"Bucks looking for a another big performance against the Daniels"

Match Date : February 20th, 2024 7:45 pm
Competition : Southern League Premier Central
Ground : Zeeco Stadium, Borderville Sports Centre, Ryhall Road, Stamford, Lincolnshire, PE9 1US
Kick Off : 19:45

The Bucks’ busy February continues on Tuesday night, when Kevin Wilkin’s men travel to Stamford.

The Lincolnshire club are known as “The Daniels” after Daniel Lambert, often cited as England’s heaviest-ever man, a Leicester resident who died in Stamford and is buried in the town. And Stamford certainly threw their weight around last season as they claimed the Northern Premier League Division One Midlands title last year, finishing nine points clear of 2nd-placed Halesowen. The Daniels started the current campaign in similarly impressive form too, going six unbeaten to open the season.

Stamford’s form since then, though, has been more inconsistent. A run of four consecutive defeats in all competitions was swiftly followed by four straight wins, while the Daniels have won one, lost one and drawn three of their last five league games.

The man in charge at the Zeeco Stadium is Graham Drury, who is currently in his third spell in charge of the club. Drury first took the reins in Lincolnshire back in 2005 but left in 2008, spending four years in charge of Corby. Drury then briefly returned to the Daniels in 2012 before an even briefer spell in charge of Boston United followed. Drury finally returned to the Zeeco in November 2015.

Drury has kept the bulk of his title-winning squad together, although 33-goal top scorer Jonny Margetts left to join Matlock Town. But notable summer additions include seasoned goalgetters Ricky Miller, who is in his fifth spell with the club, and Lee Shaw. Miller has bagged five goals so far with Shaw finding the net eight times, but it’s Jack Duffy who leads the way with 15 goals in all competitions. And with goalscorers throughout the team, Stamford have the league’s joint-best attack alongside Needham Market.

The Daniels beat the Bucks 2-1 when the sides last met in an FA Cup clash in 2021, and they are right behind the Bucks in the hunt for promotion. Stamford are currently 8th with 45 points from 28 games and are currently eight unbeaten at home.

But the Bucks have only lost once in 20 league matches and registered an excellent 3-0 win at another playoff-chasing side, Stratford, on Saturday. The Bucks will take another big step towards shoring up a playoff spot, then, if they can pick up three more points on Tuesday night at the Zeeco.

MATCHDAY INFORMATION

Tickets can be bought on the gate. Please refer to Stamford’s matchday ticketing information page for more details.

Website: www.pitchero.com/clubs/stamfordafc

Ground Address: Zeeco Stadium, Borderville Sports Centre, Ryhall Road, Stamford, Lincolnshire, PE9 1US

Please note that although the postcode for the Zeeco Stadium is PE9 1US, this will not be in most sat-navs, so please use PE9 4QN.