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After 7 pre-season friendlies, which saw the Stan remain undefeated, they kicked off the season with a comfortable 2-0 league win over Stocksbridge Park Steels who have rejoined the league after relegation following their 1-year absence in the Premier Division. The day though was also tinged with sadness due to the sudden loss of club legend Bill Colwill last Sunday. Nearly half a century of involvement with the Stan saw Bill take on almost every role at the club including player, manager, secretary, chair & most recently trustee. His family & friends attended the match & there was a minute of applause to remember & salute Bill. 

The match, which was played in bright sunshine, saw the competitive debut for 6 new signings Lister, Fil, Kanda, Gascoigne, Giraud & Djalo. There was also a debut from the bench for 2 further new signings Morris & former Stan A player Boothroyd. 

Both teams started positively, although after a counterattack by the visitors in the 4th minute, the next 3 attacks that were cleared were from the Stan. In the 16th minute, a joined-up Steels attack ended with Ward hitting the ball over the Stan bar. Soon after, Ward broke forward & Lister had to come out to make a great save. The visitors then broke again but the Stan countered & won a corner. Soon after a Stan deflected cross was caught by Townsend in the visitors’ goal. After 26 minutes, a speculative Steels long range effort saw Lister catch at the 2nd attempt. 2 minutes later & a Steels player headed out to give the Stan a corner. From it, the ball was headed clear but then was sent back in by Giraud to Capewell who slid in towards the right-hand post & sent the ball across the Steels goal line to Djalo but he couldn’t get his shot in. In 33 minutes, Lister had to get out to clear. Soon after, Gascoigne won the ball in the middle of the park & advanced & passed to Pearson who supplied the advancing Giraud who shot just wide from just outside the box. A Steels player then broke but Lister got out to confidently clear. The best move of the game so far came in the 40th minute when a Steels free kick into the Stan box was headed just wide. Another Steels attack was then deflected by Djalo for a corner. From it, there was a scramble in the 6 yard box with the ball eventually going wide. In the 43rd minute, a Stan attack went wide. There was a dramatic finish to a relatively quiet 1st half when Pearson advanced into the visitors’ box & was brought down by Townsend but only a corner was given when Pearson & most of the crowd expected a penalty. From it, Thompson got down to grab the ball from among a scramble.

The Stan started the 2nd half hungry to take the lead & in the 47th minute Pearson advanced & lobbed Thompson but the ball went just wide. A minute later & it was de ja vu when a longball to the advancing Pearson saw him try to chip Townsend, but the keeper managed to catch the ball. In 51 minutes, another Stan penalty claim was waved away. 2 minutes later & a Stan ball into the Steels box was headed clear. In the 55th minute the Stan were in the lead when a fantastic diagonal shot by Gascoigne went off the far post & into the Steels’ net. 2 minutes later & a Steels player headed out for a Stan corner. In the 60th minute, Lister easily caught from a Steels corner. Although at half time it felt like it might just take 1 goal to decide the match, the Stan were 2-0 up in the 61st minute when a 30-yard Giraud shot deflected off a Steels player & into the net. Nice one Cyril. Both teams were trying to attack & in 67 minutes Pearson was blocked but nothing was given although Walker managed to get the ball & advance into the visitors’ box, but his shot was deflected for a corner. The ball from the corner was deflected for a 2nd corner that came to nothing. In 72 minutes, Giraud advanced & passed to Djalo but he shot just wide. There was more pressure from the Stan before Lister had to get down in the 75th minute to catch the ball. After a quieter period, a Stan attack  was cleared in the 88th minute. The ball went back to Pearson who crossed to Morris, but he shot over the bar. The match ended with a Steels attack that came to nothing.

So, after a relatively quiet & even 1st half, 2 great goals from 2 of the players making their debuts saw the new look Stan start their promotion push with 3 points & they now sit 2nd in the league. The Stan are again at home on Tuesday night when they host newly promoted & fellow North East club Guisborough Town.

Stan Team: Lister; Fil; Chrisp; Kanda; Capewell (Milburn 57); Shepherd; Gascoigne (Boothroyd 87); Walker (Storey 87); Pearson; Giraud (Hopper 76); Djalo (Morris 83). All subs used. No cards. Attendance: 486. Man of the Match: Cyril Giraud.

Kevin Mochrie

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