Report

Grimsby Borough returned to High Heaton for the 2nd time in 11 days but tonight the match was completed unlike the 1st attempt which was abandoned due to a flooded pitch after 24 minutes with the Stan leading 1-0 & with Grimsby having missed a penalty. Building on Saturday’s 2-0 home win over Brighouse, the Stan had a comfortable 4-0 win over Grimsby & delivered a confident & entertaining performance for the Stan Army. There were 2 changes with Milburn & Errington replacing Robson & Lamb. The team was the same one that started the abandoned match against Grimsby.

On a blustery but mild evening the rain luckily stayed away. The Stan started on the attack & in the 2nd minute, after the ball from a corner was initially cleared, the ball came back into the 6-yard box & was cleared for another corner. The opening period was dominated by the Stan & the only 2 early Grimsby attacks were easily cleared in the 7th & 10th minutes. In the 11th minute, a speculative Stephenson long range effort went well over. 2 minutes later, & Evans nipped in front of an advancing Grimsby player to get the ball & stop the attack. Another Grimsby attack was cleared a minute later which led to Pearson advancing with the ball & he was brought down in the box by Lovett who was sent off. The penalty was taken by Hopper in the 16th minute who confidently sent the ball down the middle & into the net with the Grimsby keeper Auton diving to his left. So, with nearly 75 minutes still to go the Stan were 1-0 up & Grimsby were down to 10 men. The Stan kept attacking & in the 21st minute Errington crossed to the advancing Hopper in the box, but he couldn’t make contact with the ball & it was cleared. In 23 minutes, Walker shot from just outside the box, but Auton got down to save. In the 30th minute, the Stan were 2-0 up when a Stephenson ball into the Grimsby box was confidently put into the net by Pearson. A minute later & Pearson nicked the ball of a Grimsby defender & although his shot was on target it was deflected just wide for a corner. From the corner, the ball went initially out to the edge of the box but was sent back into the 6 yard box where there was a scramble but Auton managed to get himself on top of the ball. Play was being dominated by the Stan & in 36 minutes a Stephenson long range effort was caught by Auton. 3 minutes later & a Grimsby throw in into the Stan box was headed clear & the Stan counter attack involved 4 players, but the ball was eventually cleared. In 41 minutes, a Chrisp ball into the Grimsby box was blocked. Walker then supplied Pearson whose long range shot went just wide. Chrisp then sent a high cross into the box but it went wide & out. Soon after, Gordon came out to stop a Grimsby attack but missed the ball but luckily the Grimsby player’s shot deflected off him for a corner. From the corner, the ball went across the goal line to a Grimsby player at the far post, but his close shot was cleared off the line by Shepherd for another corner.

The 2nd half started with more Stan pressure & in 48 minutes Auton had to punch the ball clear although it was sent back in & he had to catch it. In 51 minutes, the Stan increased their lead when, from a joined-up attack, the ball was sent through by Stephenson to the advancing Pearson in the Grimsby box & he slotted the ball past Auton & into the net. 3 minutes later & Walker shot just wide. Hopper then crossed to towards the advancing Errington, but Auton got to the ball 1st. In 61 minutes, a Grimsby free kick was easily caught by Gordon. This was followed at the other end by an Errington shot from the edge of the box which was easily caught by Auton. There was more intermittent Stan pressure in between substitutions & in 73 minutes sub Johnson chipped the ball over the Grimsby bar from a corner. In 75 minutes, Pearson advanced with the ball & slotted it past Auton to make it 4-0 and get his hat trick. In 81 minutes, Johnson crossed to sub Lamb who shot just wide. 2 minutes later & sub Chater shot straight at Auton. The Stan kept pressing but the match ended still 4-0 to the Stan.

So a comfortable win & good team effort for the Stan saw them move up the table to 5th & into a play off place. On Saturday the Stan make the long journey to the Yorkshire seaside when they visit Bridlington Town.

Stan Team: Gordon; Milburn (Chater 76); Chrisp (Beattie 78); Evans; Capewell; Shepherd; Hopper (Storey 66); Walker; Pearson (Lamb 76); Stephenson; Errington (Johnson 66). No cards. All Subs used. Attendance 208. Man of the Match: Dale Pearson.                        

Kevin Mochrie