Stamford AFC draw with Halesowen Town in the Southern League Premier Division Central

Stamford finished just outside the play-offs as they ended the season with an entertaining draw at home to Halesowen Town on Saturday.

The Daniels went into the match knowing that they had to secure a better result than Harborough Town to jump into the play-off places.

Despite getting off to a superb start when James Blunden gave them a second minute lead, the Yeltz hit back to equalise through Connor Tee.

Charlie Marzano restored Stamford's lead shortly after but Halesowen equalised after the break through Jamie Willetts.

Manger Graham Drury shuffled his pack with five changes from the defeat against Spalding United with Marzano, Billy Bennett, Jon Challinor, Tobias Liversidge and Jaoa Varela all coming in for Ben Isaacson, Connor Bartle, Ashton Offler, Elliott Durrell and Lee Shaw.

Stamford got off to the best start when the Daniels attacked and Challinor forced an early corner which was met by Blunden and, although his initial effort was pushed onto the bar by Daniel Platt in the Halesowen goal, he was on hand to head in from close range.

Halesowen responded with a cross from the right which found Charles Wragg but his shot was wide of the goal.

The visitors got themselves level after 12 minutes when they were awarded a free kick 25 yards from goal and Tee stepped up and placed the ball into the top right corner of the Daniels goal.

The Daniels were back in front on 15 minutes when a ball from the left found the onrushing Marzano and he struck a sweet shot past the stranded Platt in the away goal.

Stamford came close to a third just after the half hour mark when a cross from Bennett bounced off the crossbar and away from danger.

Halesowen had the chance for a leveller on 42 minutes when the Daniels were penalised for a handball.

Tee stepped up to take the penalty and, although Jackson went the wrong way, the ball struck the other post and away from danger.

Stamford still had time to create another chance in the first half when Tendai Chitiza had a shot blocked by the Halesowen keeper.

Halesowen got themselves level on 61 minutes as a corner from the left was flicked on and Willets was at the back post to head in.

The away side then had a chance to take the lead when a free kick was crossed into the box and McKauley Manning met the ball but put his header over the bar.

At this stage, Halesowen were heading for a home play-off tie with Telford losing but this changed in the closing stages when the Bucks got themselves level.

This meant Halesowen had to try and push for a winner and this opened the game up in the latter stages and both sides tried to grab that decisive third.

In the end neither side could find a way through and Stamford had to settle for sixth place in the league as Harborough took the final play-off spot.