Manager Graham Drury marked his 400th match as Stamford manager by witnessing a terrific performance from his in-form side as the Daniels blew away title rivals Cleethorpes Town at the Zeeco Stadium on Saturday.

Two goals in each half secured an emphatic victory for Stamford with Cleethorpes restricted to a last-gasp consolation after a dominant Daniels display.

The victory kept Stamford top of the BetVictor Northern Premier South East Division and also extended their unbeaten league run to 10 games after a performance which thrilled boss Drury in the landmark match which spans his three spells at the club.

Drury said: "I thought the boys were class.

"It was disappointing to concede a goal late on, but that shouldn't take anything away from our performance.

"Rob Morgan and Harry Vince were unbelievable in midfield. We had two against three in there and we have just outworked them.

"There is no bottom line to it. We outworked Cleethorpes.

"I asked a big question of the players before the game because we hadn't beaten any of the top sides yet and whoever finishes above Cleethorpes will have a real chance of winning it.

"But these boys believe and I'm so proud of them. We nearly won at Leek but for a referee's decision and we've now beaten Cleethorpes so we're starting to beat the top sides.

"I said it would take 10 games and these boys would start getting better and better. I think we're starting to see the fruits of our labour. They have been class. The work-rate was phenomenal and they just take instructions on board.

"It's such a great group and I always know that these boys will give it everything they have got."

Stamford welcomed back Morgan to their starting line-up after he missed last weekend's win at Chasetown while Olly Brown-Hill began the match at left-back.

Although Jon Challinor was unwell and missing from the squad, Brown-Hill would have been given the nod as Stamford's work on the training ground came to fruition.

Drury added: "I had Cleethorpes watched at Worksop and it was our game-plan to press them. We worked on it in training because we wanted them to try and transfer the ball long.

"We didn't feel they would have runners going beyond and I thought our game-plan worked.

"We trained with Olly at left-back on Thursday and I was so chuffed with the second goal.

"We worked at doubling up on their right-back with Olly putting early balls in, Hicks coming to the front and Siddons around the back.

"It's worked for the second goal and everything we did in training on Thursday night has come off and it's just a joy when that happens.

"It's credit to the lads in the changing room because they listen."

It took Stamford just five minutes to break the deadlock after they had survived their only real scare of the first half.

Curtis Bateson weaved his way into the Stamford box to work a clear opening but his shot was blocked by Haystead.

The Daniels then rapidly turned defence into attack as Tendai Chitiza charged forward before fizzing a deflected shot narrowly over.

From Vince's resultant corner, Cleethorpes struggled to clear their lines and centre-back Sean Wright prodded home from close range.

The lead was doubled seven minutes later as frontman James Hicks highlighted Stamford's endeavour by tracking back to win the ball well in his own half before feeding Vince.

Vince released Brown-Hill down the left and his inch-perfect cross picked out Siddons at the back post and Stamford's top scorer made no mistake by heading home with aplomb.

A third goal nearly followed as an inviting Morgan cross was crucially turned away by Josh Lacy as Cosmos Matwasa looked set to tap home.

A fine pass from Hicks then released Matwasa out on the right, but his low shot flashed narrowly wide of the far post as Stamford finished the first half in the ascendency.

With the strong wind now behind them, Cleethorpes looked for a quick way back into the contest and a long clearance saw Brody Robertson flick the ball past Haystead but the covering Brown-Hill was on hand to clear away the danger.

Brown-Hill then thrashed another shot just wide of the far post before Stamford tightened their grip on the game with a third goal after 59 minutes.

Matwasa's industry down the right was rewarded as his dogged determination saw him shrug off Lacy before pinging over a cross which was diverted into his own net by the incoming Tim Lowe.

The victory was then wrapped up with 10 minutes remaining as Morgan's all-action display saw him chase down goalkeeper Theo Richardson whose hurried clearance was collected by Chitiza.

Chitiza burst past the challenge of Sam Topliss and then rounded Richardson as the keeper charged out of his area.

Despite still being out wide on the left, Chitiza curled home a sublime strike despite the best efforts of Cleethorpes' covering defenders who were unable to prevent the ball crossing the line.

The visitors did bag a consolation with three minutes remaining when substitute Jon Oglesby's swirling strike left Haystead wrong-footed.

But it did little to detract from a superb all-round Stamford performance as the Daniels now head into hectic festive period with all guns blazing.

Stamford: Haystead, Cooke, Brown-Hill (Taylor), Vince, Wright, Blunden, Chitiza, Morgan, Siddons (O'Hare), Hicks (Armstrong), Matwasa. Subs not used: Keeble, Mwanyongo.

Cleethorpes: Richardson, Topliss, Lacy (Oglesby), Marshall, Lowe, Donald, Bateson, Flett, Vernon (Buckley), Collins (Middleton), Robertson. Subs not used: Walker, Bloomer.

Attendance: 280.

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