Michael Frew and Jon Challinor score the goals as Stamford AFC beat Chasetown

The experience of Michael Frew and Jon Challinor came to the fore as their goals helped Stamford record a fourth successive victory on Tuesday night.

The duo - who have a combined age of 78-years - were on target in each half as the Daniels secured an excellent 2-1 away win at a much-fancied Chasetown side.

Frew capped a fine first half Stamford performance by putting the Daniels ahead before Challinor added the second goal after the break with boss Graham Drury full of praise for the pair.

He said: "Frewy has hardly kicked a football this season but the shift that him and Jonathon Margetts put in really set the tone off.

"The first goal was a touch of class and I don't expect anything different from him. He won a lot of headers and his work-rate and quality was tremendous. He filled the role superbly.

"I was pleased for them both and you can't fault their attitudes.

"People might wonder why I've turned a couple of youngsters down when they've perhaps got more to give over the long-term.

"But I can give them both longevity in their careers if I use them when I need them. They have both accepted it and are brilliant around the place and have shown that they can still do the business when it's needed.

"They want to play and be part of every minute, but they understand the situation and are still in and around a really good changing room and football club which adores them."

Stamford were without the suspended Joe Burgess, the injured Cameron Johnson while Charlie Coppola and Jack Duffy were not available for the long midweek trip.

The Daniels started brightly and Margetts had a shot straight at Curtis Pond in the Chasetown goal.

The home side had a good chance to score after 30 minutes when Oli Hayward attempted a lob from outside the penalty area which Dan Wallis managed to push away.

He collided with the post while doing so, caught his foot in the net and the ball came out to Luke Yates who tried to shoot from close range, but Wallis was able to remarkably adjust and smother for a superb save.

The Daniels took the lead after 33 minutes when a Billy Bennett cross from the left was met by Margetts.

Although Pond was able to punch the ball away, it only went as far as Frew who calmly lobbed the ball over the stranded keeper and a covering defender to score his first goal of the season.

A few minutes before half-time, a series of block shots by Bennett and Margetts were kept out by the Chasetown back-line before a Rob Morgan effort was just wide of the goal.

Stamford had an opportunity early on in the second half when substitute Challinor had an effort blocked by the Chasetown keeper.

A good interchange between Isaac Currie and Margetts then saw the latter fire a shot just wide of the goal.

Chasetown nearly equalised when a free kick was swung into the far post, but the effort was tipped onto the crossbar by Wallis before the ball was cleared from danger.

Danny O’Callaghan and Luke Yates had efforts but neither effort troubled Wallis while recent recruit Bennett took a free-kick which he fired at the Chasetown goal, but it was straight at the goalkeeper.

Stamford doubled their lead on 76 minutes when a free-kick from the right was met by Challinor and he rose to head the ball past Pond.

The home side then got a goal back with three minutes to go when the ball came out to Luke Yates who fired it in from the edge of the area with Wallis flat-footed.

However, the Daniels were able to hold on to secure the win and move within a point of league leaders Halesowen Town.

Boss Drury added: "We were down to the bare bones a bit so had to roll our sleeves up and go and do a job.

"We were tremendous in the first half and should have been a couple of goals up at the break.

"Our quality was there to be seen and we really pinned them back. We deserved the lead and, although we had been superb, the disappointing thing was it was only 1-0.

"We didn't control the ball like we did in the first half, but it really showed our two sides of the game because some of the blocks, saves, defending and work-rate from the front to the back was outstanding.

"They put us under pressure towards the end which was obvious but we were worthy winners. The players were all a credit to the club."

Stamford: Wallis, Currie, Bartle, Vince, Wright, Armstrong, Morgan (Challinor), Jake Duffy, Frew (Ward), Margetts, Bennett (Mellors-Blair). Sub not used: Heath (GK). Attendance: 381.