With second-placed Long Sutton Athletic in cup action, Stamford knew that any victory would create daylight between themselves and the Magpies.

It was far from comfortable for Jake Walton’s side, as the hosts took an early lead through a well-struck free-kick from the edge of the box that beat Sam Buckland in the Stamford goal.

The Reserves didn’t take long to respond, as Joey Buckingham headed home from a corner to level the score at 1–1 with barely ten minutes played.

Stamford took the lead five minutes later — again through Buckingham — who benefited from an unfortunate goalkeeping error. His low cross from the left-hand side of the box slipped through the Glinton goalkeeper’s hands for what should have been a routine collection.

There was still plenty of drama to come at Arthur Mellows, as Glinton pegged back the league leaders with a lovely strike from just outside the area, nestling into the bottom right corner.

With half an hour on the clock, Stamford began to showcase the kind of football that has taken them to the top of Division One. Wingers Jamie Milner and Adam Steels combined superbly for the goal — Milner ran onto a through ball behind the Glinton defence and squared across for Steels to put Stamford 3–2 ahead.

A cool finish from player-manager Walton, making his first start since suffering a hamstring injury at home to Oundle Town on 16 August, provided a two-goal cushion just before half-time.

Far from their best, any hopes Stamford had of a more comfortable second half were quickly extinguished after the restart. Glinton capitalised when young goalkeeper Buckland failed to deal with an in-swinging corner, reducing the deficit to 4–3 and piling the pressure back on.

Whereas last week’s full-time whistle brought triumphant celebrations, this week it was met with sighs of relief as Stamford managed to hold on for all three points on a testing afternoon.

Next week, attentions turn to the Challenge Cup as Stamford travel to St John Fisher for a second-round tie against a YDP side who have scored 30 goals in their last four games in all competitions.