Reaction from Stamford AFC manager Graham Drury after their victory over St Ives Town

Stamford have rediscovered that winning feeling.

After a testing run of results, the Daniels have recorded back-to-back wins in their last two games in the Southern League Premier Division Central.

They were 3-2 home winners over Bromsgrove Sporting on Saturday before beating St Ives 2-1 at the Zeeco Stadium on Tuesday night.

The winning double leaves Stamford in second spot, a point behind league leaders Kettering Town, ahead of a free weekend for Graham Drury's side.

The Stamford boss said: "I'm really proud of the boys because we had that little sticky patch but we never panicked because we know what we've got in that dressing room.

"We know that belief which we've got in the group and you have to trust the players that you've got at the football club.

"We've got that monkey off our back now after having that little bad spell and we are showing that we are a force in this league and we're an established step three football club now."

An early goal from Richard Gregory gave Stamford a first half advantage at the Zeeco Stadium on Tuesday night.

Although skipper Rob Morgan saw a penalty saved early in the second half, Billy Bennett added the second Stamford goal shortly after before the visitors replied late on.

Drury added: "We wanted to be on the front foot from the start because St Ives had a good win at the weekend.

"We played in the right areas and the lessons have been learned from the mistakes which is all you can ever ask of a football team.

"It keeps us up in the regions of where we want to be and we just have to stay on the coat-tails because I've always said that my sides are stronger after Christmas.

"We let our shackles off a bit and go for it more. We still want to be in the hunt at Christmas and, the team that stays consistent, will give themselves a really good chance."

Drury had made three changes to the starting line-up from Saturday's win over Bromsgrove with Bennett, Ashton Offler and Tobias Liversidge all coming into the team for Connor Bartle, Joe Burgess, Will Glennon.

Offler has returned to the Stamford ranks from National League North side Rushall Olympic while fellow new recruit George Hobbins was named on the substitutes' bench.

It took Stamford less than 90 seconds to take the lead as a fine pass from Bennett released Lee Shaw and he pulled the ball back for Gregory to arrow a first time finish past Daniel Wilks in the St Ives goal.

The opening goal was to prove to be the only real clear-cut chance of the first half despite both sides peppering each other's goal.

Charlie Marzano and Offler made vital blocks to keep the Saints at bay while some promising Stamford moves failed to come to fruition.

Shaw and Liversidge linked well with the former's cross just evading the incoming Gregory at the back post.

Chitiza and Gregory then joined forces to create an opening for Rob Morgan whose low shot was safely gathered by Wilks.

Home goalkeeper Tom Jackson was then forced into a brave save to deny St Ives from a set piece which looked to be their biggest attacking threat in the first half as Stamford went into the break a goal to the good.

The Daniels had a great chance to double their advantage seven minutes after the break when Gregory went down in the box and, after a long consultation with his assistant, the match official pointed to the spot.

Morgan stepped up to take the penalty and, although he fired his effort towards the bottom corner, Wilks was down superbly to save.

The wait for the second goal wasn't much longer though as Stamford doubled their lead in the 56th minute.

Tendai Chitiza burst down the right before finding Shaw who clipped the ball to the back post where Bennett rifled home a sweet finish.

Stamford were now buoyant and Shaw started and finished a move which brought a smart stop out of Wilks.

Chitiza led another lightning raid before finding Gregory whose hurried shot was smothered by Wilks.

Kymani Skyers sent a decent chance over the Stamford crossbar from the edge of the area as St Ives started to show more belief as the match entered the final 15 minutes.

Stamford had conceded a total of five goals in the second halves of their last two home games and Johnson Gyamfi set up a nervy finale when he drilled home a low shot for the visitors with just three minutes remaining.

The Daniels were then faced with eight minutes of stoppage time following the earlier lengthy discussion between the officials over the penalty award.

The visitors launched a number of high balls into the box with Jackson clutching a last-gasp corner as Stamford stood strong to secure a vital victory which maintains their lofty place in the league standings.

Stamford: Jackson, Marzano, Bennett (Hobbins), Offler, Cooke, Blunden, Chitiza, Morgan, Gregory (Challinor), Shaw, Liversidge (Frew). Subs not used: Redfern, Butterfill.

Attendance: 326.