Stamford AFC are pushing for the play-offs in the Southern League Premier Division Central

Manager Graham Drury feels victory in their first match of a vital run of fixtures for Stamford will be crucial in their push for the play-offs.

Three of the Daniels' next four games are against the top six sides in the Southern League Premier Division Central.

Fifth-placed Stamford head to Bedford Town on Saturday to face an Eagles side who are currently in third spot in the table.

That's followed by a home match with table-topping Kettering before Stamford visit sixth-placed Stratford on April 12.

The Daniels have yet to beat a top five this season with Drury determined for his side to set their stall out at the Eyrie on Saturday.

He said: "We haven't beaten a top five side yet so, if we can do it on the first one, it will give us a lot of confidence which is going to be the next key challenge.

"If we had beaten the teams that we should have beaten this season then we would be in the play-offs but it's when you drop points against sides that we should be beating which we've done too often has now made us have to beat the top five sides.

"If we had done it against the weaker sides and put those points on the board then we could have gone and lost to a top five side.

"We've now put ourselves into a position where we've got to go out and beat them but we are capable of doing that."

Stamford moved into the play-off places at the weekend after a 1-0 home win over Alvechurch at the Zeeco Stadium as Elliott Durrell marked his Daniels debut by scoring the winning goal.

Drury added: "It was a well deserved three points from the first half performance.

"We were aggressive all over the pitch and I thought our goal was fantastic.

"It was a great touch and finish from Elliott because I thought the ball had run away from him. His intelligence as a footballer ensured he got his body shape right to stick it into the back of the net.

"We were really resilient in the second half against a side who wanted to close the gap on us in the table. We defended so well.

"People probably haven't really looked at Stamford in the play-offs but we'll keep going and it will be a real team effort in the business end of the season.

"We've been here before and done the job to cross the line and we've got the experience of that."

Stamford have strengthened their squad with newcomer Durrell also being joined by Pa Suley Njie who was an unused substitute on Saturday.

With Billy Bennett, Connor Bartle and Charlie Marzano all nearing a return to fitness, Stamford should have plenty of players at their disposal despite the long-term injury absences of Joe Burgess and Harry Vince.

Drury commented: "We're slowly getting bodies back and we're introducing players as well.

"I'm not going into April like we did last year. Even though the boys had a brilliant April, we were scratching around for a team because we had five big injuries.

"We missed out because of it and hopefully this year we can get bodies back and have a really strong 20-man squad going into the final part of the season.

"I'm loading the squad up this year with good players who can add something to the group and there will be some disappointed players when everyone is fit.

"It will be a team effort and the players have got to understand that they're not there to give their shirts away. They are here to rob the shirt off the man sitting next to them because that's what it's got to be at the business end."

Stamford go into Saturday's match on the back of a seven-match unbeaten league run.

Wins over Biggleswade, Barwell, Redditch and Alvechurch have backed up draws with St Ives, Royston and Lowestoft to move Stamford within four points of top spot.

Drury continued: "It's a crazy league this season.

"I said to my group of players that I'm the life and soul of the party and the one who drives the ship.

"I always come in buoyant and upbeat because that is the character which I am but, at some point in the season, the gaffer needs a lift.

"I said three weeks ago that I'd had a long summer signing players and have been on the long journeys this season and that lift comes from a performance.

"We had that great performance which shows the togetherness which we've got. They gave me that lift and encouragement to keep driving it forward.

"Sometimes you need that because it can be a long, old season as a manager and hopefully we won't waiver and can beat a top five side."

Stamford lost 3-2 to Bedford in the reverse fixture at the Zeeco Stadium with Leon Lobjoit completing his hat-trick with an injury-time winner.