Report

After a great 2nd half comeback, it was not enough to stop the Stan being knocked out of the FA Trophy after reaching the 3rd Qualifying Round for the 1st time against ex-football league club Bradford Park Avenue. The Stan were not helped by Storm Amy & a time challenged home keeper. Although both teams had to bear the torrential swirling rain, they also both had to face a half each playing into the strong winds. Overall, the Stan dealt with the conditions better although Park Avenue had more luck with them. There were 5 changes from Saturday’s away draw against Pontefract with Flynn, Beattie, Capewell, Shepherd & Adamson replacing cup tied Gordon, Evans, Robson, Milburn & Errington.

There was a quiet start as both teams tried to adapt to the dreadful conditions although most of the play early on was in the Stan half as PA had the wind behind them. Even so, the Stan got 3 corners in a row starting in the 5th minute. From the 3rd corner, Adamson headed just wide. PA then got their 1st effort but shot well wide. Flynn then easily caught another home effort. In 10 minutes, a Stephenson free kick was just missed by Capewell. 2 minutes later & the Stan won the ball allowing Adamson to break but he was knocked off the ball as he got near the keeper. In 13 minutes, a PA free kick near halfway was caught by the wind & although Flynn got his hands to it he couldn’t hold on & it went into the net. Despite the unfortunate goal, the Stan kept battling & attacking & in 18 minutes, a Slaughter free kick went long to Hopper who advanced under pressure & his shot hit the post which sent the ball just left of the post but Adamson couldn’t get his foot to it to slot it into the net & the ball was cleared.. In 20 minutes, a PA wind assisted free kick went out for a corner from which the ball was scrambled clear. In 22 minutes, a curling home shot was deflected just over for a corner. From the corner, the ball went back out from the busy box & was sent back in high & wind assisted to be headed into the net just as Flynn was about to catch it. So, after 23 minutes it was now surprisingly 2-0 to PA & Amy. After a quieter period, PA shot over under pressure in 29 minutes. The Stan were trying to attack despite the wind barrier getting stronger. In 30 minutes Pearson was fouled in the home box but PA were awarded the foul. In 32 minutes, Slaughter blocked a home shot & Flynn had to make a great save in the 35th minute. PA then got a corner which saw the ball cleared up into the air by a Stan player only for it to hit the cross-bar wind assisted. The storm was at its peak now & in 38 minutes a home player shot wide. In 39 minutes, a sustained Stan attack included the ball being headed clear. In 44 minutes, Hopper advanced & crossed to Pearson who passed back to Stephenson but he shot high & wide. The Stan had played well in the 1st half & were unlucky to be behind at half time let alone by a 2-goal margin.

With the wind behind them now, the Stan restarted positively & sent the ball just over the bar from a corner in the 47th minute. In 50 minutes, a PA player shot well over followed by Hopper at the other end shooting only just over. It was mainly pressure from the Stan as the rain went off but the wind remained strong. In 59 minutes, Beattie intercepted the ball & sent it up but Hall, the home keeper, got to it just before Pearson. A Flynn wind assisted ball then went out for a bye before Hopper could get to it. In 65 minutes, Walker, who was having a good game, sent a long ball to sub Errington who broke forward but shot straight at Hall. It was mainly Stan possession now as the heavy rain returned. In 70 minutes, Slaughter started a great combined move which ended in Errington forcing Hall to make a great save. The ball was sent back into the home box & Beattie was brought down but no penalty was given. The Stan then had another shot which saw Hall get down to save. In 73 minutes, a Bradford attack was cleared. In 76 minutes, during a Stan attack, a poor clearance by Hall saw the ball go out to Hopper who from about 40 yards saw his shot fly into the net for 1-2. What a goal! 2 minutes later & a long ball from Stephenson to Pearson saw him put the ball wide. In 81 minutes, a home attack was headed clear by Shepherd. In 86 minutes, Errington broke forward & was blocked but the ball was sent back into the box by Payne who supplied Stephenson but his shot was blocked for a corner. Into 6 minutes of added & very windy time, & a common theme of this end period was Hall trying to disrupt & time waste which he is eventually was booked for. In 92 minutes, an advancing Hopper stopped the ball going out for a home bye kick but although he was held back he was booked & a foul awarded PA. In 95 minutes, Pearson forced a corner which saw Flynn come up for but it was cleared for a Stan throw in. There was a slight wobble when Walker did not clear allowing a home player to get the ball although Flynn came out & made himself big & blocked the ball. The ball went back to the home player but Stephenson managed to clear it. The Stan kept pressurising, when the ball wasn’t on the athletics track, but the match ended with defeat.

After giving great effort in poor conditions, the Stan did not deserve to lose & will feel aggrieved that the match did not at least end with a draw & a penalty shoot-out. The Stan are back on league duty on Tuesday when they travel to take on Blyth Spartans in the 1st ever league meeting between the 2 teams after numerous cup encounters.

Kevin Mochrie