Heaton Stannington A 5-0 Morpeth F.C.

Northern Alliance Neville Cowey Cup Group One

Wednesday 28 April 2021

The Stan’s last fixture in the group stage saw themhost 3rd place Morpeth who needed to win to have any chance of qualifying for the semi-finals while the Stan only needed a draw. On a dry but bitterly cold evening, there were 2 changes from Saturday with Dunne and Anjos replacing Doyle and Jones while Westphal moved back up front. There was a lot of stake as the Stan could qualify for the semis tonight with a draw while Morpeth had to win to definitely have at least a  chance of doing so.

It was a relatively even start until the 7th minute when Munir advanced with the ball down the left and into the box where he passed to Bruce who supplied Westphal whose shot was cleared off thevisitor’s line. Morpeth then got their 1st proper attack, but Ripken blocked. It was pretty even although it was the Stan again who had a good chance in 14 minutes when Harper supplied Westphal but his shot was blocked for a corner. From it, Bruce headed over. Both sides were trying to attack and Morpeth had a good chance to score in 18 minutes from a corner at close range but instead shot over. It was back to the Stan and in 21 minutes they were 1-0 up when  Poole curved a freekick into the box which was headed into the net by Bruce. 2 minutes later and a Morpeth free kick was put out for a corner which was headed clear and was then cleared again when the ball was put back into the box. Morpeth then put a long range effort just over the bar. During an even spell played mainly in the middle of the park, scorer Bruce had to hobble off. The common theme of the half was that both teams were trying to attack but both defences were working well and the only difference at half time was Bruce’s goal.

Both teams started in a similar vein as the 1st half ended and there was some good defending by Forster. In 50 minutes, Harper supplied Westphalwho casually rounded 2 defenders and shot past the Morpeth keeper to make it 2-0. 2 minutes later and Morpeth gained a corner followed soon after by a long ball to a forward which saw him chip Ripken but the ball went just over the bar. Then at the other end, Harper blasted a shot wide when he had a good chance to score. It was 3-0 though in 56 minutes when Westphal’s short free kick allowed Walker to make a great run with the ball, beat a player and shoot in the box. The keeper blocked the shot but fumbled it allowing the advancing Harper to slot it into the net. In 59 minutes, it was 4-0 when Poole’s shot was blocked but Westphal blasted the rebound into the net. In 66 minutes, a Morpeth shot was blocked for a corner from which Ripken punched the ball clear. Dunne then countered, supplying sub Carr who was blocked. Dunne then tried a long range shot that was put over the bar by the keeper. In 70 minutes there was some handbags that the referee dealt with reasonably well. Morpeth asserted some pressure before the Stan finished things off with a 5th goal after 75 minutes. Harper crossed to Walker who shot across the keeper and sent the ball into the left hand corner of the net. In 78 minutes, Ripken stopped a great Morpeth chance from close range. 2 minutes later, the Stan defended well during another Morpeth attack which eventually saw them shoot over. In 86 minutes, a Da Costa long range effort was sent straight at the keeper and the match finished with a Morpeth corner being cleared.

The Stan deserved to win the match and their group although the match was more competitive than the score line suggests. The difference was that although they created more chances they also finished them, unlike the visitors, making sure that 5 of them went in the back of the net. Winning their group means that the Stan are at home in the one leg semi-final on Saturday against group 2 runners up Newcastle East End Reserves.

Stan: Ripken; Dunne; Forster; Anjos (Jones 81); Harris; Riley; Bruce (Walker 38); Poole (Da Costa 63); Harper; Westphal (Y)(Carr 60); Munir (Uweru).

Kevin Mochrie

Cullercoats Reserves 1-0 Heaton Stannington A

Northern Alliance Neville Cowey Cup Group One

Saturday 24 April 2021

Their penultimate fixture in the group stage saw the Stan travel to the seaside with a record of 4 wins from 4.  There were 3 changes from Wednesday’s comeback with Harris, Jones and Bruce replacing Dunne, Walker and Da Costa. There was a lot at stake as the Stan could qualify for the semis today with a draw while Cullercoats had to win to definitely have at least a slight chance of doing so.

The Stan immediately put pressure on the home defence who dealt with it well. Although a competitive game, it was the Stan who again had a chance when the home keeper had to save a Westphal effort after some a good build up by Bruce and Harper. A great through ball by Jones to Doyle saw him put pressure on the home defence but in 22 minutes Ripken had to make 2 good saves at the other end. In 29 minutes, a corner by Westphal saw Harris’s headed effort saved by the home keeper. The Stan had started well but the home side were better in the last 20 minutes of the 1^st half and as a result a draw was probably a fair score at half time.

Both teams started the 2^nd half knowing the match was winnable, but it was the Stan’s Riley who shot just wide in 47 minutes. 5 minutes later and Harris made a good clearance under pressure. In 58 minutes, Harper broke free but the keeper was out of his box to clear. A Munir ball to Bruce saw his gliding header under pressure go just wide then the home keeper had to punch clear. In 65 minutes, Cullercoats had their best chance so far when a defensive error saw them shoot just wide with only Ripken to beat when they should have scored. The Stan attack was helped by the arrival of Kevin Carr on 65 minutes. 2 Stan free kicks were cleared by the keeper with a Ripken save from a counterattack in-between them.

The Stan continued to put pressure on the home defence, mainly through Carr’s hard work and skills, In 77 minutes, the home keeper dropped a high ball in the box but a foul is awarded. Its mainly all Stan until in the 81^st minute Harris is booked for halting a home attack. There is then some home pressure, but the Stan defence eventually clear the ball. In 85 minutes, great joined up work led to Poole advancing down the left, but he is shoved off the ball and nothing is given. The tension was building as the match entered stoppage time and a ball from a Stan corner was cleared off the line.

In the 93^rd minute, the youth player at Number 11 for the home side was shown a straight red card for dissent to the referee. In 94 minutes, latest Stan sub Joe Wear gave away a foul from a handball. The Stan defend it in a crowded penalty box but the ball goes back to a home player outside the box who blasted it into the left hand corner of the net. The home dug out then unceremoniously invade the pitch. The Stan try to seek the required equaliser although the match ends with a Stan corner being headed just wide. This close game therefore ended 1-0 to the home side with both sides now needing to get something from their last group match.

Given that Morpeth FC lost, a win would have won seen the Stan win their group although they still lead it by 2 points. To qualify for the semi-final, given their superior goal difference over Cullercoats and Newbiggin, a draw should be enough although a win against Morpeth would see them win their group.

Stan: Ripken; Doyle (Dunne 48); Forster; Westphal; Harris (Y); Riley; Jones (Carr 65); Poole (Wear 93); Harper; Bruce (Walker 82); Munir (Da Costa 90).

Kevin Mochrie

Heaton Stannington A 5-2 Blyth Town u23

Neville Cowey Cup Group 1

Wednesday 21 April 2021

Heaton Stann A made it 4 wins from 4 matches, but had to battle hard to come back from being two down inside 26 minutes, to maintain their attempt to finish in the top two to qualify for a Semi Final match. As the result from Morpeth’s home game came in later on, surprise, surprise, Morpeth had lost 1-2 to Newbiggin Central, so Stann went to the top of the Table. That means a win or a draw (superior goal difference) on Saturday at Cullercoats guarantees Stann a SF place.

First half goals from Harry Poole and Zak Munir, and second half goals from Munir (again), Layton Bruce and Kye Jones gave them the three points. 

Stann did not start well, conceding three free kicks and a strong Blyth shout for a penalty in the first six minutes. Then on 19 minutes, Blyth centre back Miikael Puusepp went up for a corner, ball falling to his feet, and he jinked around two defenders and fired in 0-1

7 minutes later and Blyth added a second when a poor tackle from Callum Doyle was penalised, and captain Martyn Hepple scored from the penalty kick, sending Aidan Ripken the wrong way.0-2

Stann fought back and reduced the arrears on 32 minutes, with Munir’s cross from the right giving Poole the chance, and he headed strongly into the net. 1-2

Christopher Walker fired inches wide from a well worked free kick, and then brought out a good save from Alexander Cockburn.  James Harper hit the post, with Walker following up, was well tackled to deny him a shot on an open goal.

Two minutes before the break Stann equalised with good work from Walker setting up Munir whose shot on the turn flew into the corner of the net. 2-2. Kevin Carr said after the match, “Those two timely goals from us got us back into the game, demoralised them a bit and our confidence was raised.”

Harper opened the second half with a shot well saved by Cockburn, but went ahead on 61 minutes when Harper again hit the post (a hat trick of misses from him) but Munir drove in from close range. 3-2,  One minute later Stann made it 4-2 with substitute Layton Bruce robbing a Blyth midfielder and ran on and drove a low shot inside the post giving Cockburn no chance. Two goals in a minute had swung the game strongly in Stann’s favour, confidence was high and but for Cockburn they might have got a hatful more. He made a superb double save to deny Munir (a hat trick) and Daniel Forster, and then the crossbar denied substitute Kye Jones a goal.

Stann wrapped up the scoring on 85 minutes with Bruce feeding Jones on the right flank, he raced forward cutting inside and unleashed a drive across the goal and into the far corner of the net. 5-2

A good work out for Stann with some good and needy lessons learnt from this game, and will need to start better on Saturday at Cullercoats, and in their remaining games to lift the trophy.

Stann: Ripken; Doyle (Harris); Forster; Westphal, Hall; Dunne; Riley; Walker (Jones); Poole; Harper (Bailey); Da Costa (Bruce); Munir,   Sub not used: Adriano Anjos

Brian Pratt

 Heaton Stannington A 2-0 North Sunderland

Northern Alliance Neville Cowey Cup Group One

Saturday 17 April 2021

A sunny afternoon saw the Stan reserves play their 3rd Neville Cowey cup match, but it was the first time Grounsell Park had been used in 2021. Just to confuse things, the visitors from up the Northumberland Coast were in black and white (even though they had Sunderland in their name) as they had only turned up with their home strips. As a result, the Stan played in their away strip and there were 2 changes from Saturday with Anjos replacing Dunne and Walker replacing Munir. It was the same referee as last Saturday and again he made some controversial decisions.

The Stan started on the attack with the visiting keeper having to clear followed by another Stan effort going just wide. The visitors broke free in 6 minutes but were off side. North Sunderland (NS) now had a period of sustained pressure but they didn’t have an actual shot until an effort from a free kick on the edge of the box was headed out for a corner in 9 minutes. 2 minutes later and Walker won the ball and passed to Harper who ran into the box but was tackled for a corner. Poole then sent a free kick into the NS box that was headed out for a corner which also saw the ball headed out but by the Stan. In 19 minutes the Stan had another corner but Poole headed just over. The Stan were in control now and a NS pass back under pressure resulted in the 1^st of 2 Stan corners with Poole heading just wide from the 2^nd due to a deflection. In 28 minutes, Jones’s header from a corner was cleared when it looked like going in. 3 minutes later Bruce’s shot was deflected for a corner and in 35 minutes the visiting keeper caught under pressure. Although the Stan were having most of the chances, NS were seeking to attack and had a rare but great effort from the edge of the box in 39 minutes which looked like it was going in until Ripken somehow stretched and got his hand to it for a corner. Soon after a long NS effort saw Ripken come out to easily clear. Bruce then shot wide and although the Stan had the most shots on goal by far, it was NS who should have been ahead at half time when an effort in the box was blasted over when it looked easier to score.

2 minutes into the 2^nd half and a joined up Stan attack saw a Walker effort under pressure go across goal. In 49 minutes, Ripken stopped a shot from a corner. In 55 minutes the Stan refreshed their attack with 2 substitutions although it was then Jones who hit the post from a long range effort. It led to a corner which saw the ball put just wide. The Stan were defending well when they had to but in 61 minutes Munir supplied Harper whose shot was deflected for a corner from which Harris put the ball over the bar. Poole then suppled Munir who advanced up the left and his ball into the box was deflected for a corner which then saw the ball headed off the line. Westphal, who was working hard, had a long range effort easily saved in 64 minutes. 3 minutes later a Munir shot under pressure was deflected for a corner that was not given. The Stan kept attacking and in 71 minutes the pressure paid off when Poole was brought down in the box. Harper scored from the penalty to make it 1-0. Jones then hit the post under pressure and soon after there was a dreadful tackle on Poole but nothing was given. Harper then shot just wide as the Stan continued to seek a 2^nd goal although the defence continued to work well when the visitors were able to advance. In 85 minutes a great ball by Westphal to Munir saw the keeper block but by handling just outside the box which saw him booked. Poole took the resulting free kick which he superbly curved round the wall and straight into the net for 2-0. Forster made a great tackle to stop a NS attack but then from a corner Ripken had to block an effort which then saw the ball put over the bar for another corner. Harper then ran up the other end but the keeper blocked the ball with his foot in the box. In 88 minutes Harper was brought down in the box but nothing was given. Both teams had a couple of final efforts but the score remained 2-0. It was a deserved win for the Stan but NS put up a strong fight and made the match competitive. With 3 wins out of 3, the Stan are 2^nd in their group and 1 point off leaders Morpeth but with a game in hand.

Stan: Ripken; Doyle; Forster; Anjos; Harris; Riley; Walker (Westphal 55); Poole; Harper; Jones (Da Costa 79); Bruce (Munir 55). Subs Not Used: Dannatt; Ward.

Kevin Mochrie

AFC Newbiggin Central 0-4 Heaton Stannington A

Northern Alliance Neville Cowey Cup Group One

Wednesday 14 April 2021

The Stan reserves 2^nd Neville Cowy cup match saw them travel up the coast to fellow division 3 team Newbiggin. There were some positional moves but only 1 change from Saturday with Dunne replacing Anjos.

The Stan demonstrated their intentions immediately when an effort was cleared off the home goal line in the 1^st minute. From the resultant corner, a good headed effort from Harper was cleared by the keeper. The Stan were ahead in 4 minutes when a ball across the box allowed Jones to tap into an empty net. In 17 minutes Harper smashed an effort against the bar. 5 minutes later he broke down the right and crossed to Munir but the ball hit off his shoulder and went over the bar. After a quieter period, the 1^st half finished with Jones shooting over the bar.

The start of the 2^nd half was also quieter until 56 minutes when the home team had a rare long range effort which saw Ripken make a great save, backtracking to put the ball onto the bar. After the 1^st 2 substitutions in 59 minutes, sub Walker crossed to Bruce who passed to Riley in front of goal but he blasted the ball over. Bailey and Westphal from the 1^st team joined the action in 65 minutes. 4 minutes later Da Costa passed to Walker who with an easy effort made it 2-0. In 75 minutes scorer turned supplier when a great ball by Walker into the box saw Westphal score at his 2^nd attempt. In 80 minutes, Bailey held the ball up and laid off Westphal who shot over. In 93 minutes it was 4-0 when Harris scored to give the Stan a great win.

The Stan were deserved winners starting and finishing very strong although there was a scrapy period in the middle of the match and the subs made important contributions for the last 3 goals. After 2 matches and 2 wins, the Stan are in 3^rd place in the 7 team group but 1 point off 1^st place.

Stan: Ripken; Dunne; Forster; Doyle (Bailey 65); Riley; Harris; Jones (Walker 59); Poole (Dannatt 72); Bruce (Westphal 65); Harper; Munir (Da Costa 59).

Kevin Mochrie/ Scott Lyndon

Newcastle Chemfica Amateurs 1-4 Heaton Stannington A

Northern Alliance Neville Cowey Cup Group One

Saturday 10 April 2021

After an unlucky exit from the Minor Cup last Saturday on penalties, the Stan reserves played their second match of 2021 and their first in the Neville Cowey Cup group stage, the competition for Northern Alliance Division 3 teams. On a dry but bitterly cold afternoon at the Longbenton Sports Ground on the grass pitch that Chemfica Reserves use as their home, there were 2 changes with last week’s subs Munir and Forster replacing Dunne and Walker with Bruce moving up front.

The match started relatively quietly and although both teams were trying to attack, the Stan had more of the ball. There was a great move by Harper and Jones after 8 minutes but some good defending stopped Jones getting a shot in. 2 more Stan attacks came to nothing before Forster tried a long shot in 15 minutes which the home keeper easily caught. Then a joined up attack saw shots by Munir, Harper and Bruce blocked. In 18 minutes, a Stan free kick from far out bounced awkwardly and over the bar. Chemfica then had a free kick which resulted in a shot that Ripken easily picked up. The Stan and the referee, who is now probably trying to forget the match, both thought the visitors had taken the lead in 20 minutes when Bruce forced the ball into the net in the crowded box. With only one official presiding, the referee had to consult the home linesman who had his flag up and was convinced that the ball had gone out of play before being crossed into the box. The referee changed his mind and the match remained goalless. Chemfica then had only their 2^nd attack but Ripken caught the resulting shot. In 28 minutes, a long ball to Jones saw his shot blocked successfully by the keeper before Harper forced a corner. 3 minutes later Harper supplied the advancing Bruce who shot just wide. Harper’s shot was then deflected for a corner when he should have done better and from it Harris headed wide. The Stan kept the pressure on with Chemfica only having 2 rare unsuccessful moves forward although the 2^nd was blocked by a good tackle by Doyle. The Stan were finally in the lead after 36 minutes when Munir took the ball into the box and passed to Harper who tapped it into the net. 3 minutes later and Harper was supplied again by Bruce but his header was caught by the keeper. After Harris had headed the wrong way from a corner, Chemfica had a rare attack but Ripken easily caught a long range effort. The 1^st half was one sided as most of the play took place in the home half although the Stan should have scored more than their solitary goal.

The 2^nd half started with 2 Stan attacks blocked and 2 corners. In 48 minutes, Munir got another assist when he ran down the middle with the ball and into the box and crossed to the advancing Jones who slotted the ball away for 2-0. The Stan kept attacking which included shots by Harper and Bruce but the home keeper and his defence worked well to block them. In 55 minutes the home side had a long range but rare effort which Ripken caught. The home keeper then blocked a Munir effort at the other end before Ripken had to make a double save and this was the 1^st time in the match that he had been really threatened. In 59 minutes, a joined up Stan attack saw Bruce’s shot put just wide by the home keeper. The 2 initial subs were then involved in the action as Dannatt shot wide through the crowded box and in 70 minutes the ball was crossed into the box and when the keeper dropped it under pressure which allowed Walker to score although the ball had gone out of play in the build up but this time the linesman didn’t flag. In 72 minutes it was 4-0 when Harper scored under pressure in the box. He then had an easier chance to score for his hattrick but sliced his effort wide. He then had another effort blocked before shooting wide before being replaced by the 5^th sub, Stan legend Kevin Carr in 74 minutes. The home side got a consolation goal in 80 minutes when they got a surprise penalty which they converted. In 82 minutes, good work by Carr saw him supply Uweru but his shot was easily blocked by the keeper. Walker then shot over when he should have passed to Carr. The Stan kept attacking with Carr supplying Dannatt whose shot was blocked. Although the Stan found their scoring boots in the 2^nd half, and still dominated the play, Chemfica did get more into the match but without really threatening the visitors. The Stan though were worthy winners and should have won by a far greater margin. Although they have only played one match, they sit 3^rd in their group of 7 teams.

Stan: Ripken; Doyle; Forster; Anjos; Harris; Riley; Bruce; Poole; Jones; Harper; Munir. Subs (all used): Walker; Da Costa; Dannatt; Uweru; Carr.

Kevin Mochrie

Cramlington United 0-0 Heaton Stannington A
(Cramlington win 10-9 on penalties)

Northumberland Minor Cup 3rd Round, Saturday 3 April 2021

The Stan reserves were in county cup action against Cramlington United who play 2 divisions above them in Northern Alliance Division 1 and who had in their team Northern League players including the Stan’s David Mason and Benfield’s Jake Turnbull. As the Stan first team will not be playing again until the 21-22 season, due to covid this was the first Stan match of 2021 and the reserves 10^th competitive match of the season.

A sunny Easter Saturday afternoon at Northburn saw the home side start on the attack but Ripken and his defence dealt with them well. After 5 minutes, Poole’s 30 yard free kick was dropped by the home keeper and he just managed to stop it going onto his own net. Cramlington had a similar free kick 3 minutes later which Ripken caught. The Stan were putting the pressure on now and should have had a penalty, but it was the home side who had 2 free kicks after 12 minutes with one cleared and one going over. 3 minutes after that a long range effort beat Ripken but went just wide. The Stan were pressurising again and Mason went off injured for the home team after 20 minutes. The Stan had 2 corners, the first resulting in a great shot by Harris that was saved. Cramlington countered but were blocked by good defending. In 30 minutes, just after a Stan player was held back in the home box, a longball to Harper saw the home keeper get to it just before him. The ball came back in and Bruce shot just wide under pressure when he should have scored. The Stan pressure continued, including good work by Bruce, although it was Cramlington who came closest with a long shot in 36 minutes. It was back to the Stan again although the final ball was letting them down. The Stan deserved to be in the lead at half time but it remained 0-0.

The 2^nd half started with Stan pressure although Cramlington should have shot and scored in 50 minutes when Ripken got down and used his feet to block a forward for a corner from which the home side shot over. 4 minutes later and Ripken came out to block again. Both teams were trying to get forward and Turnbull had his 1^st run of the match in 58 minutes but was eventually blocked by the Stan defence. In 61 minutes, a long ball was sent to Jones but the home keeper just got to it 1^st. Harper was then blocked followed by Bruce being brought down 35 yards out. The resulting free kick from Poole went over. Munir and Foster then joined the action with the former especially working hard to get the ball forward. In 66 minutes, Turnbull advanced down the right wing and crossed the ball to an advancing team mate who sliced his effort over when he should have scored. In 69 minutes Ripken was out of his box to make a great tackle to stop an advancing home player. Doyle, who defended well throughout the match for the Stan, then made a great tackle to stop another attack and started a counter move. Cramlington were now having a period of pressure and had the ball in the net but it was off-side. Turnbull was getting more dangerous but the Stan defence were dealing with him. In 77 minutes, Poole supplied Harper who shot wide when he had the chance to score. Doyle made another great tackle at the other end before the Stan had a shot again through Bruce. In 80 minutes, with 3 defenders behind him, Ripken came out of his box and brought Turnbull down who made the most of it. The keeper was booked but the resulting free kick came to nothing. With 5 minutes to go, the average age of the Stan team dramatically increased when club legend Joe Wear came on and almost immediately made a great tackle. Although Cramlington put the pressure on, the Stan defended well for the last few minutes as well managing 2 efforts through Harper. Although the home side had more of the ball in a slightly quieter 2^nd half, and Turnbull appeared to wake up for the last half hour, the Stan still deserved to win but as it was still goalless at full time, the match went straight to penalties.

Both teams scored all of their 5 penalties to send the shoot out into sudden death. Both teams scored again to make it 6-6 before each keeper saved to keep the score at 6-6. The next 3 rounds of penalties were scored by both teams to make the score 9-9. The home side scored their 11th penalty but the Stan’s Munir had his saved to allow Cramlington to narrowly win 10-9 on penalties.

Exactly 35 years after the Stan won the Minor Cup, they were very unlucky not to progress and this young team did themselves and the club proud against higher ranked and more experienced opposition. They showed a confidence greater than their years, especially Ripken in goals, and with some more clinical finishing they can go far.

Stan: Ripken (Y); Doyle; Dunne; Anjos; Harris (Y); Riley; Walker; Poole; Jones; Harper; Bruce. Subs (all used): Munir; Forster; Wear.

Kevin Mochrie