Stamford started the game as the brighter of the two sides, starting off just two minutes into the game, as Rob Morgan picked the ball up near the half way line and drove at the Leek defence but his shot went just wide. Two minutes later he was involved again as a Jake Duffy shot fell to Morgan, who beat his defender, only to have his shot blocked behind for a corner. Up at the other end Leek hit Stamford quickly on the counter attack, which led to Jordan Johnson forcing a good save out of Danny Haystead.
Two minutes later more nice work on the counter from Leek saw Dan Trickett-Smith with a good shooting opportunity but he could not get his shot on target. Trickett-Smith was involved four minutes later as his effort was superbly cleared off the line by Henry Eze.
On the 18th minute a Jake Duffy cross was flicked on well by Jordan Smith, but from this Kieran Wells headed wide. On the 30th minute a cross towards the near post by Niall Green was flicked wide by Marc Grocott, whose was pressured well by Henry Eze. The last chance of the half fell to Leek as a long ball from the back fell to Jordan Johnson, having been missed by Mike Armstrong, but Johnson’s shot was comfortably saved by Danny Haystead.
Something was clearly said in the Leek dressing room at half time as for the early stages of the second period they were firing on all cylinders. This started just one minute after the break as another long ball was misjudged by the Stamford defence, again seeing Jordan Johnson in on goal, but Mike Armstrong recovered well to pressure the striker and his shot was saved by Haystead. Four minutes later Johnson had another chance, this time cutting in from the right hand side but his shot went into the side netting. Two minutes later and the early onslaught continued, this time Robert Stevenson was played in, following another long ball from the back, but again Mike Armstrong recovered to put in a good block. From the resulting corner Sam Hall volleyed over following a Jake Duffy header clear.
The free-flowing attacking football continued form Leek as on the 58th minute Robert Stevenson was played in down the right on another quick counter attack but could only put his shot over the bar. Twenty five minutes into the second half Dan Trickett-Smith lashed a shot well over the bar for the home side. Three minutes later Callum Ball replaced Liam Adams. A minute later Stamford had their first chance of the half as a Jake Duffy corner was superbly met on the volley by Jordan Smith forcing Mat Bailey to deflect the ball over his own bar. From the resulting corner Kieran Wells forced a good save out of the home keeper down to his right. Then following this an Eliot Putman cross was met by Henry Eze whose header was an easy save for the Leek goalkeeper.
Leek’s pressure was finally rewarded on the 70th minute as a ball up the middle of the pitch found Robert Stevenson who beat Mike Armstrong well then fired in past the onrushing Danny Haystead. Two minutes later and Stamford forced a good save out of the Leek keeper in their attempt to find an equaliser, as Jake Duffy ran with the ball from near the half way line and shot forcing the save. Following this Kieran Wells was replaced by Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson. A minute later some nice football from the visitors with Rob Morgan, Eliot Putman and Jordan Smith combining with the latter putting a volley just over the bar.
This was his last action of the game as he was replaced two minutes later by Ollie Brown-Hill. On the 82nd minute Callum Ball shot from a tight angle but it was cleared off the line by a Leek defender. As the game entered stoppage time Ollie Brown-Hill superbly beat three defenders before seeming being clipped from behind as he was about to pull the trigger but the referee was having none of it and booked Ollie instead.
The final chance of the game fell to the visitors as a corner dropped to Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson who volleyed well over the bar.
# | Team | Pl | Pts |
1. | Basford United | 42 | 100 |
2. | Alvechurch | 42 | 85 |
3. | Frickley Athletic | 42 | 82 |
4. | Bedworth United | 42 | 74 |
5. | Chasetown | 42 | 73 |
6. | Stamford | 42 | 71 |
7. | Leek Town | 42 | 68 |