United quality too much for Daniels

Despite honest endeavour we looked ponderous against one of the teams who will have a big say in where the title goes this season. That really is the good news - for, as long suspected, the NPL is something of a two-tier contest, those with financial muscle at one end, those a little less well off at the other.

It would be silly to dwell on this result. It's gone! Let's leave it amid the tidy cobbled backstreets which surround Gigg Lane and look instead to this afternoon's home clash with Grantham Town - a tough local derby but one offering much more realistic possibilities.

What will worry manager David Staff is the number of goals conceded - 13 in three games, the worst in this division. Certainly work to be done in that area.

United, urged on by a noisy crowd of 1,629, were ahead on nine minutes. Nathan Haynes got the faintest touch on a hopeful going wide and the home side made full use. Tom Greaves put home a near post header as the ball swung in.

Having been penned back for a while, Stamford began to venture forward more and Ryan Robbins went on a mazy run which ended at the edge of the area as Shawn Richards, unmarked in a more favourable position, screamed for the ball.

Alex Lynch, who was to make several outstanding saves, then clutched a high looping ball as Greaves and Charlie Raglan both challenged.

Stamford were still in at this stage and Jon Challinor put in a low, skimming drive which eluded everyone as it sped across the area. Then Jordan Smith had a shot tipped over and Robbins drifted an effort wide.

But, as at Ilkeston, two goals in a couple of minutes were to kill the contest. Some wonderful open play finished with Matthew Wolfendon slipping playmaker Ollie Banks's cross beyond Lynch. Stamford had hardly settled before Greaves hooked in the third.

Damage limitation looked the name of the game and Stamford reached the sanctuary of half time without further mishap.

Smith had shot wide during that time but, at the other end, Lynch had to be sharp following a sweeping four-man Manchester move which finished with Liam Brownhill testing the keeper.

Half time saw Tom Batchelor on for skipper Richard Jones, carrying an injury, and Alvin Jarvis, back from suspension, got his first run out of the season, replacing Ashley Robinson.

Ten minutes into the second half, Nathan Haines made way for Andrew Burgess, by which time United had gone further ahead, Greaves thumping in a header for his hat-trick at the far post. Lynch had already saved point blank from the striker and then kept out a Banks free kick.

In response, Robbins fired in a shot which James Spencer was grateful to grasp at the foot of a post and then the Stamford striker put a wonderful volley off the top of the crossbar.

They were Daniels' high spots in a half generally dominated by the free flowing football of a home side who showed vision and movement in abundance.

Matthew Walwyn picked up the pieces for United's fifth on 80 minutes after Lynch had beaten out another Greaves piledriver and then got another in the dying embers of added time after fellow sub Astley Mulholland fed him in with a peach of a ball.

After that the final whistle couldn't come soon enough.

TEAMS

United: James Spencer, Liam Brownhill, Lee Neville (Andy Pearson), Dean Stott (c), Tom Davies, Charlie Raglan, Matthew Wolfenden (Astley Mulholland), Ollie Banks (Matthew Walwyn), Tom Greaves, Jerome Wright, Chris Worsley. Subs not used: Dave Birch and Greg Daniels.

Stamford: Alex Lynch, Jon Challinor, Richard Wesley, Nathan Haines (Andrew Burgess), Richard Jones c (Tom Batchelor), Ashley Robinson (Alvin Jarvis), Shawn Richards, Liam Richardson, Jordan Smith, Daniel Lawlor,Ryan Robbins. Subs not used: David Staff and Aaron Kennedy.