Stamford AFC manager Graham Drury blasts fixtures list next week as ‘absolute joke’ as the Daniels play 4 games in 8 days
Stamford boss Graham Drury has criticised the gruelling fixture schedule facing his side over the next week.
The Daniels have four games in eight days, owing to a Lincolnshire Cup semi-final that must be played by the end of February.
Drury’s men face away league games at Royston on Saturday (3pm) and Biggleswade on Tuesday (7.45pm).
The semi-final at Cleethorpes has been slotted in on Thursday (7.45pm) and two days later they’re back in league action at home to Lowestoft.
Stamford are five points outside the Southern League Premier Central play-offs in eighth place.
Drury will assess their position after the next two games before deciding what team to field at Cleethorpes, who themselves are fighting for the Northern Premier East title.
“Next week is an absolute joke for us,” said Drury.
“With the semi-final, we’re Saturday-Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday.
“It’s pathetic, isn’t it? It’s going to take its toll.
“If we’re in a good position after playing Royston and Biggleswade, it might be a case of the under-18s going to Cleethorpes for the semi-final.
“If we don’t get a good points return and we don’t look like we’re going to be in with a shout of the play-offs, then we’ll go with the first team and not worry too much about the Saturday.
“It’s a case of seeing how we get on in these next two games.
“The Lincs FA have said the cup game has to be played by the end of February, so we’ve no choice.
“Cleethorpes had no spare Tuesdays, and nor did we, so they made us move it to Thursday.
“That’s the reason Spalding pulled out of the competition and paid a fine, because they wanted them to play on the Thursday as well.
“They’ve got the money to pay the fine but we don’t really want to waste money if we can help it.
“I feel for Cleethorpes as well because they also play on Tuesday but they’re going for the league title and they’re still expected to play on Thursday.
“It’s bad enough when you’re trying to push for a play-off position but when you’re going for the title, you really don’t want that game.”
The good news for Stamford is their injury problems are easing.
They’ve been running with 14 players but Billy Bennett, Charlie Marzano, Kai Tonge and Richard Gregory are back in business.
Drury is expecting a battle at Royston, who are a couple of points behind the Dannies in 10th.
A poor pitch means it’s likely to be a route one affair as Stamford look to complete the league double following a 3-1 home win over Chris Watters’ side.
Drury said: “Going there, I know the pitch isn’t great.
“I know he’s gone with three big lads up top and gone very direct because of the pitch, and that’s not Chris’ style.
“We’re expecting it’s going to be end-to-end, long ball from both teams because you just can’t play on it by all accounts.
“It might be a case where we go up to big Jack Duffy, put bodies in and around him and play for the second balls and try and play in the final third, and I think we’ll be defending a lot from that as well.
“I don’t think it’s going to be a great spectacle but I don’t care what it is if we put those points on the board.
“They’re a big strong side and we’re a big strong side so I can see it being a real battle.
“It’s whoever does both boxes the best.”
Stamford drew 1-1 at St Ives last Saturday.
Lee Shaw put the visitors in front but Alex Collard equalised in first-half injury time as the home side did enough to earn a share of the spoils.
Neither team could find a winner after the break.
“I thought it was a fair result,” said Drury.
“We started very well and got ourselves in front.
“I’m not saying it was done on purpose but four flat balls got thrown on to the pitch and we lost momentum and couldn’t get going again.
“It’s a shame because we were in a good spell at the time.
“They scored on 45+4 and it was a different team-talk for both camps.
“To be fair, it was a great equaliser from their captain, an unbelievable header.”
