Boss Sandy urging Diamonds to finish with a flourish and secure top 10 spot
AFC Rushden & Diamonds go into the final two games of the Pitching-In Northern Premier League Midlands Division season looking to secure a top 10 finish.
A 1-1 home draw against Rugby Borough last weekend moved Diamonds above county neighbours Corby Town and back into the top 10, but in truth the game had an end of season feel to it.
Joziah Barnett fired Diamonds into a ninth-minute lead, but Borough hit back to level before the break, and that was how it stayed.
Manager Elliot Sandy said: "I thought we came out of the blocks flying.
"We get a great early goal thanks to a brilliant delivery from Freddie Findlay, and I hoped we would kick on from there.
"But we conceded such a poor equaliser.
"It was yet another penalty, the sixth since the middle of February, and that’s something we need to work on.
"After that we huffed and puffed without creating too much."
Diamonds' penultimate game this Saturday is at Lichfield City, who currently sit one place above Diamonds in ninth place.
They lie near the top of the current form guide, but have lost their past two home games playing on their plastic pitch.
Diamonds are likely to welcome back defender John-Joe O’Toole to the starting line-up, but will again be without midfielder Jack Daldy and front man Jordan O’Brien through injury.
Ben Heath will continue to deputise for injured goalkeeper Dan Jezeph.
After three consecutive draws, Sandy wants to end the season on a high with two wins.
"I am half okay being three unbeaten but there is no win in that run," said the Diamonds boss. "But we still have something to play for as I want us to finish in a top 10 place.
"If we get four points that should be enough, and I don’t care whichever way we get them."
Sandy is already planning for next season and has a fair idea on who he wants to keep and which positions he wants to strengthen.
With 42 players having been used this season, the current squad have two more games to persuade the manager they deserve to be part of his plans for next season.
The last time Diamonds played Lichfield back in November, the game ended in a 1-1 draw at Hayden Road.