AFC Rushden & Diamonds vs Morecambe — FA Cup: stats, lineups & analysis
Match Events
- 21′AFC Rushden & Diamonds, goal:1–0J. Clifton
- 25′AFC Rushden & Diamonds, goal:2–0M. Warburton
- 27′AFC Rushden & Diamonds, yellow card:
- 41′AFC Rushden & Diamonds, yellow card:
- 41′Morecambe, yellow card:
- Half-time2 – 0
- 50′Morecambe, goal:2–1
- 51′AFC Rushden & Diamonds, yellow card:
- Full-time2 – 1
- 94′AFC Rushden & Diamonds, yellow card:
Key Stats
Match report
AFC Rushden & Diamonds hold off Morecambe in FA Cup fourth qualifying round
AFC Rushden & Diamonds beat Morecambe 2-1 at Hayden Road in the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup on 17 October, scoring twice inside the opening 25 minutes and then holding on after the break.
AI-assisted match report written from official match data.
J. Clifton broke the deadlock in the 21st minute, and M. Warburton doubled the lead four minutes later in the 25th. Morecambe, managed by Ashvir Johal, found no way back before the interval and trailed 2-0 at half-time.
Morecambe reduced the deficit five minutes after the restart, Joe Garner scoring in the 50th minute to make it 2-1. That was the last goal of the afternoon. The visitors had 63% of the possession to the hosts' 37%, and both sides managed 15 shots, with Morecambe putting 10 of theirs on target against eight.
Rushden & Diamonds, who had won each of their previous three games, were booked four times to Morecambe's one. Their reward is another FA Cup tie, away to Burton Albion on Saturday 7 November.
M. Warburton struck in the 25th minute to put Rushden & Diamonds two goals clear, a lead that proved decisive. J. Clifton had opened the scoring four minutes earlier.
Morecambe had 63% of the possession but still left Hayden Road beaten.
AFC Rushden & Diamonds beat Morecambe 2–1 (half-time 2–0).
AFC Rushden & Diamonds met Morecambe in the FA Cup (4th Round Qualifying). Kick-off was Saturday, 17 October 2026, 14:00 UTC at Hayden Road.
Team pages: AFC Rushden & Diamonds · Morecambe · FA Cup
Key moments
- 21' Goal: J. Clifton — 1–0
- 25' Goal: M. Warburton — 2–0
- 50' Goal: Joe Garner — 2–1
Sirius · Why these numbers
Before kick-off Sirius gave AFC Rushden & Diamonds 42%, the draw 28%, Morecambe 30%. It finished AFC Rushden & Diamonds 2–1 Morecambe.
Home advantage gives AFC Rushden & Diamonds a slight lean — With almost nothing between the sides on our strength rating, 1319 to 1342 with Morecambe's slight edge, the usual home advantage is what puts AFC Rushden & Diamonds in front at 42%. The draw sits at 28%, starting from the usual 27% rate for evenly matched sides and nudged up slightly by both teams' recent games averaging a typical 2.3 goals.
Why AFC Rushden & Diamonds in front?
Home ground, and little else. Almost nothing between them on our strength rating — 1319 to 1342. Sides this close won 42.6% of 14,828 home games (draw 27.1%, visitors 30.3%).
Why only 42%?
Because on our strength rating there is nothing in it. Level sides split the rest: the draw at 28% and Morecambe at 30%.
Why the draw at 28%?
Between sides this level the draw starts at 27.1%. These teams' recent games average 2.3 goals — a typical goals environment. Games in that environment drew 26.5% of 28,340. The goals environment adds 1.2 points to the draw.
What did we measure but not count?
AFC Rushden & Diamonds arrive with 8 fully-tracked matches, so their strength number is a first estimate that will move quickly; Morecambe bring a 27-game record. New-to-the-record sides are where our rating knows least.
Sirius probabilities, frozen at kick-off. Analysis, not betting advice. How Sirius is doing this season · Full breakdown, evidence cards and squad news in the Match Insights tab
About this match
On this page: the AFC Rushden & Diamonds vs Morecambe final score and result, who scored, starting lineups, match stats and the full match report from this FA Cup fixture.
- Who scored and when — a goal-by-goal timeline of the match.
- Match stats — possession, shots, expected goals (xG), corners and cards.
- Starting lineups and player ratings for both teams.
- Head-to-head record and recent form for both sides.
The full match report above covers the goals, key moments and stats. Explore more on the AFC Rushden & Diamonds and Morecambe team pages or the FA Cup page.