The Stan bounced back from mid-week defeat to beat Garforth Town who were one place above them in the league. It was a hard fought but deserved win with Garforth competing throughout the match on a sunny afternoon in front of 301 fans. There were 2 changes from Tuesday’s home defeat to Redcar Athletic with Brass & Hornsby replacing Gordon & Deverdics. For the 3rd match in a row, there was an ex-player returning to action for the Stan. This time it was man of the match Lewis Brass in goal.

After a slow start, in the 6th minute Burn played in Lamb, but he was offside. Garforth then had a free kick into the Stan box which ended with the ball going well high & wide. In 10 minutes, a Stan attack came to nothing. The Stan attacked again eventually resulting in a corner which came to nothing. In 14 minutes, a high ball into a busy Stan box saw a Garforth shot going just wide. Another Garforth attack was cleared followed by Lamb counter attacking but a defender headed back to Flatters in the Garforth goal. The Stan pressurised again but it came to nothing. Garforth counter attacked forcing a great save from Brass. It was end to end now but both teams were cancelling each other out. In 23 minutes, a Garforth corner resulted in Brass catching but not holding the ball but Shepherd managed to clear. In 26 minutes, a Pearson throw in into the Garforth box was headed on by Capewell, but the ball was cleared. Garforth counter attacked but were stopped by a great save from Brass. 2 minutes later, a great long range shot by Burn went just over. In 29 minutes, Lamb sent a long ball to the advancing Pearson who, under pressure, slotted the ball past Flatters to make it 1-0 for the Stan. Garforth didn’t give up & in 31 minutes Brass got down to save in a busy box. In 33 minutes, Hornsby sent a high ball into the Garforth box, but Flatters got up to save. The Stan then had a throw in into the Garforth box which was headed clear. Chrisp’s rebound shot was partly cleared before the ball was sent back in & cleared again. In 38 minutes, Burn sent a free kick into the Garforth box & a Stan shot went just wide. Garforth then counter attacked with a player rounding Brass, but the ball was cleared off the line by Evans. Garforth then had a corner which resulted in Shepherd heading clear followed by the ball being blocked twice. In 42 minutes, a Garforth attack was cleared. The Stan then had a high free kick into the Garforth box which Flattesr got at the 2nd attempt. Garforth then had a free kick into the Stan box which was cleared. The 1st half ended with the Stan holding onto their 1-0 lead against a dangerous Garforth team.

Both teams started the 2nd half attacking. In 49 minutes, Lamb won the ball & advanced into the Garforth box under pressure, but Flatters got down to grab the ball. Both teams were trying to attack & in 54 minutes a Walker shot was easily caught by Flatters. This was followed by a Burn free kick which ended with a Johnson shot being caught by Flatters. 2 minutes later, a Burn free kick into the Garforth box went straight to Flatters. Soon after, Johnson sliced a shot across the Garforth goal, but an unmarked Lamb could not make contact at the far post to put away a good opportunity. Soon after, the ball went back into the Garforth box, but Flatters got to the ball 1st. In 61 minutes, a Garforth shot went wide in a busy Stan box. In 67 minutes, there were 2 good opportunities for the Stan when a Lamb shot was blocked by Flatters & he then stopped the Pearson rebound effort. In 70 minutes, Johnson forced a corner from which Flatters caught the ball. A minute later & Evans cleared a ball from a Garforth corner. Lamb then cleared again followed by a Garforth free kick that hit the wall & the attack ended with Garforth shooting just over the Stan bar. In 77 minutes, a Garforth corner was cleared in the Stan 6-yard box. Johnson counter attacked with the ball eventually being put over the Garforth bar. In 79 minutes, Pearson passed to Johnson whose shot was deflected off a defender, but Flatters got down to save. In 82 minutes, Brass easily got down to collect twice. 3 minutes later & sub Errington shot in the Garforth box but Flatters blocked with his body. In 86 minutes, a Burn corner was cleared out to Pearson whose shot was blocked by Flatters. In 91 minutes, Evans cleared. A minute later & Brass made a great save as Garforth advanced on mass. The Stan had to clear again before trying to attack themselves, but the match finished still only 1-0.

The Stan deservedly won with a good professional display but had to hold on against good opposition. As a result, the Stan have moved up from 8th to 7th with Garforth dropping to 9th. Credit must be given to both keepers made number great saves to keep the score down. Next Saturday the Stan travel to Yorkshire to take on 3rd placed Emley. 

Stan Team: Brass; Evans; Hornsby (Deverdics 82); Chrisp; Capewell; Shepherd; Walker; Burn; Pearson (Y); Johnson; Lamb (Errington 74 (Y)). Subs not used: Storey; Gordon; Hopper. Attendance 301. Man of the Match: Lewis Brass.                  

Kevin Mochrie

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It was always going to be a challenge for the Stan as league leaders Redcar Athletic visited Willow Park on the back of 9 consecutive wins and being unbeaten in 18 matches. An injury hit Stan battled but unsuccessfully as Redcar won 4-0. Although they deserved to win, the score flattered the visitors especially as 2 goals were avoidable & the 4th was scored late on against the run of play as the Stan attempted a comeback in the 2nd half. There were 3 changes from Saturday’s away defeat to Silsden with Deverdics, Walker & Lamb replacing Milburn, Robson & Errington. Danny Sayer made his return for the club from the bench. 

Redcar started on the attack although it was the Stan who threatened 1st in the 3rd minute when a long ball to Lamb in the Redcar box saw him brought down but nothing was given. 2 minutes later & a Johnson attack saw his shot forced wide. Redcar avoidably score in the 8th minute when a back pass was sliced by Gordon & the ball went towards the advancing Boyes but although his 1st touch was blocked by a defender, he put the ball in the net at the 2nd attempt. Soon after, the Stan had a chance to equalise when a joined-up attack ended with a blasted shot by Shepherd which was stopped by Mazfari in the Redcar goal. In the 11th minute, although it should still have been goalless, Redcar were 2-0 up when a counterattack saw Gordon come out for the ball, but it was not properly cleared & Boyes forced it into the net. In 14 minutes, there was a scramble in the Stan box, but the flag was eventually up. In 17 minutes, Lamb attacked followed by a Redcar attack that were both cleared. Both teams were trying to attack on a regular basis but none of the attacks at either end were coming to anything. Things changed in the 41st minute when a joined-up attack by Redcar saw the ball go to Guru & he brought it down in the middle of the busy box & comfortably slotted it past Gordon for 0-3. Soon after the Stan had half time to cover at half time from the shock of being undeservedly 3-0 down.

After a quiet start to the 2nd half, a Redcar player advanced in the 51st minute &, with only Gordon to beat, shot just wide when it looked like he was going to score. The Stan were still trying to attack & in 59 minutes a Pearson ball into the Redcar box was headed clear to Lamb who was blocked followed by Burn shooting wide. The Stan were having more of the ball than Redcar now & in 64 minutes, after the advancing Lamb was brought down, Burn’s free kick was cleared. The ball went back in but was cleared twice. In 68 minutes, Johnson advanced into the box & controlled the ball but his shot in the busy box hit the side netting although the flag then went up. Soon after, a Pearson ball went across the Redcar box but there was no one there to make contact. In 74 minutes, a Crisp free kick into the Redcar box saw a Stan shot but Mazfari got down to block but the flag then went up. Redcar had a rare corner in 76 minutes that was cleared. 2 minutes later & a Pearson shot was blocked by Mazfari. In 80 minutes, Redcar had a rare advance & hit the side netting. There was more Stan pressure in 84 minutes but 2 minutes later Gordon had to come out to clear before an advancing Redcar player could get to the ball. Against the 2nd half run of play, Redcar scored a 4th goal & Boyes got his hattrick in 88 minutes when he got the ball on the right & under pressure shot & scored off the left post. The Stan resumed attacking but the match ended 0-4.

Unlike in the gameshow of the same name as the size of the crowd, 321, the Stan did not leave with a prize or even a Dusty bin. As Redcar look certain to be promoted, most of their remaining opponents will likely have a similar fate thanks to their clinical approach & well-paid players. The Stan can get back to winning ways on Saturday when they host Garforth Town.

Stan Team: Gordon; Evans; Chrisp; Deverdics (Hornsby 73); Capewell; Shepherd; Walker; Burn; Johnson (Sayer 86); Pearson (Y); Lamb (Storey 73). Sub not used: Flynn. Attendance 321. Man of the Match: Connor Walker.                  

Kevin Mochrie

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Photo Gallery

It was Pontefract who got the icing on their cake with a narrow 1-0 win. It was a disappointing performance from the Stan although it was only a defensive error that allowed the visitors to win. Despite Pontefract having more of the pressure overall, the Stan did have a few limited opportunities of their own to get something out of the match, especially as the 2nd half went on, but ultimately failed to do so. There was 1 change from Wednesday’s win over Ashington with Beattie replacing Chrisp. Recent signing Nicholas Deverdics made his debut for the Stan from the bench.

On a damp, overcast but dry afternoon the 1st action came in the 5th minute when Gordon went out to clear. A Pontefract throw in into the Stan box was then cleared before the ball was sent back into the Stan box & cleared again. In the 7th minute, a Pontefract player made a break forward, but Walker made a great tackle to stop the advance. The Stan’s 1st real threat came in the 8th minute when a throw in into the visitors’ box was cleared. After a quieter period, the Stan had attacks cleared after 14 & 17 minutes. There were then 2 Pontefract attacks with Hopper putting the ball from the 2nd out for a corner. In 22 minutes, Beattie had to be replaced by Walker because of an earlier tackle on him. A minute later & Pontefract sent the ball into the Stan box & Gordon got down to block but the scramble lasted for a few seconds more as the ball continued to bounce about the 6-yard box until it was cleared to safety. In 25 minutes, the Stan forced a corner which came to nothing. 3 minutes later & a Pontefract player broke forward but Milburn guided the ball out. Another visiting player then broke & shot from just outside the 6-yard box, but Capewell blocked followed by Gordon getting down to put the ball out for a corner. From it, Gordon put a rebound shot from the edge of the box over the bar for another corner which saw the ball go out. It was a not a good game so far & although Pontefract didn’t have many opportunities, the Stan had less. In 36 minutes, a Pontefract free kick into the Stan box bounced awkwardly but then went straight into the arms of Gordon. 3 minutes later & the Stan advanced & an Errington cross into Pearson saw him head the ball towards goal but Christy in the Pontefract goal got up to catch it. In 45 minutes, a Burn free kick from halfway saw Capewell go to get on the end of it in the Pontefract box but he was flattened & nothing was given. Into 4 minutes of added time, & a Pontefract corner was missed by everyone except a visiting player 12 yards out from the far post but although he had a clear shot, Gordon managed to save. Soon after, a long-range Pontefract free kick went straight towards Gordon’s arms. The half ended with a Pontefract attack & still goalless.

The 2nd half began with Pontefract coming close from a corner as the ball was scrambled away from just in front of the goal line when it had looked like it was going into the net. In 52 minutes, a Pontefract attack was cleared twice followed by a bad tackle on Burn which resulted in a booking for Pontefract’s Middleton. Burn took the resulting free kick from halfway, but it went straight to keeper Christy. Pontefract then attacked but Milburn cleared. The resulting throw in was cleared allowing Pearson to counter under pressure but Christy got to the ball 1st. In 59 minutes, a Pontefract player ran forward & crossed into the 6-yard box, but the intended player missed the ball. In the 60th minute a Stan attack ending with Pearson getting into the box, but the ball was cleared followed by 2 Pontefract attacks being cleared. In 64 minutes, there was more Pontefract pressure when an unmarked advancing player shot from the side of the box, but Gordon got down to save just before Evans & another advancing Pontefract player skid into the 6-yard box. The visitors did get a goal in 67 minutes when a failed pass back to Gordon saw Lumsden break on the left & his diagonal shot went into the right-hand corner of the Stan net. 2 minutes later & the Stan had a ball from a corner punched clear. There was a quieter period until Gordon had to catch after 80 minutes followed by a Pontefract free kick being cleared in the Stan box.  The final minutes of the half, as a result of 4 late subs, saw mainly pressure from the Stan but few shots. In 83 minutes, Hopper sent a ball into the Pontefract box, but sub Deverdics shot well over from the edge of it. 3 minutes later & advancing sub Lamb slipped in the box, In the 1st of 5 added minutes, Hopper sent a long ball to Lamb who was blocked although he sent the ball out to Deverdics on the edge of the box who shot well over the bar. The Stan attacked again twice with the 2nd resulting in Pearson shooting wide. The final minute saw the Stan get a free kick on halfway which Gordon went up for. The ball was cleared from the corner & although Pontefract countered while Gordon was still up, man of the match Burn managed to get back to clear the ball. 

Pontefract’s narrow win sees them swapping places with the Stan & they move up to 6th in the league. Despite a number of late opportunities, the Stan could not get a goal to retrieve at least a point. The Stan are at home again on Saturday when Blyth Spartans visit High Heaton in league duty for the 1st time ever. 

Stan Team: Gordon; Milburn (Y) (Johnson 67 (Y)); Beattie (Walker 22); Evans (Y) (Storey 83); Capewell; Shepherd; Payne (Deverdics 77); Burn; Pearson (Y); Hopper; Errington (Lamb 76). All subs used. Attendance 375. Man of the Match: Andy Burn.                       

Kevin Mochrie

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Photo Gallery #2

The Stan’s 1st home game for 25 days saw them back to winning ways against local rivals Ashington after a rare defeat on Saturday at Dunston. The Stan have lost only once in the last 10 league games & they increased their undefeated home run to 5 matches. Despite dominating the match & having multiple chances to score, the Stan only won by a single goal & had to withstand a late scare from Ashington to hold on to win. There were 3 changes from Saturday’s defeat at Dunston with Chrisp, Shepherd & Errington replacing Walker, Robson & Lamb. The Ashington team included 3 ex Stan players Jay Hornsby, Marc Ellison & Liam Wotherspoon.

The match was preceded by a minute’s applause to remember late Stan fan Davy ‘no trousers’ Faichen. The match started lively with the Stan getting 3 corners in the 1st 3 minutes. The ball from the 3rd corner went out to Payne & his rebound shot hit the roof of the Ashington net. After the good start for the Stan, Gordon had to get down to make a good save after 5 minutes. In 9 minutes, a Stan then an Ashington attack were cleared. Errington then counter attacked but his shot was caught by Ashington keeper Alexander. 5 minutes later, Errington had 2 shots blocks as the Stan started to put pressure on the visitors again although they were also looking for opportunities to break. In 24 minutes, an Ashington shot was blocked by Gordon & the rebound shot went just over the bar. Ashington then attacked again & finished the move by shooting just wide. In 27 minutes, Burns shot just wide. In 30 minutes, a ball from a Stan corner went across the Ashington goal but missed everyone. The Stan took the lead in the 36th minute, when a long range shot by Evans hit the post & the rebound shot was put in the Ashington net by Errington. In 39 minutes, a ball chipped into the Ashington box saw Alexander get down to get to the ball just before Pearson. In 41 minutes, a Stan free kick was blocked & was followed by a Payne shot that was deflected for a corner. From it, the ball was initially cleared then was blocked twice in a busy penalty box before it was put out for another corner. From it, Milburn’s header was caught by Alexander. A move starting with a Burn free kick, ended with Pearson shooting wide. The half ended with Errington crossing to Pearson, but he sliced his shot high over the bar. 

The 2nd half started like the 1st half finished with one way traffic from the Stan. Almost immediately, a Burns shot was deflected for a corner. From it, the ball was punched away by Alexander. In 49 minutes, Ellison was sent off for a bad late tackle on Chrisp who had to be substituted by Beattie as a result. The Stan kept the pressure on but Gordon had to make a rare save from a deflected shot in 54 minutes. In 60 minutes, a great move saw Payne send a diagonal ball up to Errington who crossed to Pearson in front of goal, but his shot went wide. In 63 minutes, Payne supplied Pearson who although clear on goal again sliced his shot to waist the 2nd of 2 great chances. 2 minutes later & Hopper sliced the ball over the Ashington bar. In 66 minutes, a Burn free kick was headed wide by Capewell. Payne then advanced with the ball into the Ashington box, but Alexander got to the ball 1st. The Stan came close again in 69 minutes, when a joined-up attack ended with Burn hitting the visitors’ bar. In 75 minutes, Pearson had a shot blocked for a corner. From it, Alexander punched the ball clear & Milburn’s rebound shot went over the bar. In 78 minutes, Errington had a shot blocked under pressure as the Stan could still not get a 2nd goal. Alexander came out to clear, & in 81 minutes sub Johnson made a run & crossed to Errington but his shot was blocked. He then sliced another effort over the Ashington bar. In 83 minutes, Johnson forced a corner & from it Alexander dropped the ball & it went out for another corner. In 85 minutes, Ashington had a rare attack that was blocked. Pearson countered & was 1 on 1 with Alexander but he got down to block the shot when Pearson should have scored. Both teams were still trying to attack, & in 88 minutes Johnson broke but his shot was weak under pressure & collected by Alexander. There were 8 minutes of added time & it gave Ashington the opportunity to try & get back into the match & steal an equaliser. In 91 minutes, an Ashington free kick into the box was cleared twice. Beattie then broke & passed a defender but he sliced his shot wide. It was a tense ending to a match that should have been comfortably won by the Stan, but they were managing to have much of the possession. In the 98th minute, an Ashington ball into the Stan box was blocked by Shepherd for a corner. Keeper Alexander went up for the corner from which the ball was cleared off the line in a busy 6-yard box & then was sent up the pitch although Evans had been bundled into the net unlike the ball. One Ashington player claimed a goal but just like England’s 3rd goal in the world cup final, the ball did not cross the line but unlike it, the officials tonight got the decision correct & soon after the referee blew his whistle for the end of the match.

It was an important win for the Stan but a frustrating one as they made hard work of it when they could have easily won comfortably by at least 4 or 5 nil. Importantly the Stan are back up to 6th in the league and in the 2nd of 5 home games in 15 days they host Pontefract Colliery on Saturday. 

Stan Team: Gordon; Milburn; Chrisp (Beattie 52); Evans; Capewell; Shepherd; Payne; Burn; Pearson; Hopper (Johnson 80); Errington. No cards. Subs not used: Lamb; Storey; Deverdics. Attendance 369. Man of the Match: Andy Burn.                       

Kevin Mochrie