Report

The Stan travelled to Brighouse in Yorkshire for the 1^st time in what was billed a 6-pointer clash for each club but in reality, after an action-packed evening, ended up being a 1 pointer for both relegation zone teams. The Stan took an early 2 goal lead but went a goal behind with 8 minutes to go before getting a dramatic equaliser 2 minutes later. There were 4 changes from Saturday’s narrow home defeat to Cleethorpes with Brass, Stephenson & new loan signings Joe Robson & Bailey Adamson, signed from Whitley Bay & Hebburn respectively, replacing Cassap, Milburn, Anderson & Hopper.

The Stan were 1^st to threaten when a Burn ball was deflected for a corner in the 2^nd minute. 2 minutes later, & a Brighouse player headed over the bar. It was end to end as both teams tried to attack. In 7 minutes, the Stan were ahead from a corner when Capewell got up to head the ball down & it hit the ground & bounced up into the net. After 10 minutes, a ball towards Brass saw him fail to hold it but Evans then cleared on the line. 2 minutes later & a Brighouse player broke free with only Brass to beat but Capewell managed to get back to clear for a corner from which Shepherd then cleared. In 15 minutes, a ball from Adamson allowed Errington to break forward beating 2 players & although the ball bounced awkwardly, he recovered it & shot past the keeper, who dived at his feet, to make it 2-0. In 17 minutes, a Brighouse corner was cleared & although the ball was sent back into the box a home player shot well over. Payne sent a ball into the home box after 20 minutes & it was deflected for a corner. It led to another corner which saw Robson head the ball against the bar. The Stan attacked again twice but in 23 minutes, the 2^nd of 2 corners for Brighouse saw Plater score direct from it. The Stan immediately tried to regain their 2-goal lead & in 27 minutes Stephenson had a shot deflected for a corner which then led to another. This was followed by a Stan free kick being blocked & an Errington effort being easily caught by the keeper. In 33 minutes, the home keeper got down to stop a Stephenson shot. The ball from the resulting corner was cleared & led to a counterattack which saw a Brighouse player’s shot across the Stan goal going just wide. In 36 minutes, an injured Robson had to be replaced by Hornsby. In 40 minutes, Errington suppled Adamson but his shot was blocked by the keeper. Brighouse had a rare attack cleared in 41 minutes before a Stephenson advance saw the ball cleared by the home keeper. Brighouse then had 2 attacks cleared. Errington then broke but was blocked & the half ended with Brighouse heading just wide.

The 2^nd half started where it had finished with Brighouse on the attack, which Shepherd had to clear, & they continued to do so for much of the half. In 49 minutes, a home corner ball was headed clear by Shepherd. He then intercepted another advance. The Stan did then get 3 attacks before Brighouse began to press again. In 61 minutes, Shepherd cleared but the ball was then blasted from the edge of the Stan box but was stopped by a great stretching save from Brass. The Brighouse pressure paid off in 64 minutes when a ball into the Stan box was slotted home by Plater for 2-2. Soon after, a home player broke forward but Brass made himself big to block his effort. In 70 minutes, sub Hopper got into the box but his effort & Burn’s rebound shot were both blocked. It was then back to Brighouse pressure & Brass had to get down to save a long range effort. In 76 minutes, a Brighouse corner was cleared & the long range rebound effort went just over. In 77 minutes, Errington shot over followed by Brighouse shooting wide. In 82 minutes, Brighouse broke again & although Brass made a great save the rebound was headed in by Niah Payne to give the home side the lead. The Stan responded positively & in 84 minutes they were level from a fantastic solo effort. Hopper broke with the ball & no one was going to stop him as he blasted it into the net. The Stan had suddenly woken up & were looking for a late winner. Brass though had to get down to block in 87 minutes. Sub Anderson then broke & was hacked down just outside the box with only the keeper to beat. Stephenson sent the resulting free kick over the wall but the keeper got down to put it out for a corner. From the Stephenson corner, the keeper punched the ball clear. Some how there was 7 minutes of added time which gave the Stan plenty of opportunity to continue pressing. It was Brighouse though  who came close in 93 minutes when, from a corner, a 6 yard rebound shot was some how put over the bar rather than into the net. Soon after a Brighouse counter attack saw a player blast the ball over the bar. Hooper the advanced although his shot was put out by the keeper for a corner. From a 2^nd Stan corner, the ball was headed clear & the final whistle eventually blew.

Although the Stan should have held onto their early lead, it looked as if they were going to throw away all 3 points but quickly rallied to secure a point. Brass was voted man of the match given his outstanding display. On Saturday the Stan travel to Garforth Town for what will be the 4^th meeting between the clubs this season.

Kevin Mochrie