BURNLEY woke up too late. Once they were two goals down and were forced to chase the game they left themselves open to the knockout blow which Rushden duly administered.

Teams

Burnley 4-4-2

Michopoulos; McGregor, Davis, Cox, Gnohere; Maylett, Ball, Mullin, A Moore; Taylor, Papadopoulos

Subs: I Moore for Papadopoulos (half-time), Little for Maylett (half-time), Cook for Mullin (half-time)

Not used: Cennamo, Armstrong.

Rushden 4-4-2

Turley; Mustafa, Peters, Rodwell, Underwood; Carey, Butterworth, Brady, Gray; Jackson, Patmore.

Subs: Darby for Patmore (59), Mills for Carey (80).

Not used: Pennock, Setchell, Solkhom

Attendance: 4,398

REFEREE...M Fletcher

ATTENDANCE...4,398 Tactics: BOTH sides opted for a stringent 4-4-2 format and all substitutions were straight changes within that shape, though Burnley pushed Gnohere forward on the left in the second period. Skill spot: FOR shear confidence and opportunism Diamonds' Tarkan Mustafa's goal, thumped home from 25 yards after a 15 yard run, could not be beaten and it sounded the Clarets death knell. Verdict: Burnley woke up too late. Once they were two goals down and were forced to chase the game they left themselves open to the knockout blow which Darby duly administered.

Hero: Frenchman Arthur Gnohere is gaining the Clarets supporters' deep affection and his attacking performance certainly fostered that trend.

Villian: Rushden keeper Billy Turley for sadly, though totally understandably, indulging in some timing wasting tactics as the clock ticked down. Tale of the tape

TALE OF THE TAPE

(Clarets first)

14...Shots...9

6...On target...5

4...Corners...4

1...Woodwork...0

16...Free kicks...12

3...Offsides...5 Players NIK MICHOPOULOS - Left exposed for the first and last goals and had no chance with Mustafa's scorcher...6

MARK MCGREGOR - A debut to remember for his goal and linked well on the right with Little in the second half...6

STEVE DAVIS - Steady at the back and created the Alan Moore's goal with a good cross...6

IAN COX - Tested by Justin Jackson's pace but looked assured the majority of the game...6*

ARTHUR GNOHERE - Just how does he manage that ghosting past players on the wing? The man is a centre back isn't he?...8

BRAD MAYLETT - Some attacking runs but didn't ask enough questions of the Rushden defence...5

JOHN MULLIN - Tried to make the midfield tick but it wasn't happening for him...6

KEVIN BALL - The midfield general has got the bite but he will have been disappointed he didn't take the game into extra time...6

ALAN MOORE - Ever alert and plundered a good goal, his presence on the left provides good balance 8

GARETH TAYLOR - Marked tightly he struggled to find room and failed to prosper...5

DIMITRI PAPADOPOULOS - A debut full of frustration, though he did his best to create scoring chances...5

Subs IAN MOORE - Twisting and turning he gave Rushden's backline a series of headaches but the goal just wouldn't come...8

GLEN LITTLE - Provided balance on the right and linked well with McGregor as Burnley upped the pace...7

PAUL COOK - Threaded some neat passes through the Diamonds defence and helped the Clarets regain their shape...7

Unused: Luigi Cennamo and Gordon Armstrong

Rushden

Billy Turley...Alert and brave 7

Tarkan Mustafa...Top drawer goal 7

Paul Underwood...Industrious skipper 6

Mark Peters...Tower of strength 7

Jim Rodwell...Tough customer 7

Shaun Carey...Eager runner 6

Garry Butterworth...Tenacious 7

Jon Brady...Set piece specialist 8

Stuart Gray...Not afraid to shoot 7

*JUSTIN JACKSON...Pace a real threat 8

Warren Patmore...Wasted chance 5

Subs

Duane Darby...Supplied killer blow 7

Gary Mills...Late insurance policy 6

Not used: Tony Pennock, Gary Setchell, Brett Solkhom