Report

For the first time ever, the Stan made the long trip to Beverley which is located just outside Hull. This is Beverley Town’s 1st season at Tier 4 & they started the day in 15th but only 4 points behind & with 3 games in hand over 7th placed Heaton Stannington. Known as the Beavers, Beverley had the better of a relatively actionless 1st half. The Stan had the better of the 2nd half, but it looked like the match was going to end in a stalemate until they burst the Beavers’ dam with a 91st minute winner. It was a great goal though & showed the Stans’ determination despite strong opposition & an ever-increasing injury list. There was one change from Tuesday night’s narrow defeat at Blyth Spartans with Ben Milburn, back from injury, replacing the injured Adam Gell. There was a debut from the bench, and an assist, for new loan signing from Sunderland Bayley Hester.

The match was played in very warm & dry conditions for early October as both the Stan team & the travelling Stan Army basked in the sunshine at a very friendly Norwood Park. The 1st action didn’t come until the 10th minute when a Beverley ball deflected off Milburn & went across the front of the Stan goal before going out for a corner. From it, the ball was cleared twice before Lister caught the ball from a 3rd effort. After 16 minutes, a Beverley ball from the left went across the edge of the Stan 6-yard box but was missed bye everyone. The play was still mainly in the Stan half & in the 19th minute a home attack was blocked twice. After a very quiet start by the Stan, their 1st effort on goal came in the 27th minute when Savage broke & shot diagonally under pressure from the right, but his effort went just wide of the left post. 2 minutes later a Beverley attack was blocked followed by Giraud breaking & supplying Djalo who was blocked. Soon after, Lister easily caught at the other end. Shepherd then sent a long ball to the advancing Giraud, but his shot was caught by Overton in the Beverley goal. Fil then stopped a Beverley attack. In 34 minutes, a Beverley corner was partially cleared before Lister easily caught the ball. A minute later and a Beverley attack was blocked. Soon after the home side shot well over the Stan bar from distance. In 39 minutes, a ball from a Beverely corner was cleared twice before a shot went over the Stan bar. In 41 minutes, the Stan had a rare attacking opportunity when, from a Giraud free kick, the ball went high into the box & was cleared off the Beverley goal line. Soon after, from a throw in, a Beverely shot saw Lister push the ball against the post & out for a corner. From the corner, a Beverley header was caught by Lister. 

With the 1st half being played mainly in the Stan’s half, the 2nd half was the opposite with most of the play being in the Beverley half & with the Stan shooting downhill. In the 47th minute, a Giraud ball into Djalo was blocked for a corner. 2 minutes later & a diagonal Beverley shot went just wide. In 51 minutes, a Beverley attack was cleared & 2 minutes after that they had a shot blocked with the follow up effort going just wide. In 55 minutes, an injury to Kanda saw him replaced by Hornsby. In 57 minutes, a ball from a Beverley corner was missed by everyone. After he had won a corner that had come to nothing, in 61 minutes Savage twisted & turned into the Beverley box, but he could not get his shot in. In 69 minutes, a Beverely free kick into the Stan box saw the ball headed out for a corner from which Beverley eventually headed wide. In 76 minutes, Hornsby had 2 balls into the home box blocked. The Stan then forced a corner from which Overton caught the ball. Beverely then counter attacked & the ball was blocked 3 times by the Stan defence. In 81 minutes, Lister had to get down to stop a long-range Beverley effort. This was followed by some good defending by man of the match Milburn. Beverely then had a diagonal shot stopped by a great save from Lister. Soon after, sub Errington was brought down & the resulting free kick by Gascoigne went just wide. Normal time ended with some more Stan pressure. In the 1st of 4 added minutes, after Djalo had been brought down, sub Hester on his debut sent a free kick into a packed home box & Errington tapped the ball into the net to give the Stan the lead. The Stan then attacked again & Errington shot just over the bar. Soon after, Lister got down to easily save followed by another home attack being cleared. The match ended with Beverley wining a corner which their keeper went up for, but the ball was headed out of play & the final whistle was blown to the delight of the celebrating Stan player & fans. 

After a relatively quiet match, the added time smash & grab goal meant that the Stan left with all 3 points & achieved their 1st away league win of the season at the 5th attempt. They are now 6th in the league & the late goal & win made the long journey home a very pleasurable one. This should be a good confidence builder ahead of an even longer journey on Tuesday night to Matlock Town. 

Stan Team: Lister; Fil; Chrisp (Hopper 75); Kanda (Hornsby 55); Milburn (Y); Shepherd; Gascoigne; Walker; Djalo; Giroud (Errington 75); Savage (Hester 83). All subs used. Attendance: 505. Man of the Match: Ben Milburn.  

Kevin Mochrie