Stamford progress in the County Cup

Three goals in eleven minutes secure Stamford a place in the Lincolnshire Senior Cup Semi-Finals.

Gainsborough started the brighter of the two sides with Declan Slater pouncing on an error in the Stamford midfield before running in on goal but was denied by a great save by Danny Haystead. Four minutes later and Haystead was again required to make another clever save this time from Jordan Windass. At the other end the Daniels had their first chance of the half with Stan Mugisha shooting, following a defensive scramble, only to be denied by the first of many good saves by Luke Mitchell. From the resulting corner Taron Hare headed just wide. The Gainsborough keeper then went on to deny Jordan Smith, Liam Adams and Taron Hare, with the latter two also putting shots high and wide respectively. Just before the break and Gainsborough’s Piteu Cruz went close, after beating Taron Hare down the wing but could not shoot past Danny Haystead.

Immediately after the break the Daniels had a good chance to take the lead as Taron Hare played Liam Adams in down the right but another good save by the home keeper kept the score level. Stamford beat the keeper for the first time twenty minutes into the second half as Reece Morris latched onto a long ball, before rounding Mitchell only to be denied by a defender clearing off the line. Stamford then had a string of chances leading to their three goals. First James Gillard slotted Stan Mugisha in who calmly finished. Gillard again provided the assist for the Daniels’ second this time for Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson who, like Mugisha, provided a good finish. The Daniels’ striker was then denied his second by a great save following a venomous free-kick but eight minutes later he would have his second and the teams third after Harry Peasgood provided a delightful ball through following a powerful run with Fortnam-Tomlinson again providing a calm finish. In stoppage time Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson had two chances to take the match ball home, the first coming as the keeper charged out heading a long ball clear but Bradley’s long range volleyed effort went just over the empty goal. Two minutes later he was denied by another good save after being played through by Stan Mugisha.

Following the game Graham Drury commented the he was ‘pleased to keep a clean sheet but thought in the first half we were sloppy and (Danny) Haystead had to be switched on a couple of times’ but looked passed this saying’ the pleasing things it to be back to winning ways and to see our strikers scoring’. The Stamford manager went on to say that ‘Gainsborough only played trialists and young lads but we had a 17 and a few 20 year olds. I’m really pleased with the young lads: Harry Peasgood, Sam Grouse and Liam Adams all looking sharp and for Stanley Mugisha, Reece Morris and James Gillard all wanting the ball and being direct. Tommo (Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson) also looked really strong with is pace.’ Drury went on to comment that ‘I am honestly finding it hard this week having so many players missing this week and next and it’s doing my head in, I really want to get sorted but it is going to be August before we really see what we have as a unit and build togetherness. ‘ Graham finished by emphasising the importance that the ‘players must keep standards high every game as the squad gets smaller over the next week or so.’