Stamford take three points from scrappy game at Wisbech
Wisbech Town 0, Stamford AFC 1
Pitching In Northern Premier League Midland Division
A good contingent of travelling Daniels fans saw their side dig deep for victory at the lowly Fenmen on Saturday.
Stamford are now five points clear of the chasing pack in the play-off places and,with Lincolnshire neighbours Spalding United getting a surprise 1-0 win at title challengers Halesowen Town, eight points off the top with 12 points remaining.
Against opponents who the had seen their management team and captain leave in the last 48 hours, Stamford started strongly but offered little as the game progressed.
It was the Daniels, however, who created the first chances, the prolific Jonathon Margetts seeing an angled lob drift narrowly wide in the third minute. And, with the game becoming a midfield battle, the former Belper man went close again on 26 minutes when a free kick flashed past the post.
But, Wisbech's combative three-man midfield was snuffing out Stamford's creativity and the home side saw shots from Danny Draper and Layton Maddison go close to breaking the deadlock as half time saw the scores goalless.
Wisbech were on top for the first 20 minutes of the second half and were only denied the opening goal when a 30-yard Toby Allen thunderbolt was saved at full stretch by Dan Haystead. Two minutes later, he kept his side in the game again with a great stop to thwart teenage striker Enoch Opayinka.
The keeper was superb all afternoon,in command of his box and not missing a single cross.
But Stamford never gave up and scored with their first chance of the half after 79 minutes, a long throw bouncing twice in the home penalty area before Margetts headed home.
Late into injury time Wisbech right back Aaron Hart received a straight red card after a late tackle on Stamford's Tendai Chitiza as the Daniels held out for their third successive victory.
Stamford AFC: Haystead, Burgess, Bartle, Armstrong, Wright (Hicks 64 mins), Blunden, Chitiza, Jake Duffy (Morgan 57), Jack Duffy (Matwasa 60), Margetts, Vince. Subs (not used): Challinor, Frew.
Wisbech Town: Pearson; Hart, Mcleish, Keeble, Wilson, Murphy, Draper, Maddison, Opayinka (Gascoigne 83), Allen (Vieira 64), Knowles (Warren 72 mins).Sub (not used): Lukyamuzi.
Star man: Dan Haystead – great in the air and made two superb stops to keep his team in the game.
Attendance: 207.