Stamford AFC’s midweek victory over Redditch United was for injured skipper Joe Burgess
Manager Graham Drury insisted Stamford's midweek win was for skipper Joe Burgess who suffered a season-ending injury in their victory over Redditch United.
Burgess was stretchered off in the first half of the Southern League Premier Division Central clash at the Zeeco Stadium on Tuesday night.
Initial fears are that Burgess has sustained a medial collateral ligament injury for the second time in his Stamford career.
Drury said: "The win was for Joe Burgess.
"I said to the lads at half-time to not go out and be sloppy and get the win for Joe.
"It looked like a really serious and nasty injury and I feel for him.
"He broke his leg when he was at Boston United when he had a chance to really go higher.
"He's had setback after setback but he plays the game on the edge and won't back out of anything.
"He's been a really good leader and we will miss him but I know one thing that he will be at every game cheering these boys on."
The victory came at the end of a hectic spell of games for Stamford who were faced with five matches in 11 days.
Tobias Liversidge gave them the advantage late in the first half before James Blunden doubled the lead shortly after the break.
Drury added: "It has been a tough task.
"I said to the boys before the game that I needed a performance from them to give me a lift.
"It's been a hard week because you're getting home in the early hours and then getting up early for your graft.
"It does take its toll and we've got a lot of little niggles and injuries having played so many games in a short space of time.
"We've put in a really strong performance and the lads deserved the victory."
The win moved Stamford to within three points of the play-off places ahead of Saturday's trip to Barwell.
Drury continued: "The lads have really had to dig in.
"Redditch were really physical from the start but we weathered it and then overtook it.
"We were more physical and aggressive and very dominant at the back. I don't think we lost a header all night against a front two who are quite a handful.
"We perhaps had four or five chances after the two goals and it's also another clean sheet.
"I said to the lads afterwards that if they turn up for the next nine games like that with that work ethic then we can keep winning games of football."
The clean sheet on Tuesday night was Stamford's 11th of the season with only Banbury and Stratford having kept more.
The Daniels have also conceded just 13 goals in their last 15 league games, fewer than anyone else in the division.