Report

The Stan’s 2nd league game of the season came 3 days after their 1st & they were again hosts when newly promoted & former Northern League rivals Guisborough Town visited from Teesside. A hard fought came saw the visitors determined to not give the Stan any space but although they went behind, the Stan equalised & deserved at least the draw. This was Guisborough’s 1st league game at tier 4 as Saturday had seen them beaten in the FA Cup. There was 1 change from Saturday’s 2-0 win over Stocksbridge with Milburn replacing Capewell. Ex-Stan player Alex Payne started for Guisborough.

Both teams started positively & the action was initially fast & furious. In the 5th minute, Lister saved a shot which went straight towards him. Pearson then broke through at the other end but Catterick in the Guisborough goal got to the ball 1st. The 1st booking came for the visitors’ Willshaw in the 6th minute for a tackle on Shepherd. The resulting free kick by Pearson went straight to Catterick. The visitors countered, forcing a corner from which Lister easily caught. After a quieter period, Guisborough forced a corner in the 17th minute. From it, the ball went to the far side of the Stan goal & was headed back towards the goal to Ben Errington who slotted the ball into the Stan net. The Stan attacked through Djalo in the 21st minute but there were 2 blocks. In the 23rd minute, Giraud passed to Gascoigne on the right who volleyed the ball into the net for his 2nd goal in 2 games. Both teams continued to try & attack, but it was Guisborough who next threatened when in the 28th minute Lister got out to head clear. Soon after, a Guisborough player shot just wide. 2 minutes after that, Catterick also had to come out to catch from a Stan effort. In the 34th minute Lister was out again to catch as the match was back to being played at a high tempo. In 36 minutes, a Stan free kick from the half way line was punched clear by Catterick. 3 minutes later & a cross to a Guisborough player in the Stan box saw him head the ball over the Stan bar. In the 40th minute, Giraud advanced into the Guisborough box, but Catterick grabbed the ball. In 43 minutes, Djalo tried a speculative volley from just outside the centre circle but the ball went over the visitors’ bar. In 45 minutes, Guisborough headed over the Stan bar from a corner.

Although the 2nd half started with mainly pressure from the Stan, it was a relatively quiet period until the Stan had a free kick cleared in the 53rd minute twice. 5 minutes later & Guisborough had an attack cleared. In the 59th minute, a Chrisp ball into the Guisborough box was headed clear & was blocked when sent back in 3 times. In 60 minutes, Lister sent the ball up towards Djalo but a defender headed clear before he could get to it. There was more Stan pressure with both Giraud & Chrisp having efforts cleared. In 67 minutes, after 2 Stan attacks, Guisborough countered & hit the Stan side netting under pressure. Soon after, a speculative long range Guisborough effort went well over the Stan bar. 2 minutes later a Guisborough player broke forward but was dealt with by the Stan defence. In 71 minutes, a ball into Pearson in the visitors’ box saw his header blocked & put out for a corner from which the ball was cleared. Guisborough countered but Lister got out to clear. Most of the threat was now coming from the Stan although it was not coming to much. In 76 minutes, Guisborough tried a speculative shot from a free kick from half way as Lister was off his line but the ball went wide. In 81 minutes, a Guisborough free kick was easily caught by Lister. 3 minutes later & a Guisborough shot from just outside the Stan box went just wide. In 86 minutes, Lister got down to save from a Guisborough free kick. The match was now end to end with both teams knowing that probably one more goal would win the match for either of them. There were a few chances for the Stan just before 5 minutes of added time began. In 93 minutes, the Stan came close to scoring when they forced a corner from which the ball went through the crowded 6-yard box but was sent back in & headed off the line by a Guisborough defender. The match finished with a sustained Stan attack which itself ended with Walker shooting wide.

Although the Stan came close to scoring late on, a draw was an acceptable result against difficult opposition. Most of Guisborough’s chances though were from distance. So overall a good start to the season & the Stan are unbeaten & 2nd on goal difference even if there is still a long way to go. The Stan’s 1st away league fixture is next, on Saturday, when they travel to Lincoln United.

Stan Team: Lister; Fil; Chrisp (Boothroyd 89); Kanda (Y); Milburn (Y); Shepherd; Gascoigne (Hopper 86); Walker (Y); Pearson; Giraud; Djalo (Errington 66). Subs not used. Storey; Morris. Attendance: 459. Man of the Match: JJ Chrisp.

Kevin Mochrie

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