Stamford AFC beat Daventry Town in the Northern Premier League Midlands Division

The Daniels' unbeaten start to 2023 continued as they edged past Daventry Town on Saturday.

Stamford hadn't played competitively in three weeks due to a combination of bad weather and a lack of fixtures but won thanks to goals from Rob Morgan and Marshall Willock.

However, they also had to thank goalkeeper Daniel Wallis for making some outstanding saves in the Northern Premier League Midlands Division match.

There were two changes to the team that drew with Dereham Town with Ollie Brown-Hill and Willock coming in for Connor Bartle and James Blunden.

Stamford started brightly with Harry Vince firing a shot over the bar in the opening two minutes.

This was followed by an effort from Jonathon Margetts who met a cross from Brown-Hill, but his header went over the bar.

Daventry took the lead on 14 minutes when a corner from Kai O’Keeffe was hit to the back post and their leading scorer Jack Bowen was free to head home.

The setback did not deter Stamford and Cameron Johnson fired a shot but it was straight at Lewis Patching in the home goal.

The Daniels were level after 19 minutes when a shot from Johnson was missed by the home defence and Morgan was on hand to fire the shot past the Daventry keeper.

While Stamford had more of the possession, Daventry looked dangerous and had a great opportunity when a cross from O'Keeffe flashed across the box and, thankfully for Stamford, Bowen was unable to get on the end of it.

Just before half-time, Stamford took the lead as a corner from Jake Duffy was swung into the back post and Willock was there to head home into the far corner.

Daventry looked for a way back into the contest after the break and a long throw into the six-yard box was repelled by the Daniels defence but only to Craig Maisiri who shot over the bar.

O’Keeffe then fired a shot over the bar before Stamford had chances to increase their lead.

First Johnson had a shot wide of the goal and then Jack Duffy had an effort following some great build up play.

His shot was saved by Patching at the expense of a corner with Margetts then striking a shot over the bar.

A strong run by Johnson on 72 minutes saw him beat a couple of defenders before firing a ferocious shot which Patching had to tip over the bar.

Wallis then pulled off a brilliant save when Lewis Burgess fired a shot goalwards from close range but the Daniels stopper was able to block at the expense of a corner.

In the closing stages, Stamford almost scored a third when a Vince free-kick was just wide of the Daventry goal.

Stamford: Wallis, Burgess, Brown-Hill, Vince, Wright, Willock, Morgan, Jake Duffy, Jack Duffy (Frew 90), Margetts, Johnson. Subs not used: Blunden, Bartle, Challinor, Mellors-Blair. Attendance: 150.