Boss Sandy 'disappointed' as Diamonds suffer defeat at Long Eaton United
A disappointed Elliot Sandy admitted the 'better team' emerged with maximum points after AFC Rushden & Diamonds were beaten 3-1 at Long Eaton United in the Pitching-In Northern Premier League Midlands Division on Saturday.
It was a first defeat of 2026 for Diamonds, who had their chances in an open game, but in the end they slumped to a defeat that sees them slide to 12th in the table, five points off the play-off places.
The match started badly for Diamonds as top-scorer Bruno Andrade saw his second-minute penalty saved following a foul on Tyler Winters, and that proved costly as a lively Long Eaton hit back to lead 2-0 at half-time.
Diamonds regrouped and got back in the game with an Andrade strike on 67 minutes, and they then thought they had equalised five minutes from time, only for Jordan O'Brien to be adjudged offside.
That proved to be the last chance for Diamonds, as Long Eaton netted their third just two minutes later to end the game as a contest.
"I am really disappointed," Sandy told @AFCRD. "We were in a good vein of form, and went into the game with lots of positivity and confidence.
"We get a great opportunity with the penalty, and it's all about key moments really against a top side like Long Eaton, who have a great home record.
"We missed the penalty and we were okay for the first 20 minutes or so, but then Long Eaton started to get on top and caused us a lot of problems.
"We were holding on a little bit in the first half, but I said to the boys at half-time, this is where we can lose three, four or five, or we can stand up and be counted, show what we are about and try and get something from the game.
"I thought we then did that, the subs made a difference with Ollie Evans coming on and showing real quality in the middle and we got that goal back.
"We then scored again, but there was the offside flag, and then two minutes later we're 3-1 down, and sometimes you just have to hold your hands up and say the better team on the day won."
Diamonds now have a free week ahead of another away day on Saturday as they go to seventh-placed Racing Club Warwick.
A win would see Sandy's side move to within a point of their high-flying hosts with a game in hand.