Rushden brought Jamacian striker Onandi Lowe back into the starting line up after almost two months on the injured list.
Town started the game, as always, in a positive manner. Early on Cas and Onuora combined to set Boulding racing away. Having beaten his man for pace, Boulding's shot fired across the goal when he had time to improve his angle.
Des Hamilton got involved in a scuffle and somehow got himself a free-kick, ah well. Iain Anderson pushed Disco out the way but his effort lacked the conviction to beat Paul Evans who easily collected.
Town were in total control by now. Lowe was virtually a bystander whilst fellow striker Rodney Jack, who so often caused Town problems in his Crewe days, was reduced to fancy flicks on the touchline.
Macca linked up with Campbell to release Cas down the wing. The Dutchman used the space well to pick out Boulding but the ball was slighty behind the striker who's flicked touch went well over.
From that goalkick, Rushden finally attacked. Jack made progress down the right wing before his fine cross was met by the head of Andy Burgess. Aidan Davison was equal to it though with a fine save with his legs. The combination of Young and Mike Edwards eventually cleared the ball.
Town's neat control in midfield was more than Rushden could handle, Campbell especially was head and shoulders above. It was the former Leicester man who released Boulding again, this time a defender managed to throw himself in the way.
Town eased off around the 30 minute mark to buck an unwanted trend in recent games.
Slopply play from Cas almost proved costly but Jack fired wide.
With five minutes of the first half remaining, Town surged forward in a bid to go in ahead.
From the second of two corners the opener came. Campbell's clever kick was met 25 yards out by Iain Anderson who fired low and hard past Evans to send the Town fans wild with delight.
Almost straight from the restart it could have been 2-0. Boulding broke away and was bundled over by Hunter. Hamilton laid the free-kick off for Anderson who slammed an even better shot goalwards, this time Evans pulled off a wonder save to deny the Scotsman.
Town came out for the second half clearly buoyed on by their goal. Cas picked the ball up after a few seconds and proceeded to win a corner. From the kick a goalmouth scramble ensued with Greg Young almost coming close to opening his professional account.
After brief Rushden pressure, Town wasted a glorious chance to put the game away. Boulding's peristance resulted in a defensive error. The former Mansfield man beat another defender before crossing a peach to Onuora, unmarked at the back past. Iffy opted to try an overhead kick rather than control and tap into the empty net. The result looked more like he'd been sniped from the roof with the ball going out of play.
Rushden boss Brian Talbot brought on veteran Paul Kitson and pushed Jack wide. A clear plan to expose the space left by Town's absent wingers.
The plan worked as Town fell apart. First Lowe marked his return with the equaliser. Kitson's shot deflected off Edwards into the path of Lowe who slammed home from close range.
Six minutes later it got worse. Anderson's reluctance to use his left foot cost him. With the ball in a good position on the right wing, he opted to try and go back on himself with his right foot, around two defenders. The duo easily took possession and proceeded to break, Kitson's clever layoff found Lowe who skipped past Young and fired across Davison. 2-1.
Straight after the goal, Anderson was replaced by..........Jevons!!! Remember him?
Jevvo was given the role of playing behind Boulding and Onuora, one assumes with the instructions to create and pull the strings. Making his first apperance in a Town shirt for well over a year, Jevons did no harm to his cause. Despite a lack of support and options he looked hungry and eager to create.
As Town chased, their play become a lot more direct - and hopeful. Chances did come though, good chances. When the ball was on the floor, Campbell threatened to do it all on his own with some powerful runs.
A goalmouth scramble saw Boulding lay off for Macca (what he was doing up there I don't know) who amazingly hit the crossbar from six yards. Seconds later Crowe skipped past three players to find himself one-on-one with Evans. The utility man panicked though and fired woefully wide.
A minute later Rushden broke, sub Richie Hanlon was given the freedom of Nene Park to fire a shot past Davison from long range in injury time.
A very, very poor second half performance from Town. The game was for the taking and they bottled it, simple as that. The absence of Cas and Anderson on the wings is a major concern. Rushden were no great shakes, in fact they looked average. Their only threat was pace on the break. With Hall, Lowe and Jack in the team, they'll get goals that way. But we should have been 3 or 4 up by half-time.
Man of the Match - Jason Crowe. Tough one between him and Campbell. Crowe gets the nod for playing out of position, so to speak. Assuming Barnard returns for the QPR game, it will be very unfair for Crowe to be dropped.