Sandy praises Diamonds character as they fight back for point, but Doughboys are downed

In what was their first Hayden Road clash in six matches, it looked like it was going to be an unhappy homecoming for Diamonds as a fired-up Loughborough raced into an early 2-0 lead.

But Tyler Winters netted to pull one back before the break, and then Diamonds' second-half pressure finally paid off three minutes into stoppage time when Tarik Dallas curled home a late equaliser to rescue a point.

The point wasn't enough to lift Diamonds out of the relegation zone, although they are now level on points and just one place below near-neighbours Wellingborough Town in 18th, but Sandy was pleased to see his side take something from the game.

"We were really poor in the first half, really sloppy, and I just feel like we didn't really get going," Sandy told @AFCRD.

"We went 2-0 down, and I don't know if we were bad or Loughborough were good in that first half, but it was probably a bit of both.

"It took us a while to get going, and we were lucky to go in at half-time only 2-1 down to be honest.

"It was a great goal by Tyler out of nothing really to make it 2-1, and that goal really helped us get the point, and in the end, on the balance of play in the second half, I am disappointed we didn't win the game with the chances we had.

"But the character shown by the lads to come from 2-0 down to take a point was great, and sometimes you have to take a point and move on.

"In the first half Loughborough were up for it and at it, and we weren't. "They had more intensity and desire, and a few firm words were said at half-time which needed to be done and I thought the reaction was great.

"Yes, it was late when we equalised but we had so much of the ball and so many chances, I am just glad we got a deserved equaliser."

Diamonds now have a free midweek ahead of Saturday's trip to ninth-placed Coventry Sphinx.

Wellingborough Town's recent failings in front of goal once again returned to haunt them as they were beaten 2-1 at Long Eaton United.

The Doughboys are now only above Diamonds and outside the Midlands Division drop zone on goal difference, but manager Jake Stone will feel his side should have secured a victory at Long Eaton.

Borough created the majority of the clearcut chances in the game, but managed to take just one of them through Lloyd Buckby on 34 minutes.

That was an equaliser for the Doughboys, but Long Eaton regained their lead in first half stoppage time through Jahvan Davidson-Miller and managed to hold out in the second half despite the best efforts of the visitors.

The Doughboys now have a free midweek before a huge clash at the Dog & Duck on Saturday that sees them take on rock-bottom Bedworth United (ko 3pm), who were beaten 2-0 at home by Corby Town on Saturday.

Bedworth have secured just nine points in total all season and are terrible on the road, picking up just two out of a possible 24 points to date.

The most recent occasion they claimed a point away from home was way back on August 25.