Report

The Stan were back to winning ways in front of crowd of 562 who saw them go 5 points clear of relegation with 2 games to play. This Good Friday match did not see either team crucified although the Stan deserved their win despite the visitors from Yorkshire getting a late goal. There were 3 changes from the defeat at Newton Aycliffe last Saturday with Turnbull, Burn & Errington replacing Marriott, Slaughter & Adamson. Brass’s suspension had not started & Hopper’s red card had been overturned.

The match started with Turnbull slipping allowing Liversedge to advance but Capewell got in front of their advancing player & cleared on the edge of the Stan box. The Stan had a corner in the 5^th minute from which the visiting keeper collected. Liversedge then advanced but Evans forced the ball out for a bye kick. The Stan then advanced but Walker shot wide under pressure. 2 minutes later & Liversedge shot wide under pressure. Both teams were trying to attack &, after a quieter period, the visitors had to head clear twice in 17 minutes as Errington tried to pressurise their defence. In 21 minutes, the visiting keeper easily caught followed by Turnbull heading clear at the other end & although the ball went back into the Stan box Liversedge headed it wide under pressure. In 24 minutes, Lamb ran into the box & passed to the advancing Hopper, but the keeper blocked his shot for a corner.. From the corner, the keeper caught the ball on the line. The visiting keeper blocked a Lamb shot & in 31 minutes Brass got down to save from a corner. After a period of Stan pressure Liversedge had a free kick headed clear by Burn in 37 minutes. Both teams continued to try & attack & in 41 minutes an Errington shot from a tight angle was easily collected by the keeper. In a closely contested 1^st half, it was the Stan who took the lead just before half time in the 1^st minute of added time. Lamb advanced into the Liversedge box & although he was pushed to the ground as he was about to shoot, & the ball was cleared, only a corner was awarded. From the corner though, Capewell headed the ball towards the net & although his header was blocked on the line, the resulting scramble ended with Lamb forcing the ball into the net.

Liversedge started the 2^nd half by almost levelling the score when a shot on goal saw Brass dive & miss the ball, but Evans headed the ball clear when it looked like it was going into the net. In the 47^th minute though it was the Stan who extended their lead when Errington blasted the ball into the Liversedge net from outside the box. The visiting keeper had to make a save from a Lamb effort 2 minutes later. In 51 minutes Liversedge saw a long range effort swerve wide. In 59 minutes, an Errington shot was blocked & Walker’s rebound shot was blocked. 3 minutes later & Brass easily caught from a header. Liversedge then shot across the Stan goal, but the ball went just wide. Brass easily caught an effort in 66 minutes followed by Lamb shooting well over. Hopper was then brought down just outside the Liversedge box but Stephenson’s free kick was blocked. From the resulting throw in, Errington’s overhead kick was caught by the keeper. Robson, who had a great game, won the ball & suppled Lamb but the move came to nothing. In 72 minutes, Errington supplied Hopper who was brought down in the box but only a corner was given. From it, Lamb sliced his effort over the bar. In 75 minutes, Stephenson sliced his shot wide from a good position. Brass then had to make a good save from close range to deny a good Liversedge effort. After a sub Payne long range effort had been easily caught, a great move by Lamb saw him supply Grove but his ball into the box was blocked. There were weak efforts at either end before, in 84 minutes, Lamb supplied Payne who shot just wide. Liversedge shot wide in 87 minutes & they got a goal back 2 minutes later when, under pressure from Brass, Carr forced the ball into the Stan net. Into 3 minutes of added time & the Stan had an attack blocked followed by Brass easily catching at the other end.

It was a well-deserved hard-working win for a determined Stan who now know safety is in their own hands. Unfortunately, the Stan victory confirmed relegation for Liversedge. The Stan now visit Ashington on Easter Monday & a win there will mean that they are definitely safe and will be playing 4^th tier non-league football for a 2^nd season.

Kevin Mochrie

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