Two points dropped for Diamonds boss Peaks

Andy Peaks felt it was a case of two points dropped as AFC Rushden & Diamonds were held to a 1-1 draw by Market Drayton Town at the Dog & Duck.
Market Drayton Town celebrate their equaliser in the 1-1 draw at AFC Rushden & Diamonds. Pictures by Alison BagleyMarket Drayton Town celebrate their equaliser in the 1-1 draw at AFC Rushden & Diamonds. Pictures by Alison Bagley
Market Drayton Town celebrate their equaliser in the 1-1 draw at AFC Rushden & Diamonds. Pictures by Alison Bagley

Diamonds extended their unbeaten run in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Division One South to 13 matches but were unable to hold on after Nabil Shariff’s penalty had put them 1-0 up on the stroke of half-time.

A James O’Neill free-kick earned the visitors a share of the spoils as Diamonds’ late pressure proved to be in vain.

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Peaks’ men remain in sixth place and are two points off the play-off places.

Sam Brown in action for Diamonds during the draw with Market DraytonSam Brown in action for Diamonds during the draw with Market Drayton
Sam Brown in action for Diamonds during the draw with Market Drayton

And the manager was disappointed as his team drew for a fifth time in eight outings on their own ground in the league this season.

“It’s disappointing not to win at home, we didn’t play as well as I would have liked,” Peaks said.

“I felt we did enough in terms of the chances we created but we didn’t pass the ball particularly well.

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“We were perhaps a touch fortunate to get the penalty because there were two balls on the pitch when it was awarded so we shouldn’t have got it.

Jake Newman tries to get past the Markeyt Drayton goalkeeper at the Dog & DuckJake Newman tries to get past the Markeyt Drayton goalkeeper at the Dog & Duck
Jake Newman tries to get past the Markeyt Drayton goalkeeper at the Dog & Duck

“And I felt we didn’t get a great deal from the referee after that and it felt like he was trying to even things up and then they have scored from a free-kick.

“We have still had chances after that and their goalkeeper has made a couple of decent saves but they looked dangerous going forward as well.

“We haven’t performed brilliantly so from that point of view, it’s good that we haven’t been beaten.

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“Good teams find a way to win but they also make sure they don’t lose when they are not at their best. But I do feel we have dropped two points on this occasion.”

Diamonds will be back in action on Tuesday night when they take on county rivals Corby Town in the re-arranged Integro League Cup first-round tie at the Dog & Duck.