Rushden & D'monds 0-1 Altrincham

Summer signing Tom Kearney's winner was only his second goal for the club

Tom Kearney hit a fabulous free-kick to earn Altrincham victory over 10-man Rushden & Diamonds at Nene Park.

The game looked set for a goalless draw until a dramatic late finale when Diamonds defender Simon Dowler bought down Nicky Clee just outside the area.

Dowler was shown a straight red card for a professional foul.

And Kearney stepped up to curl the ball brilliantly over the wall and into the top corner to give the visitors all three points.

It was Altrincham's fourth away win in eight Blue Square Premier outings this term, lifting them to seventh in the table, just a point shy of the play-off places.

The Diamonds remain in 13th after a third successive league defeat.

Rushden & Diamonds:

Abbey, Osano, Downer, Stuart, Robinson, O'Connor, Terry (Porter 68), Byrne, Pattison (Smith 83), Farrell, Akurang (Reid 60).
Subs Not Used: Roberts, Cousins.

Sent Off: Downer (81).

Altrincham: Coburn, Densmore, Williams, Smith, Doughty, Danylyk (Lawton 79), Sheridan (Young 61), Kearney, Clee, Denham, Senior (Little 73).
Subs Not Used: Saunders, Welch.

Booked: Denham, Senior.

Goal: Kearney 82.

Attendance: 1,168.

Ref: Wayne Barratt (Halesowen).