Report

After the last 2 league visits to Newton Aycliffe ended in defeat, the Stan got revenge through a professional, comfortable & entertaining 3-0 victory. On a dark Friday night in deepest County Durham, there was only 1 team in it as the Stan got back to winning ways. There were 3 changes from the away defeat to Lincoln United 10 days ago with Evans, Walker & Johnson replacing Burn, Robson & Storey.

The Stan started on the attack & in the 2nd minute a Payne free kick into the Aycliffe box was cleared. The home side then had a shot deflected high for a corner which came to nothing. Both teams were trying to attack & in 6 minutes a ball from the advancing Errington was deflected & cleared. There was an early lead for the Stan in the 7th minute when Walker supplied Pearson who broke with the ball & entered the box before comfortably shooting past Seymour in the home goal to make it 1-0 for the Stan. It had been a confident display so far from the Stan including in defence. It was all Stan attacks now & Johnson hit the side netting in the 12th minute. A minute later, from a Stan corner, a Capewell header was put off the top of the bar & out for a corner by Seymour. In 16 minutes, a long ball to Errington saw him advance into the home box under pressure but Seymour collected the ball. Aycliffe made a rare move forward, but the flag was up. Soon after they had a speculative long-range effort that  went just over the Stan bar. In 21 minutes, a home attack was cleared. In 23 minutes, the Stan advanced twice although soon after Evans had to make 2 good clearances. In 26 minutes, a Johnson diagonal long ball to Errington saw him on the left of the box with no support & under pressure he sent in a cross come shot that hit off the keeper & then off the far post & into the net for 2-0. The Stan kept attacking & in 28 minutes Johnson went down the right, but his shot was caught by Seymour. It was still mainly one sided & in 34 minutes a Pearson ball deflected off Seymour but was then cleared. It was still all Stan & in 37 minutes an Errington high ball into the home box saw Seymour put the ball over his own bar for a corner. In 39 minutes, a rare Aycliffe advance saw them shoot from just outside the Stan box, but Gordon easily caught. The 1st half ended with a ball from Payne going across the Aycliffe goal.

The Stan started the 2nd half on the attack with their 2nd shot going wide. In the 47th minute, Aycliffe got their 1st corner of the match which came to nothing. In the 49th minute, Johnson advanced on the left & sent a speculative shot, from outside the box past Seymour, who was expecting a cross, & into the net for 3-0. What a goal! In 53 minutes, a Stan free kick ended with a shot from Milburn hitting off Shepherd & going towards the net but Seymour caught at the 2nd attempt. In 55 minutes, an Aycliffe free kick into the box was easily collected by Gordon. 2 minutes later & Errington won the ball & sent the ball towards Pearson, but it hit the back of his foot before it was cleared. In 60 minutes, Johnson sent a ball into the home box but there was no one there. This was followed by a speculative long range home effort which went just wide. 2 minutes later & a deflected Aycliffe shot was easily caught by Gordon. In 64 minutes, from a Burn free kick, an Errington header was caught by Seymour. In 67 minutes, a Johnson break was blocked for a corner. After some rare home pressure, in 74 minutes Errington won the ball & was tackled in the home box before he could shoot. Aycliffe then shot just wide. In 78 minutes, there was a sustained period of home pressure which eventually resulted in a corner. From the corner, the ball went across the Stan goal & out. There was then more Stan pressure & in 84 minutes Capewell had the ball in the Aycliffe net, but the offside flag was up. In 86 minutes, a joined-up Stan attack came to nothing. It was still all Stan pressure & in 87 minutes sub Blaney sent a ball into the home box but the ball was intercepted. After 5 minutes of added time, where both teams tried to attack, the final whistle was finally blown & the triumphant Stan Army could celebrate. 

It was a great evening for the Stan Army as their team put on a great show for them. All the team played well & looked hungry, but Sam Johnson edged it for man of the match not just because of his wonder goal but for his overall performance where he gave 100 % all night in attack. For the 1st time ever in league action, the Stan host Blyth Spartans on Wednesday night. 

Stan Team: Gordon; Milburn; Evans; Deverdics (Storey 75); Capewell; Shepherd; Johnson; Payne (Y); Pearson (Blaney 84); Walker (Burn 62); Errington (Lamb 75). All subs used. Attendance 197. Man of the Match: Sam Johnson.                  

Kevin Mochrie

Photo Gallery