Report

The Stan have secured their first away win of the season, coming from behind to beat Brighouse 3-1.

Dean Nicholson’s men – wearing white shorts alongside their new Hummel home shirts – started brightly with Connor Walker having a shot blocked inside the first 60 seconds, followed by a missed swing at the ball by Bailey Adamson, then an attempted pile-driver by Dan Stephenson which was blocked before it could test the home keeper.

Moments later the pressure continued, as a quick Stan attack saw Stephenson drive into the box from left back, receiving the ball and shooting first time with his effort stopped by a defender.

The momentum in the first quarter of the match was all with the away side in a dominant spell where the opening goal looked inevitable – just a matter of time – but the balance started to swing midway through the half, and the home side registered their first effort on goal when Slaughter gave the ball away in midfield and Nathan Curtis tried to catch Stan goalkeeper Tom Flynn off his line. One of the better efforts from halfway but no real danger.

The home side’s confidence continued to grow, and on 37 minutes, they opened the scoring. A high ball from the back was flicked on into the right channel, the winger got to the by-line and squared for Kane Richardson to tap in at the back post.

Brighouse almost made the Stan task more difficult just before the break with Romario Dunne flashing a powerful effort wide before the break. With the whistle about to blow for half time, Alex Payne cracked the post on his first league start of the season.

Whatever was said by Dean, Andy and the returning Nick Cassidy at half time clearly made an impact as the Stan came out swinging, and could’ve had a swift response on 49 minutes when an inviting ball from Max Storey on the right was directed towards goal by the head of Leighton Hopper, forcing the Brighouse keeper Acquah into a brilliant close range save.

Hopper and Storey combined again seven minutes later, this time Leighton sending the ball in for Max who controlled it and put it into the six yard box for Payne, blocked by the defender.

On 65 minutes, finally a breakthrough for the Stan and a first goal in Stan colours for Ben Milburn. Dan Stephenson sent in a wicked ball from a corner, and Milburn met it in the six yard box with a thunderous half volley into the top corner.

Fifteen minutes later, another Stephenson corner produced another goal, this time not quite as photogenic as the ball pinballed around the six yard box before finally being prodded in by Alex Payne, also scoring in black and white for the very first time.

The game was wrapped up with five minutes of normal time remaining in some style. Substitute Konner Lamb was dragged back on his way towards goal, which allowed Richie Slaughter a chance to take a free kick midway into the Brighouse half. The Stan skipper spotted Lamb ahead of him with just one man marking him and sent the ball forward straight to feet. A defender to Konner’s left sensed the danger and joined his teammate, but Lamb took glee in using his first touch to control, and his second to get between the pair of them, firing into the far top corner with his third from the edge of the area.

A deserved three points on the road, and back to back wins in all competitions following the visit of Emley eight days ago. Attention now turns back to the FA Trophy where Newton Aycliffe are the visitors in the 2nd Qualifying Round next Saturday.

Liam Milburn

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