Blackstones joint manager Lee Clarke pleased with work-rate after convincing win

Joint manager and striker Lee Clarke praised his forward partner Josh Edmondson for an 'outstanding' performance in Stones' 4-1 home win against St Andrews on Saturday.

The victory meant that Blackstones moved into the promotion spots in the United Counties League Division One and increased the gap over St Andrews, who started the game one place below the Stamford side in seventh spot, writes Jordan Arthur.

A slow start to the game from the home side saw St Andrews take the lead in the 12th minute, but the Stones took over the game and had a 2-1 lead by the break from two Edmondson goals

A double strike from second-half substitute Jones de Sousa sealed a 4-1 victory for the hosts.

The match was the first Blackstones had played since December 21 as their Boxing Day match against Bourne Town was postponed.

Clarke said: “We haven’t had a game in a couple of weeks and we came out in the first 10 minutes and it was slow,. We knew it was going to be one of those games where we had to fight.

“We had to match them, we know they’re going to work hard and they’ve got a lot of energy about them and we’ve got lads that can do that and can match that.

“Fair play to them they’re not a bad side but they’ll also fight and battle and work hard and we had to match that and for the first 10 minutes we didn’t.

“After that, I think we bossed about 75 or 80 minutes of the game.

“It was really pleasing because we know we face these again on Tuesday, a double-header of a game, and that’s a big six points that could swing the league in our favour.

“It was important to get that win and open up a little gap but we're also looking up at the teams above

"We know a few weren’t playing on Saturday so it was a chance for us to put a little bit of pressure on them.

“I thought Josh alongside mewas outstanding. We were all sloppy in the first ten or 15 minutes, but after that he didn’t give them a seconds rest and he’s a nightmare to play against when he’s in that mood.”

Looking ahead to Blackstones midweek game against St Andrews and, what their aim for this season is, Clarke said: “With the league being restructured and four teams going up we have to [aim for promotion].

"We haven’t played for a couple of weeks, we had an indifferent month before that so it’s important to start getting some points on the board.

“We’ve got a tough month, a really tough month and the next two games are against teams around us [in the league table] again.

“We play these again on Tuesday while Aylestone on Saturday will be a tough one but this is a great start to the month.

“Psychologically that’s probably a big boost for us and less so for them and they know they’re not going to be given any rest on the ball.

“But Tuesday is totally different in that we’ve got to travel there.

"It’s a Tuesday night when people will be back to work and a few carrying wounds from the weekend.

“We’ll rest up, see how we go Tuesday, but I think it’s a big psychological boost. To go in with a convincing win in the end that certainly stands us in good stead for Tuesday.”

Saturday’s win saw Blackstones move up to fourth in the table.