Report

A large proportion of the Stan Army travelled to Ashington by train for the Easter Monday 1pm kick off. Although the team’s own journey started well it was eventually derailed partly due to a dubious penalty and to use another 2 railway metaphors, the Stan began to run out of steam & there was some shunting by very physical opposition. The narrow win for Ashington means that they edge closer to avoiding relegation while the Stan cannot now make a play off place. Ironically the Stan’s win at Ashington on Easter Monday last year secured their stay in the Northern Premier League East. There were 5 changes from last Saturday’s 1-0 home defeat to North Ferriby with Milburn, Burn, Johnson, Storey & Errington replacing Deverdics, Chrisp, Walker, Pearson & Hopper. Kane Evans made his 150th start for the Stan.

The Stan started on the attack, but it was Ashington who had the 1st opportunity to score in the 2nd minute when Kneeshaw ran into the Stan box with the ball & rounded 2 Stan defenders but was tripped. From the resulting 3rd minute Gilchrist penalty, Brass made a great save before the ball was cleared to deny Ashington the lead. A minute later & a home player broke again but Brass made himself big to make another great save & the rebound shot was blocked in front of the goal line by Capewell. The Stan then attacked but Alexander in the home goal easily caught the ball. Both teams were trying to attack but it was the Stan who took the lead in the 11th minute. A Stan corner taken by Burn was cleared for a throw in. From it, Milburn sent the ball into the busy Ashington box & although it was initially blocked, Capewell managed to slot the ball into the net from 10 yards to make it 1-0 to the Stan. In 13 minutes, Storey had a ball blocked in the busy Ashington box as part of a sustained Stan attack which eventually ended with Alexander catching the ball. In 16 minutes, from a Burn free kick, a Capewell headed effort was caught by Alexander. In 18 minutes, Errington was fouled just outside the Ashington box. From the resulting Burn free kick into the home box, Capewell was floored but nothing was given. Shepherd sent the cleared ball back in, but Williamson punched clear. After a lengthy period of injury to Williamson, Capewell headed clear a ball from an Ashington attack & the rebound shot went high & over. Hornsby did the same in the 26th minute at the other end. The Stan then had 3 balls cleared as they kept the pressure on. After 30 minutes, a Shepherd long ball was cleared followed by 2 great interventions by Capewell. In the 36th minute, Henderson elbowed Capewell in the head as they both ran towards the ball, but no action was taken. Errington then had a shot blocked by Williamson & Storey’s rebound effort went onto the top of the net. Soon after, Errington broke again & forced a corner. From the corner, Williamson caught the ball. Due to injury, Burn had to be replaced by Chrisp in the 43rd minute. In the 45th minute, Ashington shot well over. There were 5 minutes of added time which were relatively uneventful with both teams having one effort cleared.

Half time saw another injury enforced change for the Stan with Hopper replacing Milburn. In 53 minutes, Errington turned a player & was hacked down & although a foul was given there was no card. In the 54th minute, a Chrisp 30 yard free kick went wide. Soon after, an Ashington player dived on the edge of the Stan box & a penalty was given. Spooner took it in the 56th minute & this time Brass went the wrong way & it was now 1-1. After a quieter period, Johnson advanced with the ball in the 64th minute but his shot in the box was caught by the wind & went over. Errington then won the ball & entered the home box & although the ball hit a defender’s hand, nothing was given. In 66 minutes, Johnson supplied Hopper, but his good effort was saved by Williamson. Henderson then took down Storey & flattened Walker, but nothing was given except a foul for the 2nd incident. Errington was pulled back in the 70th minute & the resulting Hornsby free kick went to Capewell whose shot hit the side of the net. Soon after Ashington had a shot diagonally across the Stan goal, but Brass got a hand to the ball to put it out for a corner. After a quieter period, the home team went back to disrupting things by hacking Hopper down. The resulting free kick from Chrisp was caught by Williamson. Ashington then attacked into the Stan box & although the ball was initially blocked, the 2nd effort was put into the net by Kneeshaw to give Ashington a 2-1 lead in the 77th minute. The Stan immediately started attacking again & as Johnson advanced into the home box but he was floored as he was about to shoot but nothing was given. In the 82nd minute, Chrisp was hacked down & the Ashington player responsible was booked. The Stan kept trying to attack & in 85 minutes Errington shot wide. Walker then also had a shot which Williamson easily caught. In 89 minutes, Storey had a free kick into the home box cleared & the ball went back in & was partially cleared before Williamson easily caught the ball. There were 3 added minutes & the match ended with a Chrisp free kick into the Ashington box being saved by Williamson.

Although the Stan took an early lead after Brass had saved a penalty, it wasn’t to be a Happy Easter for the team or the travelling fans as local rivals Ashington sneaked a win. That is now 3 defeats in a row after a run of 4 wins. The Stan are back in action on Friday night when they host Ossett United

Stan Team: Brass; Evans; Hornsby; Milburn (Hopper 46); Capewell; Shepherd; Payne (Walker 61); Burn (Chrisp 43); Johnson; Storey (Y); Errington. Sub not used: Gordon. Attendance 731. Man of the Match: Max Storey.

Kevin Mochrie

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