The U's pre-season campaign finished with a draw on Saturday afternoon, as they came from behind to draw at Rushden & Diamonds.

Again, Paul Lambert's men looked solid against their Blue Square opponents, although they had to defend well at times to see off the Diamonds' attacks.

The U's had a limited number of their own own chances going the other way, in what was a competitive and hard fought game throughout.

Unfortunately, there were more injury worries for Steven Gillespie who lasted an hour before having to be substituted by fellow striker Clive Platt. The former Cheltenham man could now be a doubt for the game against Norwich next week.

The U's named one of their strongest starting elevens of the pre-season campaign, as the season opener against Norwich City drew ever closer.

Three of the summer signings - Magnus Okuonghae, Lee Beevers and Ashley Vincent - made the team, whilst two others - David Fox and Joel Thomas - started the game on the bench.

It was Scott Vernon who had the first effort on target after just two minutes, with the U's switching play well for the front man to drill in a low effort.

At the other end, Cliff Akurang really should have put Diamonds in front, as he broke through the U's back four, but dragged his shot into the side netting after a heavy first touch spoilt his path to goal.

The visitors were happy to press the ball in midfield and won it on six minutes in a dangerous position, to allow Perkins to burst towards goal and smash in another low shot that was dragged wide.

And, as the two sides traded chances, a sharp turn from O'Connor saw Williams make sure at his near post to turn the ball away, whilst Osano should have done better when the ball dropped to him at the resulting corner.

The game was certainly competitive in the early stages, with some strong tackles in midfield. Played at a frenetic pace, the U's were getting the better of the chances in that opening ten minutes.

The game remained quick paced in the middle third of the half, but there was little in the way of sights of goal for either team, until Diamonds took the lead on 32 minutes.

O'Connor and Beevers tussled down the U's right hand side and it was the Diamonds man that eventually who came out on top, allowing him to cut it back to the onrushing Reid, who powered a shot past the helpless Williams.

The goalscorer almost doubled his tally four minutes later, as Tomlin's winding run saw a clever ball put through the U's defence. Baldwin was on hand though to just put off the Diamonds man as he made his shot, allowing Williams to save.

Gillespie had been subject to one or two heavy challenges during the first half and took exception to one from Corcoran eight minutes before half time. The Diamonds man went into the book for his foul.

The U's moved the ball well around on 41 minutes and the ball eventually fell to Hammond, who moved the ball to one side and slipped in a shot that was always going to run wide of the post.

But they did draw level three minutes before the break. Vernon did well to send Hackney away down the left and his low cross was met in a similar fashion to the Rushden goal by Vincent, but his shot deflected off Robinson to beat keeper Roberts.

Diamonds went straight on the offensive and another good low cross from O'Connor was well blocked by Okuonghae, before Wolleaston's own centre should have been turned home by Akurang.

The teams went in all square at the break, but the U's had half a chance two minutes after the restart. Vernon did well to knock it into the path of Gillespie, who was felled as he struck the ball - the shot clearing the crossbar.

Vincent was booked early in the second half, and the moments after the restart included some hefty tackles by both sides.

Williams had to be on his toes on 54 minutes when a fierce cross from Tomlin looked like it might be goalbound, and he flicked the ball away with a strong wrist to get it away from danger.

There were more injury worries around the 56 minute mark for the U's as Gillespie walked off, and he was one of a number of players replaced at that time as the visitors freshened things up.

Okuonghae had to be at his defensive best on 62 minutes to clear from a dangerous cross under pressure from Reid, and the Diamonds were having a positive spell at this point in the half.

However, the U's nearly got themselves in front after yet more good work by Vernon, who turned sharply in the box to lay a ball across the six yard box. Beevers had continued his run from earlier in the move and was only denied by a good block by substitute Cousins.

With just under twenty minutes to go, Vernon was replaced by Thomas as the Frenchman again worked on his fitness.

Hammond was the next to go, as Wordsworth replaced the skipper shortly after he had lifted the ball over the bar. Smith did a little better for Diamonds not long afterwards, driving in a rising shot from distance that Williams did well to take with some safe hands.

Izzet then defended exceptionally well at the far post as he cleared from under the bar with Tomlin rushing in to try and head home.

Williams then nearly had a moment to forget as Osano stepped in from his full back position on eighty minutes to drill in a shot that Williams spilled onto the crossbar, much to his relief.

Three minutes later, some good hold up play by Thomas fed the ball to Fox in a tight area and the former Blackpool midfielder tried his best to dig the ball out with a lob over Roberts, but the keeper collected comfortably.

Right at the death, Izzet's through ball to Wordsworth looked like it might provide the midfielder's second winner of the week, but Roberts smothered his shot before the Diamonds eventually got the ball clear.

And that was pretty much that as the U's prepare for the season curtain raiser against Norwich next week.

U's: Williams, Tierney (Maybury 56), Baldwin, Okuonghae, Beevers, Hackney (Fox 56), Hammond, Perkins, Vincent (Izzet 56), Vernon (Thomas 70), Gillespie (Platt 56).

Att: 505