Stamford AFC take on Southern League Premier Division Central leaders Needham Market

Manager Graham Drury feels his Stamford side have established themselves as a step three club ahead of their toughest test of the season on Saturday.

The Daniels travel to face Southern League Premier Division Central leaders Needham Market this weekend.

The Suffolk side are currently six points clear at the top of the table and were impressive 3-0 winners at the Zeeco Stadium in their first league meeting of the campaign with the Daniels.

However, Drury's charges are enjoying a strong season themselves following promotion last term and are just four points adrift of the play-off spots.

The Stamford boss said: "We are in the highest position of the four promoted teams from last season and there are a number of established clubs below us.

"Stamford is a step three football club now. We have proved that and we're at the level which we should be at.

"We are growing with the league and understanding it as we go along and, to be where we are at the same time, is not a bad position to be in."

Stamford are the second highest goalscorers in the division, just two strikes behind second-placed Mickleover, as they look to finish the season with a flourish in their final 10 games.

Drury added: "I do think we should have more points than we've got and we could really have affected the top five more than what we have.

"There is disappointment there which might sound crazy because the club just wanted to stay up this season.

"We've come into a really tough division but more than matched the top sides and are among the leading goalscorers even after losing Jonathon Margetts.

"It's some record from the boys and the goals are coming from all over the pitch. They have had to step up since Margetts left and they have done that."

Stamford go into Saturday's contest buoyed by a 4-0 home victory over Barwell as they aim to prevent Needham from completing a league double.