Report

After looking like they were going to eventually win a highly competitive match with a late goal, the Stan had to in the end settle for a draw as West Allotment Celtic got an even later goal. Although this local derby was full of action and entertainment, it looked like fans were going to witness the 1^st 0-0 draw this season at Grounsell until the 2 late goals. There were 5 changes from last Wednesday’s win at Benfield with Corkhill, Turnbull, Shepherd, Slaughter & Hopper replacing Brass, Evans, Reid, Marriott & Lashley.

On a pleasant evening, WAC were 1^st to show this was going to be a match with much attacking play when in 3 minutes they hit a shot just over the bar from just outside the 6-yard box after the initial ball into the box had been blocked. After a quieter period, the 1^st Stan attack came in 8 minutes which resulted in a corner. From it, Turnbull shot just wide. WAC then went up the pitch & shot across the Stan goal with Corkhill getting down to put the ball out for a corner. From the corner, the ball was cleared in front of a packed goal line. The 15^th minute saw the start of a couple of minutes of sustained pressure from the Stan. This included a shot by Hornsby being blocked & the rebound shot from Hopper was put just over the bar for a corner. From the corner, the ball was cleared & went out to Hopper on the edge of the box and his shot was deflected just over for another corner. In 18 minutes, Corkhill blocked a WAC shot. There was lots of action now from both teams with the ball being sent up and down the pitch. From the 33^rd minute, there was a couple of minutes of mainly pressure from WAC including a shot that hit the side netting of the Stan goal. It was back to end-to-end action now & in 40 minutes a WAC shot was blocked with the rebound effort going just wide. In 41 minutes, Stephenson shot well wide. Soon after, he won the ball & a joined up Stan attack eventually saw the ball sent across the visitor’s goal but was missed by everyone. The half finished 0-0 but the Stan had been trying to attack while their defence had also dealt well with the threat from WAC’s pacey players.

The 2^nd half started with a Stan effort being headed clear. In 48 minutes, a deflected ball to Hornsby resulted in him shooting over the visitor’s bar. It was all mainly pressure from the Stan now as they sought a possibly winning goal. In 53 minutes, a Stephenson free kick saw Hopper head the ball towards the net at the back post but the WAC keeper caught it. 2 minutes later & a Stan ball from a corner was parried away by the WAC keeper. The Stan kept attacking although the visitors were still potentially a threat. In 66 minutes, a joined-up attack ended with Anderson, who was working hard, shooting just over from the edge of the box. The Stan then shot wide followed by the WAC keeper getting down to save a long range effort. In 70 minutes, from a corner, Turnbull headed towards goal but the ball bounced of Hopper who was facing towards him. WAC then had a rare attack eventually shooting wide. It was then back to Stan pressure & in 75 minutes a Hopper shot from the edge of the box was deflected onto the post. Soon after, a WAC ball into the Stan box was headed clear. In 83 minutes, the Stan determination paid off when Hornsby sent a ball into the WAC box from the left & sub Lashley rose majestically to head it into the net for 1-0. What a header! In 87 minutes, a WAC ball into the Stan box was eventually put just wide for a corner. From the corner, the visitor’s headed the ball into the net for 1-1 on 88 minutes. There were still a few minutes for the Stan to get another goal & Hornsby sent a ball into the box for sub Sayer who headed just wide. The Stan kept the pressure on into added time but couldn’t get the crucial 2^nd goal.

The 1^st half of the match was a relatively even affair with both teams having chances to score. The 2^nd half was more one sided with the Stan dominating until the 88^th minute WAC equaliser and the Stan Army were disappointed that their team did not snatch a late victory. The draw moves the Stan up to 5^th place. On Saturday the Stan are at home again when they host Crook Town.

Kevin Mochrie

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