Blackstones return to United Counties League action with a home clash against Burton Park Wanderers at Torney Ltd Stadium

Blackstones boss Mark Baines is hoping his side can pick up where they left off when they resume their United Counties League campaign on Saturday.

Stones host Burton Park Wanderers in a Division One clash at the Torney Ltd Stadium for their first outing since the end of October.

The Stamford side had hit an impressive run of form prior to the national lockdown having scored nine goals in back-to-back league victories.

They ran out 5-2 winners against Birstall United which was followed by a 4-0 home success over Huntingdon Town.

And Baines is urging his charges to quickly regain their momentum against a Burton Park side who have collected just five points from their 10 games this season.

He said: "It will be nice to get back and hopefully just have some normality again.

"I wasn't really expecting us to be playing again until Boxing Day so this is a bonus game for us.

"The annoying thing about the lockdown was that we had started to find our feet and our form. Will Bird was on fire and defensively we looked a lot better. I just hope that we come back in the same fettle."

The inactivity has helped several of the Stones squad to recover from injury with Liam Rodden, Jake Brown and Robbie Ellis all returning at the weekend.

However, following the departure of assistant boss Lloyd Burton to take over at Peterborough Northern Star, two of Stones' players - Denis Tomkins and Bradlee Page - have also joined the United Counties League Premier Division side.

Their departures has seen Baines throw down to the gauntlet to the rest of his squad who return to action in sixth spot in the table.

He added: "It will give me a chance to re-evaluate my squad if I need to.

"I'm not actively pursuing anyone at the moment because I would like to think that we had turned a corner before lockdown and can now go on a bit of a run.

"As far as I'm concerned the lads which I have put faith in since the day I signed them will have that chance to now carry it on.

"If they don't then I will look to make changes but, at the moment, I am happy with the squad."

Saturday's home clash will also give Stones the chance to complete a league double over Burton Park after running out 5-0 winners in the reverse fixture in September.

Baines, however, is warning his side about being complacent against their second-from-bottom visitors.

He continued: "I don't think there is a perfect game to come back into after a period of not playing.

"We have already had a positive result against Burton Park this season, but we can't go into the game thinking that we can just beat them.

"The lads could be relaxed and nonchalant and, before you know it, you're 2-0 down so we have to take every game on its merit."

After Saturday's match, Blackstones will be back in action again on Boxing Day when they host near neighbours Bourne Town.

That game will kick-off at 1pm to avoid a clash with Stamford's home match with Loughborough Dynamo on the same day.