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Official Match Preview

http://www.afcdiamonds.com/stamford-afc ... april-17th

Another 'must-win'! Reckon we'll see a 600+ crowd as well

Stamford's home attendance average is 267 for the season so far - third best in the league. I think you're right Jaff, if we travel in the numbers I'm expecting us to on the back of yesterday's performance then 600+ is highly likely !!

Travelling straight over there from my mums in Buckinghamshire - hope the trip is rewarded !! I think it will be!

Tomorrow I shall be following the away support for the team currently in 5th place.........Hastings United at Lewes!!

Hoping for a double, if both Diamonds and Hastings win the last two games they will be in play offs.
I have not seen my home town team play since April 1994 when they played at Nene Park, which was also the first time I saw Diamonds.

We've really struggled this season to deliver a sequence of consecutive wins, so these next two games would be a good time to put that right.

1 - 1 and incredibly it is still in our hands to take 5th spot.

Come On Diamonds

I honestly think to be in 5th position going into a game where Stamford sat 15th or so, to then produce another sloppy display at times.. and then to finish off still in 5th position we must find ourselves extremely lucky and fortunate.

First half apart from the goal was very unexciting and not really much to enjoy, to the 2nd half where let's be honest, after the equaliser Stamford looked the team to score another. It's frustrating to see that yes win Saturday and there is the promotion games but unless something changes it could be a long midweek journey home!!!

Just how on earth olly brown hill lasted I'll never know, he's got no pace whatsoever, looks totally lost as to where he should belong and failed to get anywhere close to the cross in for their goal..

I want to take some positives from today's game leading into the last 1, 2 or 3 matches but I am fearful.. Great little ground today and would love to see us with a set up like that in the future..

That's my opinion folks, well done to the singers in the first half, and although I didn't catch every word that Taylor orosz song was fab!!

corby diamond wrote:I honestly think to be in 5th position going into a game where Stamford sat 15th or so, to then produce another sloppy display at times.. and then to finish off still in 5th position we must find ourselves extremely lucky and fortunate.

First half apart from the goal was very unexciting and not really much to enjoy, to the 2nd half where let's be honest, after the equaliser Stamford looked the team to score another. It's frustrating to see that yes win Saturday and there is the promotion games but unless something changes it could be a long midweek journey home!!!

Just how on earth olly brown hill lasted I'll never know, he's got no pace whatsoever, looks totally lost as to where he should belong and failed to get anywhere close to the cross in for their goal..

I want to take some positives from today's game leading into the last 1, 2 or 3 matches but I am fearful.. Great little ground today and would love to see us with a set up like that in the future..

That's my opinion folks, well done to the singers in the first half, and although I didn't catch every word that Taylor orosz song was fab!!

when we took the lead into the second half, I thought we looked in control and would either score another who hold out like on Saturday. But a 1-0 lead is never enough no matter who you play and so it proved. Would have thought Oulton would have got the nod after Saturdays introduction but obh was recalled. Also have to say Richards hasn't added a great deal to the side, neither bowen. Both are not the same as they were last season. If we do secure 5th place, it looks odds on that we'll face Witton albion away and to beat them we'd have to put in performance of the season. On recent showing I can't see it but you never know

TheIncognitoKid wrote:

corby diamond wrote:I honestly think to be in 5th position going into a game where Stamford sat 15th or so, to then produce another sloppy display at times.. and then to finish off still in 5th position we must find ourselves extremely lucky and fortunate.

First half apart from the goal was very unexciting and not really much to enjoy, to the 2nd half where let's be honest, after the equaliser Stamford looked the team to score another. It's frustrating to see that yes win Saturday and there is the promotion games but unless something changes it could be a long midweek journey home!!!

Just how on earth olly brown hill lasted I'll never know, he's got no pace whatsoever, looks totally lost as to where he should belong and failed to get anywhere close to the cross in for their goal..

I want to take some positives from today's game leading into the last 1, 2 or 3 matches but I am fearful.. Great little ground today and would love to see us with a set up like that in the future..

That's my opinion folks, well done to the singers in the first half, and although I didn't catch every word that Taylor orosz song was fab!!

when we took the lead into the second half, I thought we looked in control and would either score another who hold out like on Saturday. But a 1-0 lead is never enough no matter who you play and so it proved. Would have thought Oulton would have got the nod after Saturdays introduction but obh was recalled. Also have to say Richards hasn't added a great deal to the side, neither bowen. Both are not the same as they were last season. If we do secure 5th place, it looks odds on that we'll face Witton albion away and to beat them we'd have to put in performance of the season. On recent showing I can't see it but you never know

We were in a similar position this time last year though remember, going into April we were in dreadful form and looked to be dropping out of the playoffs all together, yet we just about got ourselves together and made it into the playoffs and went to Royston, a team that had beaten us twice in the regular season, and put in one of the performances of the season and came within minutes of promotion in the final.

And once again, if we do win on Saturday, we'll be going as huge underdogs to a team who beat us twice in the regular season, an arguably even tougher challenge than Royston because Witton will finish with over 25 more points than us, and if I'm honest I can't see how we'd beat both Witton and Spalding/Stocksbridge given our inconsistent form playing well one match and then poorly the next, but the playoffs is all about what happens over 90 minutes, so who knows.

We were too lacklustre in the second half today, it felt like the equaliser was coming for much of the half, Stamford were a very physical side and dominant in the air, we just didn't fully cope with that really.

corby diamond wrote:I honestly think to be in 5th position going into a game where Stamford sat 15th or so, to then produce another sloppy display at times.. and then to finish off still in 5th position we must find ourselves extremely lucky and fortunate.

First half apart from the goal was very unexciting and not really much to enjoy, to the 2nd half where let's be honest, after the equaliser Stamford looked the team to score another. It's frustrating to see that yes win Saturday and there is the promotion games but unless something changes it could be a long midweek journey home!!!

Just how on earth olly brown hill lasted I'll never know, he's got no pace whatsoever, looks totally lost as to where he should belong and failed to get anywhere close to the cross in for their goal..

I want to take some positives from today's game leading into the last 1, 2 or 3 matches but I am fearful.. Great little ground today and would love to see us with a set up like that in the future..

That's my opinion folks, well done to the singers in the first half, and although I didn't catch every word that Taylor orosz song was fab!!

Couldn't agree more with you CD!

I always thought 2 wins and a draw would be enough and it is looking likely that will be the case. Stamford played Witton on Saturday and got done over 4-1. I know no two games are the same but that gives you an idea of where we are against the other teams we currently share the play-offs with.

I don't know if Olly B-H had an off day or what but we played with 10 men for most of that game today. Totally lacking and apart from leading some break away attacks, the game just passed him by. I was very surprised to see him starting tbh.

Bunting was missed, Stamford crowded out the midfield and did not allow Richards the time and space to take the 7 or 8 touches that he seems to require. I'm indifferent to Dan Quigley, he does put a shift in but I'm not sure how effective he really is, especially today and did give away a lot of fouls.

I thought Dolman and Brown were excellent today as usual, Westwood had a decent game as well. I think we are 3 or 4 players off a good team, but the fact I'm saying that with one game of the season left with the amount of players coming and going this season - the management team have a lot of questions to answer come the end of the season.

Absolutely brilliant set up at Stamford though, Attendance of 632 today which that ground held comfortably. The ground in terms of scale and facilities is exactly what we need in the future.