Pitchero

Chasetown

Stamford

J Langston (89')

Full time

G Ryan (23'), D Draper (47')

Sat 25 Feb 15:00 - The Evo-Stik League Northern Premier - First Division South Attendance 141

Report

Highlights

Selection

League round up

Staffordshire Delight

By Richard Curtis

Stamford’s visit to Staffordshire has a happy ending with a 2-1 victory. Writes Stephen Breden

Early in the game Stamford had a few half chances, through Jordan Hempenstall, Jordan Smith and Grant Ryan but none of these challenged the keeper. On the 20th minute Sam Donkin had to deal with the first shot on target as Jack Langston fired a low free-kick towards goal, Donkin could see it all the way and in the end made a comfortable save. A few minutes later some nice play from Jake Duffy gave Danny Draper a good chance from around 20 yards but in the end it wasn’t too hard to save for the Chasetown keeper.

Just a minute later Stamford took the lead. A ball out of the back from Sam Hill was flicked down by Jordan Hempenstall and picked up by Jake Duffy who flicked it into the path of Grant Ryan who controlled the ball and smashed home on the half volley.

Following a set piece the ball came to Jake Duffy, he crossed to the back post, where Grant Ryan headed back across goal to Jordan Smith, who controlled the ball but was quickly closed town by two Chasetown defenders, so could not get a shot at goal. The ball then fell to Jake Duffy who shot but this was cleared excellently off the line by Jorna Moulton. Just before the break Stamford should have had their second as a Liam Marshall cross came to Grant Ryan but he could only head over the bar.

18 photos

Match photos

Just after the break Stamford got the second goal that they deserved. Danny Draper picked up the ball on the left wing, he cut inside onto his right foot and put in a curling cross towards the head of Grant Ryan, he couldn’t quite get there but the cross was on target and it beat the keeper. Two thirds of the way through the game Stamford forced a good save out of the Chasetown keeper, some nice play on the left wing between Jake Duffy and Jordan Smith lead to the latter having a shooting opportunity. His curling shot was low and skidding off the wet surface but in the end was held by Curtis Pond.

Ten minutes later Chasetown started to come back into the game as substitute Joshua Ruff danced around three Stamford defenders before shooting just wide. Despite Chasetown starting to control possession chances were limited and some strong Stamford defending starting from the front led to chances being very limited. They did however get a late goal making for a nervous period of stoppage time; a cross from the right was headed forward by Mitchell Piggon and was headed in by Jack Langston from the edge of the six yard box. Late in the game Stamford made two changes with new signing Jack Oldham replacing Danny Draper and Courtney Meade replacing Jordan Hempenstall.

Jack Oldham joined this week from Loughborough Dynamo and is a Left-Sided player who plays in defence but can also play on the wing.