After exactly 70 years, the Stan met Penrith again in the Northern League this time in their second match since being promoted. As with the 1st one against West Auckland, they had to play most of the match with 10 men but this time they were not able to earn at least a point.

The long journey from the North West did not seem to impact on the visitors as they attacked the Stan from the start shooting just wide after 2 minutes. 2 minutes later & they were 1-0 up from a free kick when the ball went into the net off Armstrong. Penrith shot well over in 5 minutes then a minute later, a mistake by the Stan allowed Penrith to break & last man Watson was sent off for his tackle to stop the move which surprised most of the home support. From the resulting free kick, Penrith hit the side netting. 

The Stan did not give up but Penrith were 2-0 in 21 minutes, again through Armstrong when he scored from a pass into him in the penalty box. The 1st of 5 Stan substitutions then took place with Taylor replace Hornsby. 3 minutes later & Penrith shot well over from a free kick. The visitors kept the pressure on, although with no real threat now, until 39 minutes when a great effort by Slaughter, & the Stan’s 1st clear attack of the match, was palmed over the bar by Penrith’s keeper Taylor. 

In 41 minutes, Hopper cleared a Penrith free kick off the line. Anderson then broke, from a Cowburn pass, and beat the last 2 Penrith defenders but Taylor got down to make a great save for a corner. Despite some late positive Stan action, the match was over in 44 minutes when, after the referee had got in the way resulting in the Stan losing the ball, the visitors attacked & the ball was crossed into the Stan box & forced into the net by Richardson for 0-3.

Penrith started the 2nd half on the attack and in 47 minutes they headed over under pressure from a free kick. The Stan then had 2 attacks including Cowburn’s overhead effort being caught by the keeper. The Stan were beginning to put some pressure on despite the numerical advantage of the visitors although Penrith still remained potentially dangerous especially through their number 7. 

The Stan had a number of attacks that came to nothing & Evans had to clear a Penrith effort off the line in 64 minutes. Both teams continued to attack but with Penrith looking more dangerous and Bamborough had to clear off the Stan line in 72 minutes. The final phase of the match saw Penrith having much of the ball & they stopped 10 man Stan from playing. Although he was working hard, Hopper could not get any results working up front mainly on his own. A Penrith long range effort in 82 minutes hit the post & the rebound shot was sent over the bar. The Stan then had to clear again & 3 minutes later the visitors shot just over.

After the early sending off, Penrith used their division 1 experience, composure and extra man to ensure there was no way back for the Stan even though the home side did have a better 2nd half. The Stan can now focus on the road to Wembley on Saturday as they host Pickering Town in the FA Cup.

Kevin Mochrie

An enthralling first half at Grounsell Park with Stan getting 2 goals in 6 minutes, but were pegged back by 2 goals in 13 minutes from West Auckland, with the added drama of Stan reduced to 10 men when Laquan Esdaille was red carded for a foul on Scott Heslop.

On 9 minutes Leighton Hopper was fouled on the right, near the home dug out. Cassidy whipped in a delightful free kick for Richie Slaughter to slot inside the post. 1-0.

On 15 minutes the Stan fans were delighted when Greg Purvis punted the ball for Hopper to head on for Max Cowburn to poke past a defender and keeper Jordan Harkess, to slot into an empty net 2-0.

Purvis saved a shot on 19 minutes from Corey Nicholson, but one minute later he could nothing about Danni Lay’s superb curling shot from the left edge of the box into the far corner. 2-1.

Gary Brown was spoken to by the referee, for a foul on Hornsby. The free kick from Dan Stephenson, gave Esdaille a header which was deflected for a corner. Cassidy took the corner, great ball for Hopper to control, swivel but his shot was blocked.

On 28 minutes a deep cross from the left for the visitors Andre Bennett to head the ball against the upright.

Controversy on the half hour when Heslop chased a through ball with Esdaille, with a questionable decision to red card Esdaille and a free kick just outside the area, which Purvis pushed away.

Pressure now on Stan as West looked for an equaliser, and it came on 33 minutes from a corner, from Reece Noble, Liam Potter headed powerfully in. 2-2.

Purvis saved Cieran Jackson’s shot, with Stan taking off Cowburn and bringing on Luke Taylor, On 43 minutes Slaughter was booked for foul. Noble took the free kick, and Purvis again saved well, from Heslop

H.T. 2-2

Stan fans watched the second half with tension, fearing the worse, but the manager during half time had galvanised his side to defend with a back 5 and 4 in front, with Hopper up front on his own. The visitors were not able to trouble Stan. Loads of possession for West but Stan stood up to all that was thrown at them. All 13 were truly magnificent.

Aaron Thompson was booked for a foul on Taylor, Hopper was exhausted and was replaced by James Proctor. Cassidy blocked 2 crosses with his body, Purvis denied Jordan Blinco, Gary Brown only yellow carded for a savage tackle on Stephenson, as time was running out for the visitors.

Andy Burn was set up with the one and only chance for Stan, and Stan fans flashed back to Barnoldswick, but his effort landed in the car park behind the goal.

The best ever NL gate for a first game in the Ebac Northern League Division 1 erupted with joy at the final whistle with a well deserved draw for the hard working Stan. For a short time Stan sit proudly on top of the table.

Brian Pratt

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