oct 2006 A League W 1-0 Torpey
Sun 06 Nov 2005 H F.A. Cup D 1-1 Senior
Tue 15 Nov 2005 A F.A. Cup D 0-0
Sat 10 Nov 2001 A League L 1-2 Redfearn
Sat 20 Apr 2002 H League L 2-4 Harsley (pen), Fitzpatrick
Sat 07 Feb 1998 A League L 0-4
Sat 21 Mar 1998 H League W 2-0 Wooding (og), Paterson
Sat 07 Sep 1996 H League L 1-3 Norbury
Sat 26 Apr 1997 A League L 0-1

Town Last 5 Homes:

Altrincham D 2-2
Histon D 0-0
Droylsden W 3-0
Woking W 1-0
Northwich W 3-1

Rushden Last 5 Aways:

Woking D 1-1
Torquay L 2-3
York W 3-2
Salisbury D 1-1
Weymouth W 2-1


All odds for the game can be found at Shaymenbet

Next Match

Town make the short trip away to York City next Thursday night. Kick off 7.45pm.

By Jez Serlin.

Halifax Town's official site is looking for someone to write match previews from the York City game next week. If you have some spare time and can help, please email kellygilchrist@halifaxafc.co.uk