Competition: Northern Premier League East

Heaton Stannington vs Bradford Park Avenue

Andy McBride took charge of the Stan today for the 1st time but unfortunately, it was not to be a happy occasion as the club lost 1-6 to ex-league team Bradford Park Avenue. Neutrals didn’t expect much out of this game for the Stan, as, in the 13 league games they had already played this season, Bradford Park Avenue were undefeated. Andy has taken the reins after Dean Nicholson’s shock resignation on Thursday after 5 years in charge. This is only the 2nd managerial change in 28 years at Heaton Stannington. There were 5 changes from last Saturday’s comeback draw at North Ferriby with Hester, Capewell, Walker, Pearson & Hopper replacing Milburn, Chrisp, Djalo, Savage & Giraud. Leighton Hopper was in the record books for equalling the all time starts record in the Northern and Northern Premier league era.

The match was played in poor & very windy conditions as storm Boela struck but there was still a healthy crowd of 357.In the 3rd minute, Pearson broke forward but Lambton in the BPA goal got down at his feet to grab the ball. 2 minutes later & BPA forced a corner. From the corner, in the 6th minute, the visitors were ahead when Haw bundled the ball across the Stan goal line. 4 minutes later & a BPA attack was stopped in the 6-yard box. Both teams were trying to attack but it was BPA who next came close in the 15th minute when the ball went across the Stan goal but was missed by everyone. BPA then won a throw in which saw the ball sent into the Stan box but was blocked twice just outside the 6-yard box & was sent back in but thanks to the wind the ball was missed by everyone. In 17 minutes, the ball was sent across the Stan goal but again was missed by everyone. 2 minutes later & a BPA free kick into the Stan box saw Lister easily get up to catch the ball. In 20 minutes, a BPA player went down just inside of the Stan penalty box. To the surprise of most fans a penalty was given. Haw took the penalty & scored as Lister dived the wrong way. In the 23rd minute, a BPA player broke forward & shot just wide when he only had Lister to beat & probably should have scored. Pearson was trying to get forward whenever he could but in most occasions he couldn’t get to the ball before the opposition keeper or defenders did. In 27 minutes, BPA shot over the Stan bar. Hester then broke down the left & beat a player, but his shot was blocked by Lambton. The Stan kept the pressure on with the BPA defence having to block followed by Errington’s blasted shot being saved by the diving Lambton & put out for the 1st of 2 consecutive Stan corners. Walker & Hester were fouled but nothing was given. In the 40th minute, Hester broke forward & supplied the advancing Pearson who was brought down just outside the visitor’s box. The resulting free kick from Gascoigne went over the wall but was caught by Lambton. The 1st half ended with some sustained attacking by the Stan but without any end product & they ended the half 2 goals down.

The 2nd half started with Pearson forcing a corner. Gascoigne took it & Hopper headed the ball towards the net but was blocked. BPA counter attacked but were stopped by Hester. In 49 minutes, a BPA corner saw them shoot just wide from within the 6-yard box. 2 minutes later & Lister blocked a BPA effort followed by Parkinson clearing it. The sustained early pressure from the visitors continued & in 51 minutes a BPA player advanced into the Stan box & was pressurised by Capewell but the ball went off him to Lister & was interpreted as a back pass by the referee. BPN took their indirect free kick in the 53rd minute & it was tapped to Haw who shot through the wall & the ball was deflected into the net for both his & BPA’s 3rd goal. 2 minutes later it was 0-4 when, on the edge of the Stan box, Haw chipped the ball over a crowd of players & it deflected off one of them & into the Stan net. After Lister had to catch in the 58th minute, 2 minutes later the Stan had a rare effort when a high ball to Parkinson saw his shot blocked by Lambton. In 66 minutes, a speculative long-range effort by BPA saw Lister get down to save. A ball was then sent across the BPA goal but was missed by everyone. In 68 minutes, Haw scored for the 5th time when the Stan failed to clear a BPA attack. In 78 minutes, sub Boothroyd broke forward but was blocked. A minute later & a Stan attack was cleared. In 81 minutes, a high ball into the BPA box from the left was headed into the net by Djalo. A classic Djalo goal. In 85 minutes, from a corner, Giraud had to clear from in front of the Stan goal. The Stan counter attacked but Lambton came out to clear. In 88 minutes, a poor Stan pass back allowed a BPA player to advance on Lister who blocked the ball, but Capewell wasn’t able to clear allowing the advancing BPA sub Parkin to pick up the ball & slot it into the Stan net for 1-6. It was not to be the Stan’s day as in the final minute Giraud’s shot hit the BPA post.

Despite the weather, strong opposition & dreadful officials, a poor performance & gifted goals made this a day to forget. The Stan are back on the road next Saturday when they travel to 4th placed Pontefract Collieries.

Stan Team: Lister; Fil; Hester; (Giraud 58); Parkinson; Capewell; Shepherd; Errington (Djalo 58); Walker; Pearson (Boothroyd 74); Gascoigne; Hopper (Milburn 58). No cards. All subs used. Attendance: 357. Man of the Match: Connor Walker.

Kevin Mochrie

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North Ferriby vs Heaton Stannington

The Stan undertook another long away trip, 3 in 4 matches, & after things were looking bad at half time when 2-0 down, they showed resilience & fought back to earn a 2-2 draw on Humberside. There were 2 changes from last Saturday’s home win over Ossett United with Djalo & Errington replacing Hopper & Walker.

The Stan started positively when, in the 3rd minute, Giraud cut into the North Ferriby box & passed to Djalo whose shot went over the bar. A minute later, & a home effort went wide. There were 2 early setbacks for the Stan as they went 2-0 down after only 17 minutes. In the 7th minute. North Ferriby’s Dennett sent a long throw into the Stan box which was flicked on by Day & tapped into the net at the back post by Williamson. Dennett was the 2nd home scorer in the 17th minute when he was gifted an easy opportunity when a high ball into the Stan box wasn’t cleared. In 22 minutes, Giraud forced a save from Dash in the home goal. Soon after, Giraud was into the box again & after being blocked supplied Djalo whose effort went across the goal & over the bar at the far post. In 26 minutes, a ball to the advancing Gascoigne saw him send a ball towards the back post but it went slightly wide. Lister made a save in the 29th minute followed by the ball rolling across the goal line but there was no one there. Lister made another save 5 minutes later. After a quieter period, & into added time, Giraud shot from the edge of the home box straight at Dash. A Stan player was then fouled on the edge of the home box & the resulting Gascoigne free kick looked like it was going into the net, but Dash managed to get up to catch the ball.

There were 2 substitutions at half time with Capewell replacing Giraud & Hester replacing Milburn. After a quieter restart, North Ferriby shot wide in the 50th minute. A minute later & Lister got across to the left top corner of his goal to make a big save. In 55 minutes, the Stan pulled a goal back when a Gascoigne free kick into the home box caused chaos & although the ball was initially blocked, Errington was eventually able to shoot into the net. In 62 minutes, Lister had to make another important fingertip save from a header which he put over the bar. What a save. In 66 minutes, the Stan shot wide followed by Pearson making his return from injury when he replaced Djalo. Almost immediately, he had an opportunity to score but couldn’t make contact with the ball at close range. In 70 minutes, a long throw in to Errington saw him slice his shot over the home bar. Hester then shot wide from 25 yards, and Dash had to save again soon after from Gascoigne who had been supplied by a great ball from Fil. The Stan were now in control as they sought an equaliser. In 73 minutes, Savage shot just wide. Gascoigne got the equaliser & his 5th goal for the Stan in the 75th minute when, from a free kick on the left, the ball was sent into the home box & tapped back to him allowing him to blast it into the net through the crowded box. In 79 minutes, a North Ferriby ball went across the Stan goal before being cleared. They then had another effort cleared. Although the Stan initially countered, the home team continued to attack resulting in a free kick on the edge of the box which Lister had to get down to save. In 86 minutes, after a home player had headed a Stan effort clear, the ball went out to Chrisp who shot straight at Dash from 25 yards. In the 90th minute, Dash just managed to stop a Fil effort from just outside the home box with a full length save after the Stan had broken forward. Into 4 minutes of added time, & both teams were trying to & capable of seeking a winner. In the 94th minute, Lister made an important save as, from a home long throw in, there was a scramble in the box with Lister stopping an effort from close range & although he couldn’t hold the ball, when it came back in he managed to catch it. There was no more drama as the final whistle was blown soon after.

The Stan’s 2nd half recovery was down partly to the 2 goals scored & numerous other attacks but it was also due to some good goalkeeping by Lister & good defending. This included the contribution from Sunderland loanee Hester who made a huge impact when he joined play for the 2nd half & as a result was awarded man of the match.  Next Saturday the Stan are back at home & host league leaders Bradford Park Avenue.

Stan Team: Lister; Milburn (Hester 46); Fil; Chrisp (Y); Parkinson; Shepherd; Savage (Hopper 87); Gascoigne; Djalo (Pearson 67); Giroud (Capewell 46); Errington. Sub not used: Boothroyd. Attendance: 381. Man of the Match: Bayley Hester.   

Kevin Mochrie

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Heaton Stannington vs Ossett United

The Stan secured a deserved three points but only late on a sunny, windy but bitterly cold Saturday afternoon. This was partly due to a 70th minute goal but also because the start of the match was delayed to 4pm due to the Ossett team bus getting stuck on the A1 due to a major accident. Although the Stan had more chances, the match was still 0-0 at half time, but they put on a great performance in the 2nd half, in all areas of the pitch, & should have won by a few goals. In the end though, they had to settle for 1-0. There were 4 changes from Tuesday night’s defeat at Matlock with Parkinson, Gascoigne, Walker & Hopper replacing Hester, Gell, Djalo & Errington. There was a debut for new loan signing Mitch Parkinson from Redcar Athletic.

Although hindered by the strong wind, both teams started positively but were cancelling each other out until the 7th minute when Ossett keeper Petrovic easily caught a Stan effort. Ossett then counter attacked & won a free kick 30 yards from the Stan goal. Milburn headed the ball from the free kick clear, but the wind caught it & Hopper had to put it out for a corner. From it, an Ossett player shot just over the Stan bar. The Stan then broke through Giraud on the left although the ball went out for a goal kick when it looked like it should be a corner. Soon after, a high Stan free kick into the Ossett box was caught by Petrovic. There was a good Stan move in 11 minutes, when Hopper sent the ball up to Savage who broke forward & outpaced a defender to be 1 on 1 with Petrovic but he came out to block. After a Stan and an Ossett attack were cleared, Parkinson countered but was blocked. Ossett then attacked again & from the resulting corner Shepherd cleared. In 19 minutes, Giraud broke forward but his long-range effort saw Petrovic get down to collect. In 25 minutes, a ball from a Stan corner was cleared & the ball was sent back in, but Petrovic got up to catch. 3 minutes later & the Stan attacked again but Ossett cleared twice. In 29 minutes, the ball was sent up high due to the advancing Hopper in the 6 yard box but he couldn’t get his head to it. A minute later & Lister easily caught. Walker then supplied the advancing Hopper who began to round Petrovic, but he got down to block before Hopper could shoot. From the resulting corner, Petrovic blocked on his goal line. In 35 minutes, a Gascoigne free kick into the Ossett box saw a scramble which ended with Shepherd’s blasted shot being blocked. The ball went back in towards goal but was headed clear & was eventually put out for a Stan throw in. From it, after being partially cleared, Giraud sent the ball back in & although Petrovic punched it clear it went to Milburn on the edge of the box whose shot went across the Ossett goal & was deflected out for a throw in. In 44 minutes, Lister had to make a good save. In the 45th minute, a Gascogne free kick into the Ossett box was headed on by Shepherd but Petrovic easily collected it. The Stan defence then easily dealt with a counterattack, but the ball came back up & out for a corner which came to nothing.

After a very windy 1st half, the Stan had the wind behind them in the 2nd half. There was a quiet start until the 49th minute when a Stan long ball bounced & Petrovic caught it just before Hopper got to it. Giraud then advanced with the ball & sent it towards Walker, but a defender got to it 1st. Giraud was then brought down but the resulting Gascoigne free kick into the Ossett box was cleared for a corner. From it, Hopper headed over the Ossett bar. Both teams were trying to attack but the next clear chance to score came in the 60th minute when Giraud blasted a diagonal shot just wide. In 63 minutes, a Stan free kick into the Ossett box saw a visiting player send the ball towards his goal forcing full length save from Petrovic which then saw him collide with the advancing Hopper. In 66 minutes, Petrovic saved a Walker effort. It was all Stan pressure now as they kept attacking the Ossett box. In 69 minutes, a Stan corner was cleared & the ball went back out to Giraud whose shot was blocked. In the 70th minute, the Stan pressure paid off when Chrisp sent the ball up the left to Giraud who sent a high long ball into the Ossett box to Milburn on the right of the goal who headed it into the net for 1-0. What a goal. In 76 minutes, an Ossett throw in into the Stan box was cleared but the ball went back in high forcing Lister to get up to catch. Petrovic then caught a wind assisted effort as the wind started to get up again. In 81 minutes, a Walker long range effort went over the Ossett bar. Walker then entered the Ossett box & crossed to sub Djalo but Petrovic got down at his feet to stop him shooting. In 87 minutes, Shepherd cleared an Ossett attack. In the 90th minute, a joined up Djalo & Savage attack eventually saw Giraud’s shot blocked in front of  goal & deflected over the bar for a corner. Into 4 added minutes, & a long ball to sub Errington but his shot from relatively close range saw Petrovic get down to save it. 

Despite relatively physical opposition & strong wind, the Stan thoroughly justified their win which sees them remain in 7th & in a play-off place. After 5 matches in 14 days, the Stan players now have a well-deserved rest until next Saturday although they then face a 4th long away trip in 5 matches when they travel to North Ferriby.

Stan Team: Lister; Milburn; Fil; Chrisp (Y); Parkinson (Y); Shepherd; Gascoigne; Walker; Hopper (Djalo 64); Giroud (Errington 91); Savage. Subs not used: Hornsby; Hester; Capewell. Attendance: 459. Man of the Match: Ben Milburn.   

Kevin Mochrie

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Matlock Town vs Heaton Stannington

For the 2nd time in 3 days, the Stan had a very long journey for an away league match. This time it was a Tuesday night 320-mile round trip to Matlock in Derbyshire. The Stan’s 1st trip there last season ended in victory but tonight saw the Stan’s biggest defeat of the season as they went down to three 1st half goals without reply. There were 3 changes from Saturday’s win at Beverley with Hester, Gell & Errington replacing Kanda, Gascoigne & Walker. After making his debut on Saturday from the bench & achieving an assist through his late free kick that led to a 1-0 win for the Stan, Sunderland loanee Bayley Hester got his 1st start tonight. As well as Adam Gell returning from injury, a fit Dan Capewell made his long-awaited return from the bench. After scoring the winner on Saturday after coming on as a sub, Jay Errington made his 50th start.

The Stan were 1st to threaten in the 4th minute when Giraud hit the side netting. Matlock shot wide after 10 minutes. They also shot well over the Stan bar in the 13th & 22 minutes as they put some pressure on the Stan. The Stan were a goal down in the 23rd minute when, from a corner, Walker headed into the Stan net at the back post. In the 32nd minute, a ball from a free kick into the Stan box went wide. In the 35th minute, a Matlock player shot just wide. 2 minutes later & a trip in the Stan box saw Matlock awarded a penalty. Abbey took the 38th minute penalty & sent the ball into the Stan net for 2-0 to Matlock. The Stan came close to scoring in the 40th minute but a last-minute tackle from a Matlock defender forced a corner instead. From the corner, Dewhurst in the home goal caught a Stan headed effort. Matlock were 3-0 up at half time courtesy of a 44th minute goal from Sault. A long ball from keeper Dewhurst was nodded on by Abbey to Sault who held off attempts to stop him by 2 Stan players & shot into the net.

After a poor 1st half, there were 3 changes by the Stan at half time as they introduced fresh legs to try & spark a revival with Hornsby, Capewell & Hopper replacing Hester, Chrisp & Errington. Hopper nearly started a comeback in the 53rd minute when, from a ball to him from a throw in, his shot hit the Matlock post & was then cleared. In 59 minutes, a Matlock acrobatic effort went wide. 5 minutes later & a Matlock player attempted to lob Lister, but he easily caught the effort. In 67 minutes, a Matlock attack saw the ball headed clear which sparked a Stan counterattack which was initially blocked. The ball was sent back in twice but on the 2nd occasion no one could make contact with the high ball across the Matlock goal. In 71 minutes, Matlock shot wide. The Stan were down to 10 men in the 81st minute when Hornsby brought down Giles & was red carded. Lister made a save in the 86th minute. There were 2 added minutes but the Stan were never really in the game.

So, it was a night to forget for the Stan as although they held Matlock at bay in the 2nd half, they were unable to bounce back from the 3 goals conceded in the 1st half. The Stan will attempt to get back to winning ways on Saturday when they host Ossett United. 

Stan Team: Lister; Fil; Hester (Hornsby 46 (R)); Gell; Milburn (Y); Shepherd (Y); Savage; Chrisp (Y) (Capewell 46); Djalo (Enwere 69 (Y)); Giroud; Errington (Hopper 46). All subs used. Attendance: 460. Man of the Match: Dan Savage.   

Kevin Mochrie

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Beverley Town vs Heaton Stannington

For the first time ever, the Stan made the long trip to Beverley which is located just outside Hull. This is Beverley Town’s 1st season at Tier 4 & they started the day in 15th but only 4 points behind & with 3 games in hand over 7th placed Heaton Stannington. Known as the Beavers, Beverley had the better of a relatively actionless 1st half. The Stan had the better of the 2nd half, but it looked like the match was going to end in a stalemate until they burst the Beavers’ dam with a 91st minute winner. It was a great goal though & showed the Stans’ determination despite strong opposition & an ever-increasing injury list. There was one change from Tuesday night’s narrow defeat at Blyth Spartans with Ben Milburn, back from injury, replacing the injured Adam Gell. There was a debut from the bench, and an assist, for new loan signing from Sunderland Bayley Hester.

The match was played in very warm & dry conditions for early October as both the Stan team & the travelling Stan Army basked in the sunshine at a very friendly Norwood Park. The 1st action didn’t come until the 10th minute when a Beverley ball deflected off Milburn & went across the front of the Stan goal before going out for a corner. From it, the ball was cleared twice before Lister caught the ball from a 3rd effort. After 16 minutes, a Beverley ball from the left went across the edge of the Stan 6-yard box but was missed bye everyone. The play was still mainly in the Stan half & in the 19th minute a home attack was blocked twice. After a very quiet start by the Stan, their 1st effort on goal came in the 27th minute when Savage broke & shot diagonally under pressure from the right, but his effort went just wide of the left post. 2 minutes later a Beverley attack was blocked followed by Giraud breaking & supplying Djalo who was blocked. Soon after, Lister easily caught at the other end. Shepherd then sent a long ball to the advancing Giraud, but his shot was caught by Overton in the Beverley goal. Fil then stopped a Beverley attack. In 34 minutes, a Beverley corner was partially cleared before Lister easily caught the ball. A minute later and a Beverley attack was blocked. Soon after the home side shot well over the Stan bar from distance. In 39 minutes, a ball from a Beverely corner was cleared twice before a shot went over the Stan bar. In 41 minutes, the Stan had a rare attacking opportunity when, from a Giraud free kick, the ball went high into the box & was cleared off the Beverley goal line. Soon after, from a throw in, a Beverely shot saw Lister push the ball against the post & out for a corner. From the corner, a Beverley header was caught by Lister. 

With the 1st half being played mainly in the Stan’s half, the 2nd half was the opposite with most of the play being in the Beverley half & with the Stan shooting downhill. In the 47th minute, a Giraud ball into Djalo was blocked for a corner. 2 minutes later & a diagonal Beverley shot went just wide. In 51 minutes, a Beverley attack was cleared & 2 minutes after that they had a shot blocked with the follow up effort going just wide. In 55 minutes, an injury to Kanda saw him replaced by Hornsby. In 57 minutes, a ball from a Beverley corner was missed by everyone. After he had won a corner that had come to nothing, in 61 minutes Savage twisted & turned into the Beverley box, but he could not get his shot in. In 69 minutes, a Beverely free kick into the Stan box saw the ball headed out for a corner from which Beverley eventually headed wide. In 76 minutes, Hornsby had 2 balls into the home box blocked. The Stan then forced a corner from which Overton caught the ball. Beverely then counter attacked & the ball was blocked 3 times by the Stan defence. In 81 minutes, Lister had to get down to stop a long-range Beverley effort. This was followed by some good defending by man of the match Milburn. Beverely then had a diagonal shot stopped by a great save from Lister. Soon after, sub Errington was brought down & the resulting free kick by Gascoigne went just wide. Normal time ended with some more Stan pressure. In the 1st of 4 added minutes, after Djalo had been brought down, sub Hester on his debut sent a free kick into a packed home box & Errington tapped the ball into the net to give the Stan the lead. The Stan then attacked again & Errington shot just over the bar. Soon after, Lister got down to easily save followed by another home attack being cleared. The match ended with Beverley wining a corner which their keeper went up for, but the ball was headed out of play & the final whistle was blown to the delight of the celebrating Stan player & fans. 

After a relatively quiet match, the added time smash & grab goal meant that the Stan left with all 3 points & achieved their 1st away league win of the season at the 5th attempt. They are now 6th in the league & the late goal & win made the long journey home a very pleasurable one. This should be a good confidence builder ahead of an even longer journey on Tuesday night to Matlock Town. 

Stan Team: Lister; Fil; Chrisp (Hopper 75); Kanda (Hornsby 55); Milburn (Y); Shepherd; Gascoigne; Walker; Djalo; Giroud (Errington 75); Savage (Hester 83). All subs used. Attendance: 505. Man of the Match: Ben Milburn.  

Kevin Mochrie

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Blyth Spartans vs Heaton Stannington

The Stan travelled to Croft Park to take on Blyth Spartans for only the 2nd time in league action. After winning at home on Saturday, the Stan started the match positively & took the lead, but they were unable to recover from losing defender Adam Gell early on & went on to narrowly lose. Although the Stan squad had been hit badly by injuries in recent weeks, there were no changes to the team that beat Grimsby Borough on Saturday. By the end of the match though the injury crisis had increased & the list now includes defenders Gell & Shepherd.

Spartans had the 1st effort of the match in the 5th minute, but this was easily stopped by Lister. After some sustained Stan pressure, they took the lead in the 13th minute when Giraud advanced on the left, beat a Blyth defender & shot into the bottom right-hand corner of the net. Six minutes later though, Spartans equalised from a corner when Vaulks scored. In 37 minutes, an injured Gell had to be replaced by Hornsby. The Stan lost their shape after this & did not seem the same or as positive after this moment. Spartans took advantage & equalised through Lanning in the 40th minute. 

A quieter 2nd half did see the Stan come close in the 59th minute when Giraud’s shot went just wide of the near post. In 80 minutes, Spartans counter attacked & a cross to an advancing player in the middle of the Stan box looked like the ball was going to be put into the net but Lister made himself big to stop the effort. There were 5 added minutes, but Spartans hung on for a narrow win.

So, there was no repeat of last season’s high scoring 4-3 win over Spartans & the Stan now need to bounce back on Saturday when they make their first ever visit to Beverley Town in East Yorkshire. On a positive note though, the Stan remain 7th in the league.

Stan Team: Lister; Fil; Chrisp (Boothroyd 89); Gell (Hornsby 37); Kanda; Shepherd (Y) (Hopper 70); Gascoigne; Walker (Y); Djalo (Y) (Errington 73); Giroud; Savage. Sub unused: Morris. Attendance: 613. Man of the Match: Connor Walker.  

Kevin Mochrie

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Heaton Stannington vs Grimsby Borough

On a warm Saturday afternoon at home, The Stan picked up three points in their seventh fixture of the month. A disappointing midweek loss was soon forgotten when the whistle was blown, and minutes later The Stan were in the lead. 

The first phase of play saw Grimsby take the ball down the right, which resulted in a shot that went over the bar. The momentum quickly changed when Savage advanced up the right-hand side before passing it back to Fil, whose cross was blocked by the first defender. 

In the sixth minute, Giraud advanced up the left and crossed to Savage, who was unmarked and steered the ball towards Djalo, who found the back of the net. This was shortly followed by a corner from Gascoigne, which was played back to him from the middle of the box, and his cross caught the attackers offside. 

A cross from Djalo then went across the front of the goal; however, there was no one in the middle to capitalise on the chance. The missed opportunity was quickly forgotten when Walker passed to Djalo, who got round the defender and found himself one-on-one with the keeper. He made no mistake, and The Stan were now two-nil up after fifteen minutes. 

After The Stan solidified their lead, Grimsby went on an attack and won a free kick following a foul by Gell. The chance came to nothing, with the Stan winning a free kick thirty-five yards out moments later. Chrisp’s cross was caught by the keeper. 

In the following passage of play, Djalo won a corner. Walker struck the ball on the volley, and it was just wide. In the thirty-sixth minute, Chrisp whipped it in from the left and it was headed by Gascoigne; it hit the top of the crossbar and went out for a goal kick. Shortly after, Giraud took it down the left and squared the ball, but it was blocked by a defender. He was then pulled back by Bradley, who was the first in the book. 

Heading towards half-time, Gascoigne took a short corner to Giraud, who immediately returned the ball, and Gascoigne’s shot was just wide. In stoppage time, Gascoigne took another short corner, this time to Savage; there was a foul in the box and the keeper won a free kick. 

The Stan got off to a quick start in the second half, advancing through the centre and winning a free kick, which was immediately followed by another free kick – Grimsby’s Fleet received a yellow card, with this foul proving one too many. 

In the following passage of play, Savage was too late to connect with a volley and the keeper caught the ball. However, he won a corner moments later. In the seventy-second minute, Savage went off to be replaced by Hopper. Hopper then forced a defensive error and got himself past the defender, who then fouled him while he was through on goal. Drummond received a yellow card.

As the game approached the eightieth minute, The Stan found themselves on the break; Djalo’s through ball was intercepted by the defender. Boothroyd and Hornsby then came on to replace Djalo and Chrisp. Boothroyd made an immediate impact, taking down the left-hand side before passing it to Giraud, who shot it over the bar. 

A further short corner by Gascoigne went to Gell, who shot it straight along the ground towards the keeper. Minutes later, Giraud was replaced by Morris. 

The referee’s whistle was greeted by cheers from The Stan fans who put the losses to Dunston, Trafford and West Auckland behind them, and are now looking forward to the short away trip to Blyth Spartans on Tuesday night. 

Heaton Stan Team: Lister, Fil, Chrisp (Hornsby 82’), Gell, Kanda, Shepherd, Gascoigne, Walker, Djalo ⚽︎ (6’) ⚽︎ (15’) (Boothroyd 82’), Giraud (Morris 88’), Savage (Hopper 71’) Subs not used: Errington 

Grimsby Borough Team: Richardson, Bradley 🟨 (39’), Drummond 🟨 (72’) (Williams 85’), Wood (Yellow 54’), Walker, Graham, Ayris, Flett 🟨 (53’) (Clarke 68’), Clements (Wright 59’), Cribb, Ceesay 

Subs not used: Sawyer, Rogers 

Man of the Match: Sado Djalo 

Attendance: 464 

William Kirvan

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West Auckland Town vs Heaton Stannington

The Stan travelled to newly promoted West Auckland Town hoping, after 2 defeats in a row, to come away from County Durham with 3 points. Although West Auckland started the night in the relegation zone & the Stan were in a play off place, it was the home team who came out on top & the Stan Army left very disappointed & pointless. There were 4 changes from Saturday’s FA Cup home defeat to Trafford, with Chrisp, Gell, Djalo & Errington replacing Hornsby, Milburn, Walker & Hopper. There was a debut from the bench for loan signing Daniel Kemp who received the man of the match award for his wizardry on the wing in the 2nd half. 

After a quiet start, an Errington cross into the box was cleared in the 8th minute. Errington then supplied Savage who broke down the right & his diagonal shot went just left of the Auckland goal. In the 10th minute, Giraud broke & advanced under pressure, shooting from the edge of the home box but their keeper Bessent got down to save. Soon after, Chrisp cleared at the other end to Errington who sent a long ball to Djalo but he shot over the Auckland bar. After 12 minutes, Chrisp had a free kick cleared & 2 minutes later Bessent caught from another free kick. In the 15th minute, a 3-player Stan move ended with Errington one on one with Bessent & although he should have scored, he shot wide. In 17 minutes, a Savage shot was forced wide & although the ball went back in towards the home goal, Djalo’s follow up shot was blocked by Bessent. Another Stan effort was blocked a minute later. This 11-minute period of Stan action where they failed to convert a number of opportunities to score would come back to haunt them. After 20 minutes, the home side shot well wide. Both teams were now cancelling each other out but in 28 minutes West Auckland had their 1st proper chance to score & took it unlike the Stan earlier on. A ball was sent into the Stan box from the left & although Lister stretched forward to try & get it, he couldn’t get a hand to it allowing the advancing Jones to tap it into the net. In 32 minutes, the Stan were back level when a Fil cross from the right to Djalo saw his header hit the bar, but the ball then went off Bessent & into the net. There was an even period of play as both teams tried to attack but cancelled each other out. Just before the start of 2 added minutes, Giraud broke & supplied Djalo but Bessent caught the ball.

West Auckland started the 2nd half dangerously when an effort hit the post & went wide when it looked like the ball was going into the net. Both sides were trying to attack but it was the home side who went back in front in the 52nd minute when a speculative 35-yard shot by Jones went into the top left-hand corner of the Stan net. In 58 minutes, a home player broke forward & shot from the edge of the Stan box but his effort went wide when he should have scored. The Stan were looking disjointed so far in the 2nd half & in 60 minutes a home player broke but Fil blocked for a corner. From it, the ball was cleared twice in the Stan 6-yard box. In 63 minutes, Lister got up to catch from a home corner. In 64 minutes, West Auckland’s O’Gorman won the ball just outside the Stan box & blasted the ball into the net for 3-1 to the home side. The Stan did then try to attack & in 69 minutes a cross into Gascoigne saw his shot blocked & his follow up effort was caught by Bessent. Soon after, a home player broke & was tackled by Kanda. Another home player then got the ball but his shot was blocked for a corner. The Stan looked more dangerous after Hopper & Kemp joined the action in the 67th minute. For the next 20 minutes, most of the shots came from the Stan but they came to nothing. In 85 minutes, a West Auckland player shot just over from outside the box. A minute later a curving shot by Kemp was only stopped by a full stretch save by Bessent. The Stan kept pressing but even after 4 added minutes it was going to be too little too late.

After a good start when they should have been 2 or 3 up & equalising very quickly after going behind, the Stan never recovered from West Auckland’s two early 2nd half goals. On Saturday they are at home versus Grimsby Borough.

Stan Team: Lister; Fil; Chrisp (Hornsby 58); Gell (Boothroyd 79); Kanda; Shepherd; Savage; Gascoigne; Djalo; Giroud (Y) (Kemp 67); Errington (Hopper 67). Sub unused: Morris. Attendance: 280. Man of the Match: Daniel Kemp.  

Kevin Mochrie

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