Daniels face tough test of promotion credentials
Daniels boss Graham Drury is warning his in-form charges that they face one of the sternest tests of their promotion credentials on Saturday.
Fifth-placed Stamford travel to face a Frickley Athletic side who are currently a place above the Daniels on goal difference in the Evo-Stik Division One South standings.
Stamford go into the crunch clash in a rich vein of form as they are unbeaten in their last eight outings and have also kept three successive clean sheets.
But Drury believes his players need to be on the top of their game to get anything from the trip to Westfield Lane.
He said: “It will be one of those games where we have to really grind out a result because they are a strong side.
“Frickley are one of the sides we will have to finish above if we want to be there or thereabouts at the end of the season.
“We are going to have to be at our best on Saturday because they are an awkward side to play against.”
Frickley have recently signed prolific ex-Guiseley marksman Danny Frost and this week recruited young defender Cameron Hough from Evo-Stik Premier Division side Shaw Lane.
Stamford will welcome back a host of regulars who were rested for Tuesday night’s Integro League Cup victory over Peterborough Sports.
Influential defender Henry Eze plus frontmen Jordan Smith and Bradley Fortnum-Tomlinson didn’t feature in the first round clash while midfielders Jake Duffy, Jon Challinor, Rob Morgan and Joe Burgess all played just 45 minutes.
A late strike from the in-form Pearson Mwanyongo settled the match in Stamford’s favour.
That was Mwanyongo’s third goal in two games as he moves closer to full fitness after an injury-interrupted start to his Daniels career.
Drury commented: “It was a good win on Tuesday and keeps our confidence high even with resting players.
“Pearson has produced another bit of magic to win it for us. I’ve got so much belief in him and, if he had been fit since the start of the season, then we would have been in an even better position.”
