Stamford manager Graham Drury expressed his delight after his side secured a superb 2-1 victory over Frickley Athletic to book their place in the Evo-Stik NPL Division One South Play-off final on Saturday.
Rob Morgan and Kieran Wells fired home early goals to set Stamford on a path to victory against a side a Frickley side who finished 11 points above them in the regular season.
After the final whistle, Drury told The Stamford Mercury: “I’m absolutely elated. We made a tactical change by moving Eliot Putman further forward and playing Jon Challinor at left back because we had done our homework on Frickley and felt we could exploit them down the right-hand side.
After the final whistle, Drury told The Stamford Mercury: “I’m absolutely elated. We made a tactical change by moving Eliot Putman further forward and playing Jon Challinor at left back because we had done our homework on Frickley and felt we could exploit them down the right-hand side.
“It was on my shoulders if it went wrong by changing it around, but I knew my players were big enough to take it on board.”
The manager, who is in his third spell with Stamford, continued: “I had faith in them and the belief that they would stand tall when they had to. “We deserved to be 2-0 ahead after the first half and we knew Frickley would come out for the second half and pile the pressure on.
“But Dan Haystead was amazing. He came for punches and made crucial saves while the whole team put their bodies on the line but that was what I expected of them. “I’m over the moon to get the victory, but it’s still only half-time because we’ve now got to go to Bedworth on Saturday and finish the job.”
The Daniels must quickly get back to work, however, as they face Bedworth United in the play-off final in just four days time. Bedworth secured their place in Saturday’s game with a narrow 2-1 home win over Chasetown last night.
