Stamford AFC host Halesowen Town in the Southern League Premier Division Central

Stamford will lock horns with old adversaries Halesowen Town in their return to action at the Zeeco Stadium on Saturday.

The two sides led the way throughout last season's Northern Premier League Midlands Division campaign with Stamford eventually finishing nine points clear of the Yeltz to lift the league title.

Halesowen secured promotion through the play-offs after a dramatic extra-time victory over Spalding United and were 2-0 winners in their first Southern League Premier Division Central meeting of this season with Stamford at the Grove in September.

However, the Daniels took the larger share of the spoils in last season's two matches between the sides with a 2-1 home win at the Zeeco Stadium being followed by a goalless away draw on the last draw of the season.

The two sides are only separated by two points in the league standings this term with Stamford having a game in hand on the Yeltz who are a couple of places above the Daniels in seventh spot.

Stamford dropped down to 10th place at the weekend when their home match with AFC Telford was postponed due to a frozen pitch.

However, they are just three points outside the play-off places in their first season back at step three of the non-league pyramid.

A strong run of away form has aided the Daniels' cause with manager Graham Drury looking for a better return from their home games as they approach the midway mark of the season.

Drury said: "Our home form isn't disastrous or anything like that but it's something that we've got to look at in the second part of the season.

"It's just getting that fine balance because teams do set up differently when they're away from home.

"Maybe teams come to Stamford and make it a little bit tougher for us by staying in and not being expansive while trying to catch us when we're going for it.

"I've said to the boys that, when we haven't got possession of the ball at home, I think we're a little bit guilty of thinking that we must get it straight back.

"We're a little bit too panicky in thinking that we must win at home, going for it, and being too gung-ho.

"We've gone up a level and teams are going to have possession of the ball so we've got to stop exposing ourselves and allowing them to open us up.

"We've got to stay rigid and compact and let them play in front of us and then be clever ourselves and play on the break because we've got pace in the team."

Saturday's home match is followed by four further games this month as the Daniels travel to Berkhamsted next weekend.

They then host league leaders Mickleover on Tuesday, December 19, before a home match with Bromsgrove Sporting on Saturday, December 23. Stamford then visit Nuneaton Borough on Boxing Day.