 As he was not playing regularly for Mansfield , Beardsley joined Conference National side Rushden & Diamonds on a one @-@ month loan on 19 January 2007 . He made his debut a day later , when starting in Rushden 's 2 – 1 home victory against Stafford Rangers , and scored his first goal in the following match , with a 75th @-@ minute header in a 3 – 1 home win over Cambridge United . Having helped Rushden move up the table with two goals from three matches , he signed for the club permanently on 31 January 2007 on a one @-@ and @-@ a @-@ half @-@ year contract on a free transfer . He finished 2006 – 07 with 13 appearances and 2 goals for Rushden , as they finished the season in 12th @-@ place in the Conference National . However , he was released the club in May 2007 following a change in management . 
