July 2007

10th July 2007

Pre-Season Friendly

Stamford AFC 0 Peterborough United  1

   Ginty, 84

ATT:712

The Daniels started their build up to the new season on Tuesday evening with an encouraging display against near neighbours Peterborough United in front of a healthy crowd of 712. Stamford boss Graham Drury fielded separate teams in each half as he looked at several new players and potential signings while a young Posh squad was supplemented by first team squad men Guy Branston in defence and front runners Trevor Benjamin, Aaron McLean and debutant Rene Howe. Peterborough looked dangerous in the first half with McLean and Howe a constant threat but the Stamford back four of Graham Bowater, Adam Jones, new recruit Mark Burrows and Bobby White did well to keep them at bay while keeper Nicky Conroy made a couple of impressive saves. Stamford looked dangerous themselves with a number of good openings created but defender Jones was unable to convert the Daniels’ best chance.The second half Stamford line up consisted mainly of new faces and trialists and a lack of cohesion was evident at times although wide men Paul Ashton and Matt Gearing caught the eye along with youth product Ricky Miller who was unlucky with one sizzling effort which was just wide after turning his marker on the edge of the box. Posh won the game six minutes from time when Scott Ginty cut in from the left to slot home.

 Stamford 1st half: Conroy, Bowater, Jones, Burrows, White; Darby, Marshall, Toyne, French; Mettam, Battersby.

2nd half: Beatty, R. Powell, Moon, L. Powell, Willetts; Ashton, O’Dea, Harrison, Gearing; Miller, Childs.

13th July 2007

Pre-Season Friendly

Stamford AFC 0 Tamworth 3

    Robinson 28, Thorpe 61, Williams 81

ATT: 182

Stamford were stronger than the scoreline suggests, but Tamworth were organised and creative thoughout. With players like Rob Ullathorne, Justin Jackson, Gerry Taggart and Des Little on board it was never going to be easy.

The Daniels suffered their second pre season defeat on Friday evening as an impressive Tamworth side outlined their credentials as the bookies’ favourites to win the Blue Square Conference North. New faces introduced were trialists Lee Colkin, John Burns and James Doughty, and one time Nottingham Forest midfielder Burns was impressive in the first half as Stamford competed well against their illustrious visitors. Winger Paul Ashton almost gave the Daniels the lead six minutes in but was thwarted by Portuguese goalkeeper Jose Veiga. The only goal of the half saw Tamworth take a 28th minute lead, Anthony Robinson placing his header just inside Nicky Conroy’s right hand post from a measured cross by Gareth Sheldon. The second half saw Stamford chasing shadows as the Lambs dominated proceedings with some excellent football at pace. Widely travelled marksman Tony Thorpe had a goal ruled out for offside after 56 minutes, but he showed his predatory instincts five minutes later. Kyle Storer’s through ball split the Daniels defence and Thorpe walked the ball round James Doughty before tapping into an empty net. The best Stamford could manage in reply were long range efforts from Brett Darby and Kevin Childs, but the Lambs added an 81st minute third, Matt Williams rounding off a flowing move with a tap in.

Stamford – first half: Conroy, L. Powell, Colkin, Jones, Burrows, Burns, Ashton, Toyne, Battersby, Mettam, Gearing.

Second half _ Doughty, R. Powell, Moon, Bowater, O’Dea, Marshall, Darby, Childs, Miller, Turner, Harrison.

19th July 2007

Pre-Season Friendly

Stamford AFC 4 Cwmbran Town 0

      Battersby 3, Mettam 49, 77 O'Dea 67      

ATT: 127

The Daniels opened their wins and goals account on Tuesday with an ultimately convincing win over Welsh League visitors Cwmbran Town who had plenty of individual flair in their side but failed to match Stamford’s teamwork.The Daniels took a third minute lead when trickery from Ricky Miller ended with an accurate cross which was headed back across the goalkeeper by Tony BATTERSBY into the net. A brilliant tip onto the post from Nicky Conroy preserved Stamford’s lead after twelve minutes while Miller and Leon Mettam went close before the break. Some good moves from the visitors saw them strike the crossbar and have a couple of good efforts from distance but the central defensive duo of Adam Jones and Mark Burrows broke up a number of moves. Stamford stepped up a gear after the break and four minutes into the half a Kevin Childs pass sent METTAM clear to drill a low shot under the goalkeeper. A 67th minute corner brought the Daniels their third goal, a Childs flick on converted by Mark O’DEA and with 13 minutes to play Rhys Powell’s cross was met by a powerful header from METTAM.

Stamford squad: Conroy (Green), White (Bowater), Colkin (Hipkiss), Jones (O’Dea), Burrows (L. Powell), Marshall (R. Powell), Darby (Taylor), Toyne (Childs), Battersby (Turner), Miller (Mettam), French (Ashton).

19th July 2007

Pre-Season Friendly

  Sleaford Town 2 Stamford AFC 3

    Sedlan 15, Shaw, 68 Toyne 21, Battersby 30, Gearing 65

ATT: 145

Eagle Bitter UCL Premier newboys Sleaford gave the Daniels a thorough workout at Eslaforde Park but Stamford did enough to claim a second successive friendly victory on Thursday evening. Sleaford took the lead on the quarter hour when Jason Sedlan’s free kick deflected off the defensive wall and past triallist goalkeeper Lee Crockett. The Daniels were on terms six minutes later when Andy Toyne pounced to volley home after the home defence failed to deal with a cross from the right. Robin Holderness hit the outside of the post for the home side before Stamford took the lead on the half hour thanks to a smart turn and finish from Tony Battersby. The angle of post and bar denied Leon Mettam a headed third from Battersby’s centre late in the half. Nine half time changes by the Daniels saw most of the squad handed a run out. Stamford keeper Nicky Conroy preserved the Daniels’ lead with a 59th minute penalty save from Michael Stones, and the lead was extended after 65 minutes with a well worked goal. Mettam’s flick sent Bobby White away on a left wing overlap and his centre was flicked home by Matt Gearing. Sleaford reduced the arrears after 68 minutes when the bounce of the ball deceived Conroy to give Jamie Shaw a close range tap in.

Stamford: Crockett (Conroy); Bowater (White), Jones, Burrows, Colkin (Hipkiss); Toyne (Taylor), Burns (McMahon), Hughes (Marshall), French (Darby); Battersby (Gearing), Mettam (Turner).

21st July 2007

Pre-Season Friendly

Stamford AFC 2 Boston United 1

Mettam 4, 35 Nicholson 72 pen

ATT: 282

The Daniels collected a third successive pre season win in the space of five days with this win over former Football League club Boston United. A week of frantic recruitment of trialists saw the Pilgrims’ squad feature around 16 or so trialists but their first half squad found the going tough against an impressive Daniels line up. Stamford took the lead after four minutes, Leon Mettam diving full length to head in a John Burns free kick from the left. The lively Daniel French brought Boston goalkeeper Derek Stillie into action after cutting in from the left, while Boston’s best first half opening saw Scott Quinney fire wide after being played in by Tyrone Kirk.

Stamford doubled their lead ten minutes before the break, Mettam netting his fourth pre season goal from close range after Stillie failed to hold a long range effort from Lee Marshall. A younger and pacier Boston second half line up looked much more dangerous and after Nicky Conroy saved well from Dwayne Clark, the resulting corner saw both Brett Darby and Graham Bowater clear off the line. Andy Toyne glanced a header wide from a great cross by Darby, but the Pilgrims reduced the arrears after 72 minutes, Dean Nicholson netting from the penalty spot after the lively Clark was brought down by Mark O’Dea. A great run by Paul Ashton ended with a chip just wide of the far post but by now Conroy was much the busier of the keepers, with some impressive saves to thwart one of his former clubs. Right at the death Paul Alexander had a chance to square the contest, but fired inches wide of Conroy’s right hand post.

Stamford – first half: Conroy; White, Jones, Burrows, Colkin; Taylor, Marshall, Burns, French; Battersby, Mettam. Second half: Conroy; Bowater, O’Dea, White, Colkin; Ashton, Marshall, Toyne, Darby; Childs, Gearing.

28th July 2007

Pre-Season Friendly

Rothwell Town 2 Stamford AFC 1

   Darby 13, Blake 90 Mettam 90  

   ATT: ?  

The Daniels produced a dire performance at Cecil Street in the absence of unwell manager Graham Drury and they could have few complaints at this reverse. Rothwell were without a host of players to the extent that they fielded Daniels players Brett Darby and Steve Hipkiss in the first half and Nicky Conroy, Kevin Childs and Matt Gearing in the second while other familiar faces in the Bones line up were Dennis Rhule and Garath Pritchard.

Stamford fielded just 14 players but few enhanced their reputations. A scuffed shot from Darby gave Rothwell a 13th minute lead with Stamford’s best effort a shot from Leon Mettam which clipped the bar. There was little improvement in Stamford’s performance in the second half although Conroy made a couple of good saves. Rothwell made the game safe in the dying seconds when Bobby White’s misdirected header was latched on to by Ian Blake who lobbed the stranded Lee Crockett. Stamford scored a stoppage time consolation through Mettam who weaved past a couple of challenges before slotting home.

Stamford: Crockett, White, Colkin, Jones, Burrows, Burns, Toyne, Hughes, Battersby, Mettam, French. Subs: Bowater, McMahon, Blair.

31st July 2007

Pre-Season Friendly

Deeping Rangers 1 Stamford AFC 3

    Matson 12 Mettam 6, Battersby 75, Toyne 85 

ATT: 146

The Daniels returned to winning ways on Tuesday with two goals in the last quarter of an hour securing victory over a lively Deeping side at Outgang Road. Stamford took the lead after six minutes when Leon Mettam took his pre season goal tally to six with a sharp turn and finish in the box. The lead was short lived with Danny Matson beating Daniels keeper Lee Crockett after twelve minutes to square the contest. There was little between the sides for the next hour with both teams going close to adding to their tally. With fifteen minutes remaining Tony Battersby’s stunning volley restored Stamford’s lead and the win was sealed five minutes from time by another classy finish from Andy Toyne.

 Stamford: Crockett, White, Colkin, Jones, Burrows, Burns, Taylor, Hughes, Childs, Mettam, French. Subs: Toyne, Blair, McMahon, Bowater, Hallcro.