Sandy satisfied as Diamonds fight back from slow start to secure Barwell draw

A little more than 48 hours after their 5-0 win at Kimberley Miners Welfare in the FA Cup on Saturday, Diamonds fought back from conceding a third-minute goal to open their league account.

Tejan Thomas netted the all-important equaliser for the Diamonds on 42 minutes, and although Sandy felt his side then dominated the second half, he accepted that a draw was a fair result.

Barwell were also in action on Saturday, losing at home to Basford United in the league, and Sandy felt the high intensity of that challenge gave the home side the edge in the opening exchanges.

"In the first half we didn't really get going," the Diamonds boss told @AFCRD.

"I felt there may have been a bit of a hangover from Saturday, even though Barwell played on Saturday as well.

"Where I thought with us having an easier game while Barwell had a league game might help us, in fact with how sharp and how intense they were I don't think we were really ready for that.

"They came out flying and we didn't manage that, but after going a goal down we slowly grew into it although we rode our luck at times.

"We then scored from a set-piece to make it 1-1, and then in the second half we were much better and were well on top.

"I thought we were going to nick it, but I think a draw is a fair result in the end.

"Barwell are a good side, they have a really good manager and they are going to be right up there in the mix this season.

"They played some good stuff, but we had to dig in and grind it out in the first half.

"A lot needed to be said at half-time, and from the first whistle in the first hald we were winning first balls, second balls, pressing high and they couldn't get out.

"But we had no really clear-cut chances fall for us."

Diamonds are back in league action on Saturday when they play their first home game of the season, hosting Coleshill Town at Hayden Road (ko 3pm).