Diamonds will need their best qualities again, says boss Peaks

Chris Wreh runs at the Leiston defence during AFC Rushden & Diamonds' 2-2 draw on Tuesday night. Pictures courtesy of Hawkins Images Photography

Andy Peaks felt AFC Rushden & Diamonds’ best qualities were on show in midweek.

And the Diamonds boss insists his team will need all of them again when they head to Bromsgrove Sporting on Saturday.

Diamonds claimed a 2-2 draw at Leiston on Tuesday night in a topsy-turvy encounter which saw them fall behind before levelling thanks to Tom Lorraine’s first goal of the season.

Lorrell Smith takes the congratulations from Jesse Akubuine and Tom Lorraine after he scored Diamonds' second equaliser from the penalty spot

However, Jack Ashton was sent off just before half-time and Diamonds went 2-1 down after the break, only to fight back to earn a point when Lorrell Smith won and then converted a penalty as Leiston also finished the game with 10 men.

Diamonds were dealt a couple of blows before kick-off with captain Liam Dolman ruled out due to a hamstring injury and Matty Slinn being a late withdrawal due to injury.

So Peaks was pleased with the final outcome as his team maintained their unbeaten start to the Southern League Premier Central season.

But he knows they will be in for another tough examination at Bromsgrove, who were leading Tamworth 2-0 on Tuesday night only to be pegged back to a 2-2 draw after Tamworth scored twice in stoppage-time.

Tom Lorraine is congratulated by Paddy Casey after scoring his first goal of the season

“I have said before that you would take a point before any game away from home on any day,” Peaks said.

“And that was certainly the case on a Tuesday night and having to go that far which I think is ridiculous when lads have been at work and then have to work the next day.

“Credit to the boys, the vast majority of them made it and we put on a good show and got a great point out of it considering everything that was going on.

“We had to deal with some blows with Bully (Dolman) being out and then Matty Slinn withdrawing late on.

“And then we had the sending-off with Jack and I couldn’t really question it. I have only seen it once but from the general reaction of people around the place, I don’t think there was much doubt about it.

“But the boys dug in deep and we managed to get something out of it.

“When they scored their second goal, a lot of teams who have travelled that far and then gone down to 10 men might have caved in.

“But we came back again and that shows the qualities we have got and we will need those qualities more than ever at the weekend.

“Bromsgrove will be hurting from Tuesday night because, apparently, they should have been out of sight and then got pegged back late on by Tamworth.

“Player-for-player, they have got one of the strongest teams in the league so we are expecting a really tough test on Saturday.”

Peaks admitted the loss of Dolman is “a major blow” but he believes Diamonds now have the depth to deal with it.

“Bully tweaked it last week at training so he is going to be a little while,” the manager added.

“We have learned from others that you can’t come back too early so it is a major blow for us.

“But we are lucky to have players who can come back in and fill the void.