Sandy delighted as new signing O’Brien snatches crucial point for Diamonds at Racing Club
Elliot Sandy hailed the contribution of Jordan O'Brien as the new AFC Rushden & Diamonds attacker netted the equalising goal in Saturday's 1-1 draw at Racing Club Warwick in the Pitching-In Northern Premier League Midlands Division.
O'Brien was on hand to slot home in the 70th minute, latching on to a perfect ball from Bruno Andrade, as Diamonds fought back from going 1-0 down 10 minutes into the second-half of an entertaining game between two sides with play-off ambitions this season.
Former Corby Town man O'Brien was signed from Bourne Town in the middle of January, and Sandy was delighted to see him score his first goal for the club in Warwick, and believes the strike could be the first of many.
"Jordan took the goal superbly, and that is the reason I brought him to the club," Sandy told @AFCRD.
"Everywhere I have been I have tried to sign him, even when I was playing at Spalding I was getting the manager to sign him because I know how much ability he has got.
"With Jordan it is just about staying fit and about his desire to want to do well.
"He won't mind me saying it, but he can be known for just switching off a little bit, but I feel I am someone who can get the best out of him.
"I trust him, he trusts me, and if you get him enjoying his football then he is going to score lots of goals and get lots of assists.
"He got the one at Long Eaton the other week that was chalked off and then this time he just times the run to perfection and it's a superb finish."
The draw sees Diamonds sitting 12th in the Midlands Division table, but they are only five points adrift of the play-off places.
Sandy was certainly delighted with how his team performed against seventh-placed Racing, and said: "It was a really good performance, and I think tactically we were spot on.
"The effort the lads put in was great, and a draw is probably the right result and it is a really good solid point away from home.
"It was a tough game, but the midfield was brilliant, and defensively I thought John-Joe O'Toole was outstanding. So I am really pleased."
Former Northampton Town ace O'Toole has been brought to the club as a midfielder, but played in central defence in place of the suspended Tejan Thomas and turned in a masterful performance.
And the 37-year-old enjoyed himself, telling @AFCRD: "It was a tough game, and we had to close off the gaps.
"In the first half we didn't create much but we were fairly solid and limited them to not too much, and then in the second half I think we grew into the game more.
"Going a goal down was gutting, but the boys did unbelievably to get back into it. The ball in from Bruno was brilliant and the run was just as good from Jordan, with a great first time finish.
"It's a point on the road, and we can now move on to the next one."
That next one is on Saturday when Diamonds entertain struggling St Neots Town at Hayden Road (ko 3pm).