Report

Having named the same line-up for the last three games, changes were made for the trip to Carlton with Lamb, Slaughter and Turnbull missing, replaced by Anderson, Burn and Ellison respectively.

The opening stages were largely a tactical battle to put pressure on each other, without really producing any significant chances. Carlton showed off their impressive long-throw weapon on a couple of occasions in the first five minutes but they were dealt with by the towering Stan defence. The Stan’s first decent opening came on 17 minutes when a ball was flashed in low from the left but Thompson and Anderson could only watch as it flew past their feet. A wicked ball in from the right by Kane Evans three minutes later found the head out Thompson but he couldn’t direct it towards goal under pressure from a defender.

The Stan were playing well and were starting to look like the side most likely to take the lead, with the kind of attractive passing football we’re used to really coming through here. On 26 minutes, a precision ball from the left managed to squeeze between three Carlton defenders, perfectly onto the foot of Thompson who controlled with one touch and then laid it off for Ellison, who did well to adjust himself for a shot in a split second, but the shot was never troubling the home goalkeeper too much.

The game’s opening goal came on 40 minutes. Lewis Durow tossed the ball forward with a diagonal ball on halfway which was flicked on towards the box. Niall Hylton ran onto it, used his strength to hold off the Stan defender before firing to the far post on the turn.

The Stan responded well and tried to find an equaliser before half time – Thompson crossing dangerously but unable to connect with anyone in the area and cleared from danger.

The task became more difficult just four minutes after the restart. Lewis Brass’ goal kick was met by a Stan head, but the second ball was won by Carlton who quickly mounted an attack. The away defence were caught too narrow and after a number of flick-ons, Oliver Clark was able to run at Brass before finishing to the far post. 

On 65 minutes, Shay Richardson received a throw near the corner flag, quickly crossed and found Thompson in acres of space to bundle home. But it would prove to be nothing more than a consolation goal. A similar routine from a throw produced the Stan’s best chance to equalise on 87 minutes, but the black and white head that rose up to it couldn’t get it on target. 

The Stan are now winless from their last five league away games – and will relish the fact that the next four games are all at home, where their fortune has been much better so far this season.