The Daniels were in charge at both ends of the pitch and the defence blotted out prolific Dynamo striker Kris Nurse who was given no opportunity to add to his impressive goal tally.

Loughborough were rarely in the game as Stamford dominated proceedings and kept visiting keeper Matt Nurse busy.

In midfield the impressive Danny Steadman showed signs of the form from his first spell with the club and he appears to be forging a good understanding with Matt Oswin.

Jamie Clarke was a constant thorn in the side of his home-town club and headed over a Steadman centre early on.

It took Stamford only six minutes to break the deadlock.

Clarke dropped deep to switch play to the left with a crossfield pass, Dominic Hallows supplied the centre and defender Matt Ottley beat Phil Stebbing to the ball at the near post but could only head into his own net.

Stebbing was wide with a snap-shot before a great run by Clarke on the left saw him cut in and send a dipping shot against the crossbar.

There was a rare scare for the Daniels after 26 minutes when Paul Sheehan blocked a Tim Wilkes shot from a corner on the home goalline, but soon Stamford were in the ascendancy once again with Stebbing setting up Adam Cunnington to shoot wide.

The home lead was deservedly doubled in first half stoppage time.

A fine build-up set up a chance for Stebbing, Nurse went full length to turn his shot away but Clarke was first to react, firing high into the roof of the net.

Craig Noble was narrowly off target for the visitors at the start of the second half and for a while Loughborough enjoyed good possession without really threatening the home goal.

Half-time substitute Tyrone Kirk was soon in action, creating a couple of openings which Clarke failed to convert, and Nurse in the Dynamo goal had to be quick off his line to thwart Stebbing after a fine run.

Stamford sealed victory with a great team goal after 74 minutes.

Martin Davies released Kirk with an accurate throw out, the winger found Stebbing with a perfectly-timed run darting into space on the left and he drew the goalkeeper before squaring for Cunnington to slot home.

It should have been four a minute from time as Cunnington's great run set up Kirk, only for the substitute's shot to bounce to safety off the foot of the post.

Stamford: Davies, Steadman, Hallows (White 50), Sheehan, Pearson, Oswin, Cotton (Kirk h/t), Gray, Clarke (Watson 61), Stebbing, Cunnington. Subs not used: Chamberlain, Collis.

Loughborough: M. Nurse, Spriggs, Plummer, Wilkes, Ottley (Jenno 79), K. Noble, Morgan, Rimmington (Ross 66), K. Nurse, C. Noble, Moreira (Francis 59). Subs not used: Allen, McLarnon.

Attendance: 200.

Mercury man-of-the-match: Danny Steadman.

Match sponsor: Barker Signs.