Report

Tuesday’s high from knocking out Newcastle United & ensuring a senior cup final place at at James’ Park continued as the Stan secured a well-deserved away league win at Ossett United. The Stan remain undefeated on the road in 2025 after 6 away league fixtures. Relegation rivals Ossett had won in mid-week but they were no match for the buoyant Stan. There were 3 changes from the win over Newcastle with Marriott, Burn & Errington replacing Stepheson, Slaughter & Hopper.

After 4 minutes, the 1^st threat came from Ossett after being awarded a dubious free kick but the Stan defended well & were awarded a free kick of their own. After a Stan attack in the 6^th minute, Ossett had a shot from in the Stan box blocked. In 18 minutes, a Brass clearance deflected off an advancing Ossett player & the ball went out. In the 20th minute, a Stan move ended with Payne shooting just over. In 25 minutes, Marriott sent a volleyed cross into the box & although Adamson got his head to it, he lacked power & the keeper easily collected the ball. After a quieter period, Errington shot just wide from a difficult angle in the 37^th minute. The 1^st half ended goalless.

The 2^nd half was to be a livelier affair than the 1^st & contained all 3 goals. In 55 minutes, a Shepherd ball from halfway was not cleared properly by the Ossett keeper but the Stan couldn’t turn the rebound ball into the net. A minute later & a Stan header from a corner was blocked. In 60 minutes, the Stan won a free kick just outside the Ossett box. Burn sent the ball into the box & it was headed into the net by Shepherd to give the Stan the lead. Brass made an important double save from an Ossett free kick in the 68^th minute. He dived to his left to stop the free kick then got down to stop the rebound effort. Ossett then sent the ball from the resulting corner wide. In 73 minutes, the Stan defence again worked hard to stop a joined-up Ossett attack. In 76 minutes, the Stan were 2-0 up when Adamson had won a loose ball on half way & decided to advance towards & into the Ossett box & when he reached the bye line he squared the ball for Lamb who tapped it into the net. Soon after, Walker blasted wide from the edge of the Ossett box. In the 90^th minute, Ossett reduced the gap when they scored from shot from the edge of the packed Stan box. The Stan sealed their victory in the 96^th minute, as Ossett pressed for an equaliser, when the advancing Lamb was supplied just outside the Ossett box & he advanced into it & shot to score his 2^nd goal of the match.

After sustained pressure, the Stan got 3 goals in the last 30 minutes to secure a well-deserved & important win. The 3 points sees the Stan move up to 15^th place & they are 4 places & 1 point above the relegation zone. They now host Bridlington Town on Saturday.

Kevin Mochrie