Diamonds boss Sandy happy with 'a good point' in wake of FA Cup excitement

But the AFC Rushden & Diamonds boss was also left a little frustrated not to have won the game, and bemused by the performance of referee Simon Gudger.

Diamonds maintained their unbeaten start to the Pitching-In Northern Premier League Midlands Division campaign, and looked to be on course for a win after Jordan O'Brien's 17th-minute opener.

The visitors then passed up a clutch of excellent chances, and were made to pay as Boldmere, who had won their five previous home games, hit back to level with a contentious 53rd-minute penalty.

Sandy felt the infringement wasn't a foul and was also outside the box, and was also at a loss to explain how his side ended up with seven bookings in a game where 'there's not been a bad tackle' - and Boldmere received none.

But he was also quick to praise the quality of the hosts, and felt the result was a good one for his side, especially after the excitement and high of last weekend's FA Cup win over Morecambe.

"Boldmere are a really good side, and their home record is excellent," Sandy told @AFCRD.

"After the weekend, and the draw on Monday, and all the celebrations, it is one of those where I am trying to get everyone on track for Boldmere.

"But obviously with the FA Cup run, all eyes have been on that.

"I knew it was going to be a difficult game, Boldmere came out at us and started really well, but we sort of wrestled the game back and scored a great goal.

"Boldmere then played some great stuff, but we always looked dangerous on the attack and on another day we would score two or three.

"That is the disappointing thing, that we didn't put the game to bed then, but then in the second half the penalty lets them back in the game and that even things up a bit.

"We always say if you can't win it then don't lose, so coming here on a Tuesday night after all that has happened, that's a good point."

On the referee dishing out seven yellow cards to his team Sandy added: "Their management team were all saying how bad the referee was.

"We all have bad games, and I make bad decisions, but it was just one of those games where everything he did was wrong.

"They were getting so much and we were getting nothing.

"Every little thing we were getting booked for out of nothing, and then he gives a penalty when, for one it's not in the box anyway, and secondly it's not even a foul. So that is disappointing."

The draw was Diamonds' sixth in 10 league games this term, and leaves them 13th in the table, although they do have numerous games in hand on all of the sides above them.

Saturday sees Diamonds on the road again as they make the trip to 11th-placed Belper Town.