Report

The annual Jimmy Rowe Memorial Trophy between Newcastle Benfield & Heaton Stannington had a strong case of Deja Vu as the Stan have now won the trophy on all 6 occasions that it has been played. It was the Stan’s 1st match of the 2026-27 pre-season as they visited their local rivals from Northern League Division 1. The Stan had a comfortable & positive victory going 2 goals ahead although Benfield got a goal back with 10 minutes to go. Although there was only one new signing, Kanda, in the starting 11 another 6 new signings made their debut from the bench including Enwere from the Heaton Stannington Academy.

Both teams started this Friday evening match positively with Pearson shooting over the bar in the 3rd minute followed by a Benfield free kick just outside the Stan box being deflected wide by a home player. Hopper then advanced but couldn’t get a clear shot under pressure. In the 7th minute, a long ball from Hornsby to Hopper saw the ball roll to the keeper before he could get a shot in. 2 minutes later & a Stan ball went across the Benfield goal with their keeper initially missing but then getting down to save. Kanda then had a shot blocked. It was mainly Stan pressure now although in the 12th minute a Benfield attack was offside & soon after Brass caught easily. In the 13th minute, Hopper advanced & was brought down in the box. The resulting 14th minute penalty was taken by Pearson who blasted the ball into the left of the net, beating the keeper even though he went the correct way. 2 minutes later & Benfield shot well over. It was then back to the Stan as Hopper passed to the advancing Pearson, but the keeper blocked his shot for a corner. In 21 minutes, from a corner, Hopper headed from the edge of the box, but his effort was blocked. 3 minutes later & Kanda headed wide from a free kick. In 27 minutes, Chrisp passed to Hopper & he broke into the home box, but a player slid into the open goal & diverted his effort for a corner when it looked like the ball was going into the net. From the corner, Chrisp had a header blocked & Storey had a shot blocked before the keeper smothered the ball. There was then a quieter period for the Stan & only an occasional Benfield attack including them shooting well over in 35 minutes. In 42 minutes, a Stan free kick was eventually cleared & 2 minutes later a Robson long range effort was easily caught. The 1st half ended with a ball from Evans skimming the Benfield bar.

Half time saw 7 substitutions from the Stan including Shepherd & 6 new signings. In the 47th minute, a ball from a Stan free kick was headed wide & 2 minutes later a Chrisp long range effort went well wide. Benfield then had a shot which was easily caught by substitute keeper Basey. The 2nd half was proving quieter until 62 minutes when the Stan made it 2-0. Giraud entered the Benfield box & was unstoppable moving towards the goal from the left side & made a great pass to Morris who slotted the ball into the net. Soon after, Morris was in on goal again but was blocked. The remaining 4 starts were substituted in the 66th & 70th minutes & in between, in the 67th minute, Benfield had a good opportunity but shot well over. There was mainly Stan pressure now but with no further result. In 77 minutes, Fil passed to Morris, but he was blocked for a corner. From it, a ball from Robson was blocked on the goal line. In 81 minutes, a Benfield attack was blocked but not cleared & the ball went back out to the edge of the box & was blasted into the Stan net for 2-1. In 82 minutes, a Stan free kick was headed out for a corner. This led to a 2nd corner from which the ball went back out to Giraud who passed to Robson & although he headed the ball into the net, the flag was up for offside. In 84 minutes, Benfield put the ball across the Stan goal but it was missed & went out. Just before the final whistle, Giraud twisted & turned in the Benfield box before supplying Morris whose header went just wide.

The Stan deserved their win & now have their 1st silverware of the season. There was lots of new talent on show as well as rested looking existing squad members who looked ready to go. In particular, after scoring both Stan goals in last season’s match, a reenergised looking Pearson scored to put the Stan ahead & looked faster & more dangerous than at the end of last season even though he was the Northern Premier League East’s 8th top goal scorer with 18 goals. The Stan now travel across the Tyne on Tuesday night to take on Hebburn Town who are newly promoted to National League North.

Stan Team: Brass (Basey 46); Evans (Hopper 70); Hornsby (Fil 46); Kanda (Robson 66); Capewell (Shepherd 46); Robson (Gascoigne 46); Walker (Giraud 46); Chrisp (Hornsby 66); Pearson (Walker 66); Storey (Enwere 46); Hopper (Morris 46). Sub unused: Khalil. No cards.

Kevin Mochrie

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