Rushden made the most of Scunthorpe's misfortune to stay at the top of Division Three and win their third match in a row at Nene Park.

The visitors hit the woodwork three times in the first half, including a wonderful strike from Mark Jackson which struck the crossbar, and allowed Diamonds to launch the attack from which they opened the scoring.

Gary Mills hooked the rebound from Jackson's shot upfield and striker Onandi Lowe ran clear before beating goalkeeper Tom Evans.

Five minutes after half-time, Andy Burgess made it 2-0 before Rushden defender Barry Hunter was sent off for a second bookable offence.

Rushden & D'monds: Turley, Mustafa, Dempster, Hunter, Underwood, Hall, Mills, Gray, Burgess, Lowe, Darby. Subs: Peters, Partridge, Wardley, Sollitt, Talbot.

Scunthorpe: Evans, Stanton, Cotterill, Jackson, Dawson, Graves, Calvo-Garcia, Sparrow, Beagrie, Torpey, Carruthers. Subs: McCombe, Wheatcroft, Brough, Barwick, Collins.

Referee: P Crossley (Kent)