Diamonds and Doughboys both win ahead of Boxing Day derby showdown
Tyler Winters scored twice as AFC Rushden & Diamonds secured a hard-fought 2-1 win at Shepshed Dynamo in the Pitching-In Northern Premier League Midlands Division on Saturday.
Winters netted in both halves, with the winner coming eight minutes from time, as Diamonds rose to 12th in the table and to within five points of the promotion play-off places.
The win was the perfect preparation for the Boxing Day derby date with in-form neighbours Wellingborough Town at Hayden Road (ko 3pm), and Sandy was delighted with his team's attitude and heart.
"The pitch wasn't great, it was really heavy, and there were two teams out there that gave absolutely everything," Sandy told @AFCRD.
"There wasn't a lot of quality at times, but I am just delighted to be on the end of the win.
"Tyler has scored a brilliant goal, and then Bruon Andrade has hit the bar which could have put us 2-0 up, and we had one cleared off the line as well so we were on top.
"Shepshed dug in and hit back and we couldn't quite manage them, and when they got to 1-1 I was thinking we really need to ride this out.
"But we know we have the quality at the top of the pitch, and I am delighted Tyler Winters has netted at the back post and it was three points away from home.
"Tyler was brilliant, he has 11 goals now and he is getting better and better for us.
"I think 1-1 probably would have been a fair result on the balance of play, but it was great to celebrate with the superb away fans, and I think that was a bit of relief as well because it was probably three points we didn't really deserve but we ground it out.
"We have had plenty of games where we have played really well and drawn, and on Saturday we weren't quite at our best but it is the sign of a good team to come away from home and take three points. I am delighted."
On Boxing Day, Diamonds will take on a Doughboys side that is now ninth in the Midlands Division following their comprehensive 4-1 win over Loughborough Students on Saturday.
The Doughboys netted twice in each half, with Jack O'Connor and Will Jones doing the honours before the break, and Theo Robinson and Danny Draper wrapping things up in the second half.
The win was Borough's third on the spin and they are now just four points behind fifth-placed Lichfield City.