Nottingham 0 vs 1 Old Stamfield

Old Stamfield travelled to Notts County FC on 22 February 2026 for a crucial league away fixture against Nottingham, kicking off at 2:00pm. The match ended 1-0 in favour of Old Stamfield after a tense 90 minutes plus added time, with a late goal securing all three points. Referee Anthony Taylor officiated the game to a high standard in front of a crowd of 21,478.

Old Stamfield lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, deploying a balanced setup designed to control midfield and exploit wide areas. Alex Dos Santos took his place between the sticks as goalkeeper, tasked with organising the defence and making key saves. The back four consisted of Rory Stride at right back, Taiwo Ejuke and Eduardo Fuenzalida as central defenders, and Florian Sarosi on the left flank. In midfield, Ben Spencer and Dominic Wilkinson operated as the double pivot, expected to shield the defence and initiate attacks. Ahead of them, Jamie Johnson occupied the right attacking midfield role, William Wilngrove played centrally behind the striker, and Eduardo Camavinga took up the left attacking midfield position. Hugo Lamy led the line as the lone striker, charged with finishing chances and holding up play.

On the bench, Old Stamfield had five substitutes available: Sam Jones, Archie Newbold, Freddie Marshall, Sam Miller, and Emyll Leclerc.

The match began with intensity as Old Stamfield sought to impose their game plan. However, early on, Rory Stride was shown a yellow card in the 14th minute for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity, a caution that forced him to be cautious for the remainder of the match. The defensive discipline was further tested when Eduardo Fuenzalida received a yellow card for a bad tackle in the 27th minute, signalling a physical encounter between the two sides.

Despite these early setbacks, Old Stamfield maintained their shape and composure, with Dos Santos commanding his area confidently. The first half concluded goalless, with both teams unable to break the deadlock by the 45-minute mark.

In the second half, tactical changes began to shape the contest. At the 66th minute, Old Stamfield made a double substitution, bringing on Sam Jones for Jamie Johnson and Archie Newbold for Eduardo Camavinga. These moves aimed to refresh the attacking midfield options and inject new energy into the side. Later, in the 78th minute, further tactical adjustments saw Freddie Marshall replace Florian Sarosi at left back, while Sam Miller came on for Ben Spencer in central midfield, signalling a shift to bolster the midfield and defensive stability as the game progressed.

The match remained tightly contested, with both teams probing for an opening. It was deep into added time, the 97th minute, when the breakthrough finally arrived. Eduardo Fuenzalida rose to meet a cross with a header, directing the ball into a dangerous area inside the penalty box. Sam Miller reacted quickest to the ensuing goalmouth scramble and fired a close-range shot with his right foot past the Nottingham goalkeeper to clinch the decisive goal.

Immediately following the goal, Old Stamfield made a final tactical substitution, with Emyll Leclerc replacing striker Hugo Lamy. Lamy, who had earlier been booked for unsporting behaviour in the same minute, made way as the team sought to see out the remaining moments.

Alex Dos Santos was instrumental throughout the match, making crucial saves and organising the defence to keep a clean sheet. His performance earned him the player of the match accolade, reflecting his vital contribution to Old Stamfield’s narrow victory.

In a fiercely competitive encounter, Old Stamfield’s disciplined defensive display and timely substitutions proved decisive, allowing them to secure a valuable three points on the road against Nottingham.