Competition: FA Cup
Tadcaster Albion vs Heaton Stannington
Around 120 Stan fans inside the warm and sun filled SO TRACK Stadium, Tadcaster, to witness the end of their FA Cup run, conceding a goal in each half, with an outstanding goal from Konnor Lamb to bring on a late recovery, but the hosts managed to hang on.
The first 9 minutes almost summed up the whole match, with Tadcaster never getting out of their own half, but Stan failed to create any opening. On 10 minutes Lamb on the right, with space, tried to put the ball over keeper Joe Wilton, but it flew over the bar.
Joe Shepherd came to Stan‘ s rescue on 14 minutes, cutting out a cross from the left, from Oliver Norman, 2 minutes later and Craig Scott was injured in a great tackle as the Brewers broke at speed.
25 minutes and the dangerous Norman moved down the left flank cut inside with his low goal bound shot turned around Lewis Brass’s post. Brass tipped the resultant corner over his bar to concede another corner, which was headed away to Sam Kitchen, but his shot flew only inches over the bar.
It was no surprise when Tadcaster opened the scoring on 30 minutes with that man Martin involved, his pass through to Kitchen with his cross from the by line put home by Kieran Greenway. 0-1
Lamb won the ball on the right, moved forward but his low shot flew across goal and wide.
Lewis Stephens challenged Danny Sayer as he moved forward, with Sayer down with blood again spilled by the Stan defender. He was able to continue, but on 40 minutes he again was felled, holding his head, whilst play continued. Stan players were rightly annoyed by the referees late stopping of play whilst their man lay on the ground with a head injury. He could not continue, so Louis Anderson replaced him, with Dan Stephenson reverting to left back.
No doubt stats would prove Stan had the most possession but their predictable and slow build up play helped the Brewers line up with two banks of four to thwart the Stan’ s attacks. Not one shot on target in the first half from Stan!
HT 1-0
Stan now attacked the end where most of their supporters were gathered.
Scott was elbowed in the face almost straight away, but he recovered after treatment. No card.
On 51 minutes another well worked breakaway by the Brewers, with a pin point cross from the left, again, with Sam Kay clever flick gave Brass no chance. 0-2
Anderson shot deflected for a corner, then a golden chance for Lamb as he left 3 defenders behind but his tame shot was collected by Wilton.
A flare up as Leighton Hopper was fouled by right back, Charlie Owen. Reid was booked as he continued to make his case.
Jordan Lashley replaced Andy Burn on on 64 minutes, and things got better. He linked up well with Lamb, with Lashley’s drive saved. A good run by Hopper who won a corner, headed out to Richie Slaughter but he blazed high over the bar. Tadcaster were content to leave most of their players defending, playing down the clock and looking for a breakaway. Their captain, Connor Qualter was booked for a foul on Lamb, the referee not changing the colour of his card when he kicked the ball away to deny Stan taking a quick free kick. Sarcastic cheers from Stan fans! Stephenson took the free kick, throw in won, with Stephenson crossing with Shepherd heading over.
On 71 mins Lamb on the left, moved inside and hit an unstoppable shot into the top far corner. 2-1.
Could Stan get another and fight again at Grounsell Park?
Well, they tried, with Reid in the final minutes hit a very good shot which Wilton broke the Stan fans hearts with a terrific save.
Heaton Stannington receive £750 as losers, and look forward to an away NL 1 trip to West Auckland on Saturday.
Brian Pratt
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2 vs 1 
Hebburn Town vs Heaton Stannington
The FA Cup dream is alive & kicking as the Stan continue on the road to Wembley after a fantastic win over higher league opposition in the form of Hebburn Town from the Northern Premier East league. There were 2 changes from Tuesday’s league win at Redcar with Shepherd and Lashley replacing Mark Turnbull and the injured Hopper. There was also a start from the bench for Louis Anderson who is back at the club this week after returning from his travels.
The match started with both teams mainly cancelling each other out although Brass had to get down to save in 5 minutes & Lamb had an off-side shot in 11 minutes. After some Stan pressure, Brass had to get down to save in 16 minutes although 2 minutes later Scott headed wide from a Stan free kick. It remained pretty even although both teams were trying to attack.
After Slaughter had made 2 good clearances at the other end, a Stephenson free kick into the box was headed clear in 34 minutes. A dreadful tackle on Sawyer in 38 minutes saw the offending player red carded. Both teams ended the half trying to attack but without really threatening & there was nothing really separating the 2 them with both having everything to play for in the 2nd half.
The 2nd half started with Brass putting the ball over his bar for a corner. Hebburn had another couple of attacks, but it was the Stan who took the lead in 53 minutes through a brilliant goal. Stephenson’s free kick was headed into the Hebburn net by Burn who rose majestically to do so.
The Stan weren’t going to leave things there & in 56 minutes a great run down the middle by Lashley saw him brought down just outside the box but nothing was given. In 60 minutes, there was the start of a period of sustained Stan pressure. In 65 minutes, Sawyer was brought down just outside the home box but the keeper got to the ball from the resulting free kick.
It was all mainly Stan pressure now with some great joined up football. In 75 minutes, the home keeper had to get down to stop a Stephenson effort. It was then Brass’s turn for heroics. He made a great save from a Hebburn free kick. The ball from the resulting corner was blocked on the line by a helpful Hebburn player who was also off-side.
Brass then made a great save to stop a long-range home effort & he then put the close range rebound shot over the bar. Lamb counter attacked from the resulting corner & crossed to the advancing Lashley who confidently blasted the ball into the net to make it 2-0 in 79 minutes. Both teams were trying to attack & there were 2 bad tackles on sub Doyle.
There was some sustained pressure from Hebburn in 86 minutes, but they could not pierce the Stan defence. Lamb shot just wide in 89 minutes followed by Brass having to save at the other end. The action continued into the 3 minutes of added time, but the match ended with a 2-0 victory for the Stan.
What a performance by the Stan who deserved their win. In the 1st half they easily matched their opposition & in the 2nd, regardless of the player advantage, they played out of their socks across the park with special credit being given to keeper & man of the match Lewis Brass who pulled off some fantastic saves. The sizeable & loud Stan Army were ecstatic at full time & the whole Stan squad went over to the far corner to show their appreciation. There is more cup action next Saturday & the start of another route to Wembley as the Stan host Thackley Town in the FA Vase.
Kevin Mochrie
0 vs 2 Heaton Stannington vs Tow Law Town
FA Cup fever returned to Grounsell Park as the Stan recorded their biggest ever win in the tournament as they hosted old rivals Tow Law.
Brass was injured in the warm-up, so Corkhill was a late replacement in goal. There were 4 other changes from last Saturday’s 1st league match of the season with Craig Scott, making his competitive debut, Stephenson, Mark Turnbull and Bisset replacing Shepherd, Hornsby, Burn and Doyle.
The Stan started positively & after only 3 minutes were in front when, from a Bisset corner, Scott headed downwards towards goal & Hopper stuck his boot out to put the ball in the net. The Stan kept the pressure on & Hopper shot just wide under pressure in 7 minutes. It was mainly all Stan with Tow Law’s 1st attack not coming until the 14th minute. This was followed by a Scott header, from a cross provided by Jake Turnbull, which was caught by the visitor’s keeper. Lamb then shot just wide.
Tow Law then won a corner from which they eventually shot wide & soon after Mark Turnbull had to head clear. It was then back to Stan pressure which included Mark Turnbull heading just wide & Jake Turnbull shooting wide. The 2nd goal did come in 29 minutes when Evans crossed into a busy box & the ball was forced over the line by a stooping header from Hopper.
It was 3-0 in 32 minutes when a Bissett corner ball into the box saw Scott head on to Mark Turnbull who headed into the net. There was then a quieter period but still with the Stan in control. In added time there was some late pressure from Tow Law although the half ended with the visiting keeper having to make saves from Jake Turnbull & then Reid.
It was normal service from the Stan from the start of the 2nd half, as in 47 minutes Scott headed just wide from a Bisset free kick. 2 minutes later & it was 4-0 when Reid advanced towards the Tow Law bye line & sent the ball back to the advancing Lamb who slotted the ball into the net. He then had another shot blocked followed by Jake Turnbull being brought down in the box but nothing was given. Lamb then had a deflected shot go just wide for a Bisset corner & from which Reid’s header was blocked on the line.
In 55 minutes, Tow Law had a rare shot which went wide followed by a Stephenson shot being blocked by the visiting keeper. Jake Turnbull then had a long-range effort which went wide followed by another which went through a crowded Tow Law box & hit the post. It was all Stan pressure now & Scott headed just wide in 68 minutes.
In 73 minutes, sub Lashley made a great run into the box & confidently slotted the ball past the Tow Law keeper for 5-0. 2 minutes later & Tow Law shot wide. More Stan pressure followed including a Bisset shot that was cleared from just in front of The Tow Law goal mouth in 80 minutes. Cassidy & Bisset came close but the match ended 5-0 to the Stan.
Given the dull, showery and cool weather, events on the pitch warmed & brightened up the Stan Army as every player gave a good performance to assist in achieving a comfortable win. It could though have been bigger even more though Tow Law kept their heads up throughout but were out played by a confident home team. After 103 years of involvement and 28 ties, the FA Cup still excites the fans & players & the Wembley dream continues on 19 August when the Stan travel across the water to Northern Premier East Hebburn Town. Firstly though, on Wednesday night there is an immediate return by Tow Law to High Heaton but this time in league action.
Kevin Mochrie
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5 vs 0 
7:45 pm 
3:00 pm 3:00 pm 
Heaton Stannington vs Pickering Town
The Stan started the road to Wembley for the 14th time in 102 years and played their 24th match in the competition playing Pickering Town for the 1st time ever. Hoping to win their 7th FA Cup match, the Stan made 4 changes from Wednesday night’s league defeat against Penrith including Flynn replacing Purvis in goal.
The visitors started on the attack and had most of the ball for the first 7 minutes. In 8 minutes Norton, the Pickering keeper, had to parry away a Bailey shot from a Cassidy corner. He then caught an Anderson headed effort from a Cassidy free kick. Cassidy then shot wide from another free kick. The few minutes of Stan pressure paid off in 12 minutes when a Stan counter attack saw Hopper advance into the visitor’s penalty box & pass to Anderson who scored a great goal under pressure.
There was some more Stan pressure although in 15 minutes Evans, who had a good game, made a great clearance. There was action in both halves & Flynn had to make 2 catches. In 22 minutes a Stan speculative long range shot was caught by the wind & Norton managed to put it out for a corner. From it, 2 Stan efforts were cleared from in front of the goal line. Pickering then broke & shot wide.
Both teams continued to have efforts & in 30 minutes Evans cleared an effort off the goal line. After an initial Bailey block, Pickering headed wide in 33 minutes. There was a quieter period until a minute before half time when Stephenson supplied the advancing Hopper who headed straight at Norton. The half finished with a Pickering attack. Although the Stan deserved their lead, the match was far from over yet.
Immediately from kick off at the beginning of the 2nd half, the Stan nearly took the pressure off themselves when Hopper advanced & shot but the ball hit the post & went out. Pickering then had a few minutes of pressure including shooting over the bar in 51 minutes. The Stan though had started positive & were now getting balls into the Pickering box but then were unable to get the final shot in.
There was now a period of mainly Stan pressure although the defence was also working hard when Pickering got the chance to counter. In 58 minutes, there was a good opportunity for the Stan when a Stephenson long ball to Hopper saw him cross into the box but no one could get to the ball. Cowburn eventually shot over from the edge of the box. Flynn then made a great double save. Hopper, from an Anderson pass, shot just wide from outside the box 2 minutes later. 5 minutes later & Flynn got down for a greats save from a long range effort.
Both teams looked threatening with continuous attacks & counter attacks but without any end result. Ward replaced Hopper in 72 minutes & brought some new energy to the Stan attack. With 13 minutes to go, chances were getting rarer although those that materialised were now going to Pickering although Evans especially was working hard to stop them.
In 83 minutes Ward had a header deflected for a corner but then it was backs to the wall again for the Stan. The Stan continued to work hard & in 89 minutes created an effort when Anderson rode a challenge & passed to Stephenson who was blocked & so eventually was Shephard. 5 minutes of added time saw both teams trying to score with Ward especially working hard up front. In the 95th minute, the ball broke for Anderson who only had the keeper to beat & shot in the box but Norton managed to block for a corner just before the final whistle.
The Stan were the better team overall & did enough to win the match but Pickering threatened at times to get an equaliser although the Stan team worked well to prevent them while also seeking a 2nd goal to make the score more comfortable.
Kevin Mochrie
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1 vs 0 