Home   Stamford   Sport   Article

Subscribe Now

Stamford AFC take AFC Sudbury in the Southern League Premier Division Central




Defiant manager Graham Drury insists his side will keep trading blows with the Southern League heavyweights after a campaign where Stamford have suffered a series of setbacks.

The Daniels remain just four points adrift of the play-off spots in eighth place despite being rocked by a number of blows this term.

Influential midfielder Harry Vince is already ruled out for the season through injury while defensive lynchpin James Blunden has been plagued by a groin problem for large parts of the campaign.

Rob Morgan. Photo: Rob O'Brien
Rob Morgan. Photo: Rob O'Brien

Top goalscorer Jack Duffy has missed the last couple of games with a foot injury while recent signing Kai Tonge is now nearing fitness following a broken toe.

Stamford then suffered another body blow last week when skipper Rob Morgan departed the Daniels for play-off rivals Harborough Town.

After rejecting a number of lucrative offers during his seven-season stay at the Zeeco Stadium, Morgan was finally tempted away by a 'life-changing' deal from the Bees.

Morgan netted on his Harborough debut at the weekend as Mitch Austin's side moved above Stamford in the league table with a 2-0 away win at Royston Town.It has left Drury wanting his side to defy the setbacks and launch an unbeaten run of their own to challenge for a top five finish.

He said: "We've had these blows which have all hit us and we're in a bit of a mish-mash kind of period at the moment.

"We keep punching above our weight and having a go at it and we'll continue doing that.

"I think that on our day we can have a run because it was a similar situation around this time last year.

"We had lost a couple of games and then went to Alvechurch where we were awful.

"We then went on a run of about four or five games where we showed that consistency which shot us right back into it.

Rob Morgan. Photo: Rob O'Brien
Rob Morgan. Photo: Rob O'Brien

"We only missed out on the play-offs on the last day of the season so why can't we have another go at doing that?"

Stamford will be looking to bounce back from successive league losses when they entertain AFC Sudbury at the Zeeco Stadium on Saturday.

They lost 2-0 away at Halesowen Town last Tuesday and were then beaten by the same margin at AFC Telford at the weekend.

Drury added: "We've lost to a Halesowen side who went top of the table on Tuesday night and they overtook Telford who had beaten us at the weekend.

"We've lost to two good sides after long treks.

"We've been to Stourbridge, Lowestoft, Halesowen and Telford in four of the last five games which have all been long trips in a short period of time.

New skipper Joe Burgess, left. Photo: Rob O'Brien
New skipper Joe Burgess, left. Photo: Rob O'Brien

"I am proud of the lads because nobody has cried off. They have all turned out when it would have been quite easy for someone to say that they couldn't make it for whatever reason.

"They have all given it a good go and, although we got the results at Stourbridge and Lowestoft, it was a bit too much for us at Halesowen and Telford.

"We still haven't beaten a top five side yet this season which is obviously a concern in that we might not be quite there.

"We won't give it up, we'll keep going and see where we end up."

Stamford will be looking to avenge a 3-0 away loss in Saturday's home match with AFC Sudbury.

The Suffolk side scored twice in the opening 16 minutes of their first meeting in September before sealing their success with a third goal late on.

Drury commented: "We've got to move off those 39 points which we're on and get into the forties no matter what on Saturday.

"We've been stuck there too long and we need to get over that mark.

"I'm hoping that the lads want to right the wrongs from the first game against Sudbury because it was a deserved defeat.

"I know we missed a couple of chances but they were the better team on the day so we've got to make sure that we've come a bit further and we're better than them this time."

Joe Burgess will now skipper the Stamford side following Morgan's departure while Duffy - who is making 'great progress' on his comeback from injury - is the new vice-captain.



This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More