Stamford AFC host Sporting Khalsa in the Northern Premier League Midlands Division

Manager Graham Drury will be hoping his Stamford side can score twice in a crucial clash with promotion rivals Sporting Khalsa on Saturday.

Leader Daniels will be guaranteed a place in the playoffs if they beat their fifth-placed visitor at Zeeco Stadium on Saturday.

Though the title is the Daniels’ long-term goal this season, it’s the first step for the Stamford boss to reach his goal for the season.

Drury is also hoping the steady rise in attendance at home games will continue this season as the club hope to break the 450 mark for Saturday’s clash between two of the division’s top goalscorers.

This game brings together two of the league’s top marksmen, with Stamford’s Jonathon Margetts topping the charts after scoring 26 goals this season while Khalsa’s Miracle Okafor sits third with 22.

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Stamford boss Drury said: “I check who Khalsa is playing every week because I hope they have one of the top teams.

“They’re a really good football team and Miracle is obviously up there with ‘Mags’ on the scorers’ list.

“It should be a really fun game and I have plenty of time for their manager, Ian Rowe. We’ve gotten along really well since we met a few seasons ago.

“We help each other out as much as we can when fellow footballers leave, but that will go out the window for both camps on Saturday.

“They’re fighting for the playoffs and although we’ll have our kindnesses early on, we’ll both be determined to win throughout the game and then it’ll be a handshake and carry on as normal after that.

“We know we have to be right and if we underperform we will be beaten. We have to try as hard as we can because it’s going to be a very close game.

“We have to do our best and we have to pull ourselves together and I’m sure we will do that.

“Another win guarantees the playoffs and that’s the first tick we want to cross the finish line this season.”

Speaking to viewers, Drury added: “I hope we can push the numbers back up because I think the guys deserve it.

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“The stats don’t lie – we score goals and don’t concede many and we’ve won games too so the people at Stamford really should see that we’re giving our all and deserve that support.

“I think when we get that support people realize what a good day it is and I know everyone is enjoying the ride at the moment.”

Stamford goes into the match protecting an 11-game unbeaten run that has yielded nine wins and two draws in 2023.

It has allowed them to create a six-point lead over second-placed Halesowen Town, but Drury feels it’s a long way from a two-horse race.

Third-placed Spalding is nine points behind the Daniels with a game in hand and emphatically won 9-0 in the first game at the head of the Tulips for ex-Stamford striker Elliot Sandy on Tuesday night in Daventry Town.

Drury commented, “People keep talking about us and Halesowen, but Spalding is breathing down our necks too.

“They can draw level with Halesowen if they win their game and Tuesday’s win added massively to their goal difference.

“We have this six-point buffer, but if Spalding delivers us on Easter Monday then it’s only three and it’s really close.

“It’s a three horse race and with the Games coming up it’s really important that we take a decent number of points from them.”

Halesowen hosts Shepshed Dynamo on Saturday, while Spalding travels to Bedworth United, who defeated the Daniels 2-0 at Zeeco Stadium last weekend.