Stamford AFC 2-0 Long Eaton United

Jack Duffy opened the scoring with a neat finish in the first half, then a second half own goal from George Atwal meant the hosts secured all three points.

Brad Munn opted to make four changes from the Easter Monday defeat – Ryan Campbell-Gordon and Riece Bertram both came into defence, whilst Andy Kanga and Tom Hewlett began in attack.

Stamford began the brighter of the two sides, and that was evident when the hosts took the lead after just five minutes played.

Duffy weaved his way into the box, beat his marker and drove a low powerful strike down the centre of the goal, just beating the reactions of Jason Alexander.

Ten minutes later, Harry Vince had an opportunity to double the Daniels’ lead, but his effort from the edge of the area flew just over the crossbar.

With the Blues piling on the pressure, Tom Hewlett had three huge opportunities to give the Blues hope in the first half.

In the 23rd minute, Hewlett latched onto Cieron Keane’s cleared cross with an unorthodox half volley, although he saw his shot blocked by the defender.

Moments later, some exceptional footwork took Hewlett past two defenders and helped him angle a shot on goal, but once again the effort was blocked well and cleared.

Then, in quick succession, Hewlett displayed some fantastic hold up play to receive the ball on the area, turn and strike low, although this time the shot flew just wide of the target and left the Blues begging.

Joe Nyahwema had a chance late in the first half, but his thumped effort from the edge of the area did not quite trouble Dan Wallis as the wind carried the strike over the bar.

The Blues continued to look for an equaliser, and Liam Loughlan believed he may have secured it with half time beckoning, although his desire to snatch the ball off the defender led to an eventual shot that was blocked and cleared away once again by the Stamford defence.

The first half ended rather abruptly, but both sides came out in the second looking to capitalise on chances.

However, it took 20 minutes for the first chance – this time it fell to Stamford, when Vince attempted to curl an effort towards the top right from the edge of the box, but Alexander did superbly well to dive and deny the fullback.

Lee Shaw then came close in the 80th minute, when he raced past the Blues defence to latch onto a deep pass and get a shot on goal, however once again Alexander denied the Daniels with his feet.

Five minutes later, it was the Blues’ turn for an effort on goal. Loughlan picked the ball up in the middle of the pitch, drove towards the box but let fire from around 25 yards out to force Wallis into a simple stop.

In the dying moments, the Daniels pressurised the Blues inside the box – the final chance was a neat, chipped cross that was attempted to be cleared by Atwal, however the ball scuffed off the midfielder's head into his own net and condemned the Blues to a two-goal defeat.