The Stan travelled across the Scottish border to play an international friendly against East of Scotland League Premier Division Dunbar United. The Stan Army followed on mass by coach, train & car. On a very hot & sunny day in bonnie Scotland, unlike the wet conditions when the team left Newcastle, the fans witnessed a competitive game & a draw was probably a fair result as the teams battled both against each other & the heat. As a result of the heat, the match was played at a slower than usual pace & because of this there were more passing trains than shots. Riley & Jones, along with Boothroyd from the bench, from Heaton Stannington A started the match.

The Stan started positively & in the 1st minute a Giraud free kick was headed against the Dunbar bar by Chrisp. In 8 minutes, the advancing Pearson passed to Giraud who shot just over the Dunbar bar. It was mainly pressure from the Stan so far although a Dunbar attack was cleared in the 11th minute. There were Dunbar attacks in the 15th & 19th minutes that came to nothing. The Stan then had a free kick into the box cleared. The resulting Pearson throw in saw Capewell head wide. In 23 minutes, a Dunbar player won the ball & shot from the edge of the box, but Brass put the ball over the bar for a corner from which Capewell headed clear. In 29 minutes, a Dunbar free kick was cleared as the home team had some sustained pressure. In 37 minutes, a joined-up Stan attack saw Giraud shoot diagonally from 40 yards & his effort went just wide. A sustained Stan attack after 41 minutes was eventually blocked. A minute later, & Brass easily saved form a long-range Brass effort. Soon after a long ball from Riley to the advancing Pearson saw him enter the Dunbar box &, under pressure, chip the keeper but his good effort went just over the bar.

There were 2 changes for the Stan at half time. In 47 minutes, a Stan overhead effort then a Dunbar attack were both cleared. Dunbar then advanced again & shot just wide. In 54 minutes, Dunbar advanced & the resulting shot was stopped by a great save from Brass. Dunbar were proving more dangerous in the 2nd half but the score remained 0-0. In 56 minutes, Giraud advanced down the left & the ball was deflected for a Stan corner. Giraud took it but Capewell’s header was easily caught by the home keeper. It was end to end now as both teams tried to attack but with their efforts coming to nothing. In the 64th minute, sub keeper Basey made a great save from a Dunbar free kick. Soon after, Boothroyd ran up the right & into the home box, but he was eventually blocked by the keeper for a corner. In 75 minutes, a Dunbar free kick from the edge of the Stan box was blasted into the net to break the deadlock & give Dunbar the lead. The Stan immediately responded with Chrisp supplying Errington, but his shot was blocked by the home keeper. Both teams continued to try & attack & in the 80th minute, an Enwere attack was cleared & a Dunbar counterattack was stopped by a Basey save. From the resulting corner, Basey easily caught. In 85 minutes, a Giraud ball into the home box was blocked for a throw in, from which the keeper caught. The match was getting more physical as it came nearer to finishing. There was a terrible tackle on Boothroyd in the 91st minute that resulted in a free kick. A minute later, & Morris was brought down in the Dunbar box. The final touch of the match in the 93rd minute, saw Giraud take the resulting penalty & blast it into the left-hand top corner of the net for 1-1.

The Stan didn’t give up & deserved a draw which they earned from the late penalty. The Stan now remain unbeaten after 5 pre-season friendlies. It was a great day out for the Stan Army who enjoyed the hospitality & sunshine. After crossing the Tweed today, on Tuesday the Stan cross both the Tyne & the Wear to take on Seaham Red Star.

Stan Team: Brass (Basey 62); Riley; Hornsby; Robson (Boothroyd 46); Capewell; Jones (Storey 62); Hopper (Errington 46); Giraud; Pearson (Enwere 70); Djalo (Morris 80); Chrisp. All subs used. No cards.

Kevin Mochrie

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