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The home side opened brightly and after three minutes came close to opening the scoring when Duane Darby headed inches over following a cross from Paul Hall.
United almost took the lead themselves in the eighth minute when Peter Beagrie saw his free-kick punched out by Billy Turley. Matty Sparrow followed up but his shot came crashing back off the woodwork.
The Diamonds however were straight down the other end, and took the lead when Onandi Lowe collected a long clearance and firing home from ten yards despite being under pressure from Nathan Stanton.
Play was very even flowing from end to end and Turley in the Rushden goal did well to save from Alex Calvo-Garcia. On 22 minute full back Andy Dawson sent in a tremendous shot which flew inches over the bar.
The Iron can were unfortunate to be going in at the interval a goal down. On the stroke of half time Martin Carruthers headed just wide, while Wayne Graves again struck the crossbar for United after connecting with a cross from Stanton.
Five minutes into the second period Rushden increased their lead, Gary Mills put Andy Burgess in the clear and he ran on to shoot past Evans - again from ten yards out.
Rushden suffered a blow in the 62nd minute when Barry Hunter received his marching orders for his second bookable offence. It was Hunter's second dismissal of the season.
As is often a case when a side lose a man, Rushden seemed to be inspired by the onslaught they looked set to face. They almost increased their lead in the 68th minute when Lowe created an opening for Stuart Gray, only for the midfield man to pull his shot just wide with only the keeper to beat.
Despite late pressure the Rushden defence held firm and held out for a just about deserved victory - although United can justifiably feel hard done by after putting in more goal attempts than the home side, winning five times more corners and striking the woodwork twice.