Competition: Northern Premier League East

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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Heaton Stannington vs Liversedge

After their fantastic 10-man 2nd half performance at Morpeth on Tuesday night, a makeshift injury hit Stan team hosted Liversidge. The visitors had been top of the league until the night before when Bradford Park Avenue took over the top spot. It was the Stan though who looked like the higher placed team as for most of the match they out played them & thoroughly deserved the win. There were 4 changes from Tuesday’s draw at Morpeth with Chrisp, Gell, Milburn & Errington replacing Evans, Hornsby, Shepherd & Pearson. There was a debut for Adam Gell who has signed on loan from Whitby Town. 

Liversidge started more dangerously & their 2nd attack in the 5th minute was only stopped by a great block by Lister. 2 minutes & a Stan free kick into the Liversidge box was cleared followed by Giraud sending the ball curving across the visitors’ goal but Hopper headed it just wide. In the 10th minute, Giraud broke into the Liversidge box but scuffed his shot & their keeper Porter easily caught the ball. Both teams were trying to attack but it was Giraud who again looked dangerous in the 15th minute, when he twisted & turned into the Liversidge box & passed to the advancing Fil on the right who shot into the net for 1-0. It was a great goal & Alex Fil’s 1st for the Stan. Soon after, a Giraud ball into Hopper in the Liversidge box saw him head just wide.. In 23 minutes, Giraud broke again but his shot from the edge of the box went just wide. Walker then advanced into the Liversidge box & passed to Gascoigne who was blocked. The ball went back to Giraud who advanced into the Liversidge box & was pulled back, just like Shepherd’s sending off on Tuesday, but nothing was given. In 26 minutes, a Milburn overhead kick went just wide. Errington broke in the 31st minute but the ball was put out for a corner. In 33 minutes, Giraud then advanced again & passed to Gascoigne whose shot from outside the box went just wide. After being relatively quiet for the last half hour, Liversidge had a sustained attack which saw the Stan having to block, clear, block twice, head clear twice before Lister collected the ball. In 41 minutes though the Stan extended their lead when a longball to Hopper from Lister saw him & not the defender get to the ball after it had bounced & this allowed him to move forward & confidently slot the ball past the keeper & into the Liversidge net for 2-0. In 45 minutes, an Errington long range effort was caught by Porter at the 2nd attempt. In the 3rd & last minute of added time, Errington had 2 shots blocked.

There was a quieter start to the 2nd half until the 53rd minute when a Giraud ball into the Liversidge box was put over the bar by Porter. In 56 minutes, Liversidge headed wide & 2 minutes later a Giraud shot forced a great save from Porter. In 63 minutes, Lister got down to save. In 72 minutes, Gascoigne broke & passed to Giraud on the bye line who laid on Hopper who was blocked in the 6-yard box & his effort went up & over the bar. In 78 minutes, a shot by Gascoigne was caught by Porter. In 80 minutes, Liversidge reduced the gap when Lister got down to save a shot but they put away the rebound effort. In 82 minutes, Gascoigne sent the ball across the front of the Liversedge goal, but Hopper’s glancing header went wide. In 83 minutes, sub Storey forced a corner from which the ball was cleared in the 6-yard box. 2 minutes later & Gell cleared at the other end for a corner. From it, the Stan countered but it came to nothing. Liversidge were now putting pressure on the Stan as they sought an equaliser. In 88 minutes though, Storey shot just wide. Into 4 minutes of added time, & Porter saved a shot from Chrisp. The match ended with a Stan attack but sub Boothroyd couldn’t get his shot in. 

Despite Liversidge getting a goal back with 10 minutes to goal, the Stan outplayed them for most of the match & after scoring first they always looked like they were going to win. So, the Stan deservedly took all 3 points & now sit 4th in the league. They are at home again in the league on Tuesday when they host local rivals & fellow play-off contenders Dunston.

Stan Team: Lister; Fil; Chrisp (Hornsby 71); Gell; Milburn (Y); Kanda; Walker; Gascoigne; Hopper; Giroud (Boothroyd 88); Errington (Storey 62). Sub unused: Morris. Attendance: 364. Man of the Match: Alex Fil.

Kevin Mochrie

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Morpeth Town vs Heaton Stannington

The Stan visited newly relegated Morpeth Town, known as the Highwaymen, for the 1st time in league action since April 1994. It would have been daylight robbery if they had come away without at least the point especially after their 2nd half performance. Undeservedly down to 10 men after 36 minutes, the Stan not just held on but had more possession & were the better & more attacking team for much of the 2nd half. There were 2 changes from Saturday’s FA Cup win over Knaresborough with Evans & Hopper replacing Milburn & Djalo.

On a blustery autumnal evening, both teams were trying to attack but nothing much happened until the 6th minute when Kanda headed clear a Morpeth cross into the Stan box. In 9 minutes, the advancing Hopper shot over the Morpeth bar. Soon after, Lister had to get down at the other end to easily collect. Pearson then sent a cross into the Morpeth 6-yard box which was blocked & Evans’ follow up shot went wide. In 12 minutes, Morpeth forced a corner from which Hornsby cleared but the Stan break came to nothing. Morpeth then came very close when Chungh twisted & turned in the Stan box before his shot was put just wide by Lister. After some Morpeth pressure, a Hornsby ball into the Morpeth box was caught by their keeper Langley. Soon after, a Morpeth diagonal shot went just wide of the Stan goal. In the 20th minute, a ball from a Gascoigne free kick was headed out for a corner. From it, the ball was headed out. Giraud then made a run down the left & into the home box & his blasted shot was stopped by Langley. Morpeth countered & the move eventually ended with Shepherd putting the ball out for a corner. There was a quieter few minutes until Lister had to easily collect in 29 minutes. Soon after, he had to get up to catch. It was then the Stan who attacked through Giraud but his cross into the home box was missed by everyone. Gascoigne then advanced & passed to Pearson who crossed to Hopper in the box, but his shot was blocked by Langley. It was the closest the Stan had come to scoring. In 32 minutes, Giraud shot over the home bar. 3 minutes later an advancing Morpeth player only had Lister to beat but the Stan keeper made a great save. In 36 minutes, a Morpeth player broke again &, just outside the Stan box, Shepherd tugged his shirt once, but the referee overreacted & sent him off. The ball from the resulting free kick hit the bar & went over it. The Stan were still trying to attack but in 41 minutes a Morpeth cross into the Stan box saw the ball headed down & went just wide. Hopper then advanced & was brought down just outside the home box but nothing was given. In 43 minutes, a ball from a Gascoigne free kick, was headed out by Hopper. In 45 minutes, a great save by Lister saw him put a Morpeth shot over the bar. He then punched the ball clear from the resulting corner. The ball came back in but it was missed by the Morpeth player who had advanced into the 6-yard box to make contact with it. A Stan attack was then cleared & the Stan had survived the late onslaught.

The 2nd half started with Lister getting down to save & soon after he punched the ball out for a corner. There was some more Morpeth pressure but in 52 minutes a joined-up Stan attack eventually ended with Pearson passing to the advancing Giraud who was blocked for a corner. Lister caught the ball in 57 minutes & soon after the advancing Hopper was brought down which earned a yellow card for the player responsible. The ball from the resulting Gascoigne free kick went wide. In 60 minutes, a Morpeth long range shot went well wide. In 63 minutes, a joined-up Stan attack ended with a back pass being intercepted but Fil stopped the resulting counter attack. In 67 minutes, a Giraud shot was put out for a corner. From it, Hopper was blocked & pulled down, although nothing was given. Pearson’s follow up shot hit the Morpeth bar & was then put out for a corner. The Stan then won 2 corners & from the 2nd a Giraud ball was caught by Langley. Soon after Langley came out of his box & Pearson took the opportunity to try a speculative shot from halfway but it went wide. In 71 minutes, a ball from a Morpeth corner was headed wide. 2 minutes later, a Morpeth cross into the Stan box was also headed wide. Soon after Gascoigne shot well over. In 75 minutes, Pearson won the ball on halfway but was then brought down & nothing was given. In 77 minutes, a Morpeth attack ended with the ball blasted over the Stan bar. Soon after Lister had to get up to catch a long-range effort. Pearson was then pulled back but nothing was given. Lister then had to get down to smother the ball. The Stan were now having to soak up more pressure. Hornsby had to block for a corner from which the ball was cleared. Sub Chrisp immediately refreshened the Stan attack. In 84 minutes, s ball from a Stan corner was blocked then cleared. In 88 minutes, man of the match Lister got up to confidently catch. Into 4 added minutes, a ball across the Stan goal was cleared. In 92 minutes, a Morpeth attack was headed clear. Morpeth attacked again but the ball eventually went wide. Morpeth attacked again twice but the Stan stopped them on both occasions. The match ended after Gascoigne had steered the ball out for a bye kick. 

Just as had happened in the Northumberland Senior Cup last year, Morpeth could not beat the Stan who held on for a well-deserved point. The Stan are at home next on Saturday when they host league leaders Liversidge.

Stan Team: Lister; Evans; Hornsby; Kanda; Fil; Shepherd (R); Walker; Gascoigne; Pearson (Errington 85); Giraud (Djalo 85); Hopper (Chrisp 81). Subs unused: Storey; Enwere. Attendance: 312. Man of the Match: Dan Lister.

Kevin Mochrie

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Heaton Stannington vs Ashington

It was back to league action for the Stan as they hosted local rivals Ashington in a 12pm bank holiday kick off. The common theme from the last 3 cup games of not scoring from enough goal opportunities created & not finishing teams off nearly came back to haunt the Stan but a late 94th minute goal from Djalo gave the Stan all 3 points after Ashington had equalised. There were 3 changes from Saturday’s defeat to Wythenshawe with Shepherd, Walker & Errington replacing Hornsby, Storey & Djalo.

In front of a crowd of 512, the Stan were 1st to threaten in the 3rd minute when a Walker break & shot was caught by Alexander in the Ashington goal. Both teams were trying to attack but there was little threat at either end until a Stan free kick in the 16th minute was deflected just wide for a corner. From it, Kanda eventually shot wide. In 19 minutes, an Errington shot was easily collected. 3 minutes later from a Stan free kick into the Ashington box, Shepherd headed just wide. The ball came back in but Milburn’s shot from close range was blocked. In 24 minutes, Giraud was brought down in the visitors’ box, but nothing was given. Soon after, a ball across goal to Errington was cleared on the goal line & Walker tried to force it into the net but the ball was cleared. It was mainly pressure from the Stan now but with no end product. After 33 minutes there was some pressure from Ashington with Lister easily catching twice & a Giraud tackle stopped another Ashington attack. In 36 minutes, a Gascoigne shot was blocked followed by Errington shooting well over from distance. Both teams had another effort each before, in 41 minutes, a Gascoigne free kick went over the Ashington bar. In 44 minutes, Walker flicked on to the advancing Giraud who shot just wide. It was the closest either team had come so far. The half ended with both Gascoigne & Pearson being brought down but nothing was given on either occasion.

After a relatively poor 1st half, the action started almost immediately after the restart as the Stan took the lead in the 47th minute. From a Gascoigne corner, the ball went to Pearson who sent it back to Giraud on the edge of the box & he blasted it into the net. Alexander had dived the right way but couldn’t get to the ball as it went into the right-hand corner of the net. The Stan kept the pressure on & after a corner was cleared, a Giraud shot in the 50th minute was blocked followed by Pearson’s follow up shot being blasted high & wide. Soon after, Gascoigne did the same. The Stan pressure continued & in 55 minutes, from a Gascoigne free kick, Milburn headed the ball towards the net, but Alexander made a great stretching save to put it out for a corner from which the ball was headed wide. In 62 minutes, Giraud shot high & wide. Torrential rain started & in 65 minutes a Gascoigne shot was saved by Alexander. The Stan pressure continued & in 69 minutes a Giraud cross into the Ashington box was punched clear by Alexander just as sub Djalo was about to head the ball into the net. After a quieter 10 minutes, in 81 minutes, Giraud twisted & turned on the edge of the visitors’ box before shooting just wide. Against the run of play in 84 minutes Ashington were level. From a corner, the ball was initially cleared out to the edge of the box, but it went to Ryan Donaldson who blasted the ball through a busy box & it sneaked into the right hand corner of the net. In 85 minutes, from a 2nd corner, Giraud shot over the bar under pressure. 3 minutes later & Giraud advanced into the Ashington box & blasted the ball, but it was forced out for a corner by Alexander although there were calls for a penalty for hand ball. Into 4 minutes of added time, & it looked like the Stan were going to suffer for not converting more than one of the many chances created. In the 91st minute, a Gascoigne corner was cleared & Ashington countered & forced a corner. From it, Kanda headed clear. In 94 minutes, the ball was sent up to the advancing Djalo & although Alexander came out to clear it was Djalo who got to the ball 1st & slotted it into the net from a tight angle. A great goal & Djalo’s 1st league goal for the club. Soon after the final whistle went to the delight of the Stan Army.

So, the Stan left it very very late but got the win they deserved & an important 3 points. They are back in FA Cup action next Saturday when they host Knaresborough Town.

Stan Team: Lister; Evans; Fil; Kanda; Milburn; Shepherd; Walker (Hornsby 79); Gascoigne; Pearson; Giraud (Hopper 90); Errington (Djalo 63). Subs unused: Boothroyd; Storey. No cards. Attendance: 512. Man of the Match: Cyril Giraud.

Kevin Mochrie

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Silsden vs Heaton Stannington

The Stan made the long mid-week journey to West Yorkshire for their 2nd away league game of the season & also their 2nd in 3 days. Although they had opportunities to take all 3 points, they kept a clean sheet & earned an important away point which is one more than they came away with from Silsden last season. There was one change from Saturday’s away defeat at Lincoln with Hopper replacing Walker.

The match started with Silsden attacking but they shot high & wide over the Stan goal. The Stan then broke but the home keeper Brown collected the ball. It was then back to pressure from Silsden wit them shooting wide & soon after the Stan had to clear another attack. The home pressure continued until the 6th minute when Shepherd headed wide from a Stan corner. After a Silsden off-side move, Pearson broke forward in the 9th minute, but Brown got to the ball 1st. It was end to end now & in the 11th minute a ball from Giraud to Hopper was deflected wide by a defender. In the 14th minute, a joined-up Stan attack eventually ended with Gascoigne shooting high & wide. In 19 minutes, Kanda shot wide, but the ball was deflected out for a Stan corner that came to nothing. 2 minutes later & Djalo won the ball & passed it to Gascoigne but his effort went high & wide. In 23 minutes, a ball into the Stan box from a Silsden free kick was missed by everyone & then cleared by Evans. The Stan then advanced through Djalo but the ball was cleared allowing Silsden to counter but the attack was stopped by Shepherd. In 25 minutes, the Stan forced a corner taken by Giraud. From it, Djalo nearly scored when his header from just in front of the goal line was cleared for another corner from which the ball went wide & out. Soon after, Silsden broke but the ball was eventually cleared. It was end to end again & in 27 minutes Silsden forced a corner from which Djalo headed clear. The ball came back in, but Lister got up to catch. The Stan then attacked with Evans supplying the advancing Pearson but his shot went wide under pressure. In 30 minutes, both Giraud & Hopper were hacked down after the referee had played advantage. The resulting free kick saw the ball cleared & led to a Stan throw in. It was taken by Pearson who sent it long into the home box but Hopper shot wide. In 35 minutes, a ball into the home box from man of the match Chrisp was cleared. 4 minutes later & a Silsden attack ended with an overhead kick which sent the ball over the Stan bar. The Stan then had a shot which Brown caught at the 2nd attempt. Both teams continued to try to attack although the half ended 0-0 which reflected the even nature of the 1st half. 

A quieter start to the 2nd half saw a Stan attack cleared in the 49th minute & 2 minutes later another Stan attack eventually saw the ball go wide. Both teams were trying to attack but were cancelling each other out. In 67 minutes, Silsden did create some danger when they sent a ball across the Stan goal but it was cleared. The Stan had a good opportunity in the 70th minute when Hopper sent the ball into the home box, but it was missed by Djalo in front of goal. Hopper then supplied the advancing Evans, but he collided with Brown as he tried to shoot & was undeservedly booked. It was mainly pressure from the Stan now but with no end product. In 75 minutes though a Silsden player broke but Lister easily cleared. Soon after the ball was sent forward to an advancing Silsden player but he missed when trying to connect with it. In 82 minutes, sub Errington advanced & crossed into the home box but the ball was put out for a corner. From it, Errington shot just wide. In 86 minutes, Errington was brought down. The resulting Chrisp free kick was punched clear by Brown. In 89 minutes, Errington shot over the home bar. Sub Boothroyd then broke & managed to get into the home box & shoot under pressure from a tight angle, but Brown caught his effort. Into 4 minutes of added time & Silsden broke & shot but the ball was deflected for a corner. In 94 minutes, the advancing Boothroyd was brought down but nothing was given. The Stan attacked again but the ball was cleared followed by the final whistle.

After a fairly even 1st half, the 2nd half saw mainly pressure from the Stan but with only a limited number of clear chances to score although they failed to convert any into goals. The Stan are now 7th in the league. On Saturday they are on the road for the 3rd time in a row but this time they are on FA Cup duty as they visit Kendal Town on the 1st step of the road to Wembley.

Stan Team: Lister; Evans (Y); Chrisp (Y); Kanda; Fil; Shepherd; Gascoigne (Walker 71); Hopper (Boothroyd 71); Pearson (Errington 61); Giraud; Djalo. Subs not used: Morris; Enwere. Attendance: 177. Man of the Match: JJ Chrisp.

Kevin Mochrie

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Lincoln United vs Heaton Stannington

The Stan made the long journey to Lincoln for their 1st away match of the season. Unbeaten in their 1st two league matches, the Stan were very unlucky to return North empty handed after putting in a good performance for most of the match. There was one change from Tuesday’s draw with Guisborough with Evans replacing Milburn. 

After a relatively quiet start from both teams, the Stan attacked in the 9th minute but it was blocked. 4 minutes later & a cross to Pearson who had advanced into the home box saw him brought down but nothing was given. In 27 minutes, a Lincoln attack was cleared out to the edge of the Stan box, but Moran advanced forward again unmarked & slotted the ball past Lister. In 34 minutes, the Stan were surprisingly 2-0 down when a Lincoln attack ended with Armond putting the ball in the Stan net. 2 minutes later & Lister had to save a Lincoln free kick. It was then back to Stan pressure & it paid off in the 40th minute. A Lincoln goal kick saw the ball go to the Stan & Djalo sent a great ball to the advancing Gascoigne out on the left who blasted the ball from 30 yards into the home net. It was a fantastic goal & his 3rd in 3 games. Both teams ended the half trying to attack but Lincoln were in front thanks to their 2 early unexpected goals.

The 2nd half started more quietly but with mainly Stan possession & pressure. In 60 minutes, Shepherd headed over the Lincoln bar from a free kick. In 74 minutes, a speculative Giraud long range effort went just over the home bar. 3 minutes later & sub Hopper came close when he put the ball over the Lincoln bar from a sub Boothroyd long throw in. The Stan pressure continued into added time, but they couldn’t find the all important equalising goal & Lincoln held on for a narrow victory.

Apart from a 7-minute spell in the 1st half when Lincoln scored both their goals, the Stan dominated much of the match & should have got at least a draw. Manager Dean Nicholson was upbeat though post-match when he stated that ‘We take it on the chin, but we bounce into Tuesday with all of the positives.’ The Stan are on the road again in 3 days when they travel on Tuesday night to Silsden in West Yorkshire.

Stan Team: Lister; Evans (Boothroyd 75); Chrisp (Y); Kanda; Fil; Shepherd; Gascoigne (Errington 75); Walker (Morris 86); Pearson (Hopper 74); Giraud; Djalo. Sub not used: Milburn. Attendance: 190. Man of the Match: Cyril Giraud.

Kevin Mochrie

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Heaton Stannington vs Guisborough Town

The Stan’s 2nd league game of the season came 3 days after their 1st & they were again hosts when newly promoted & former Northern League rivals Guisborough Town visited from Teesside. A hard fought came saw the visitors determined to not give the Stan any space but although they went behind, the Stan equalised & deserved at least the draw. This was Guisborough’s 1st league game at tier 4 as Saturday had seen them beaten in the FA Cup. There was 1 change from Saturday’s 2-0 win over Stocksbridge with Milburn replacing Capewell. Ex-Stan player Alex Payne started for Guisborough.

Both teams started positively & the action was initially fast & furious. In the 5th minute, Lister saved a shot which went straight towards him. Pearson then broke through at the other end but Catterick in the Guisborough goal got to the ball 1st. The 1st booking came for the visitors’ Willshaw in the 6th minute for a tackle on Shepherd. The resulting free kick by Pearson went straight to Catterick. The visitors countered, forcing a corner from which Lister easily caught. After a quieter period, Guisborough forced a corner in the 17th minute. From it, the ball went to the far side of the Stan goal & was headed back towards the goal to Ben Errington who slotted the ball into the Stan net. The Stan attacked through Djalo in the 21st minute but there were 2 blocks. In the 23rd minute, Giraud passed to Gascoigne on the right who volleyed the ball into the net for his 2nd goal in 2 games. Both teams continued to try & attack, but it was Guisborough who next threatened when in the 28th minute Lister got out to head clear. Soon after, a Guisborough player shot just wide. 2 minutes after that, Catterick also had to come out to catch from a Stan effort. In the 34th minute Lister was out again to catch as the match was back to being played at a high tempo. In 36 minutes, a Stan free kick from the half way line was punched clear by Catterick. 3 minutes later & a cross to a Guisborough player in the Stan box saw him head the ball over the Stan bar. In the 40th minute, Giraud advanced into the Guisborough box, but Catterick grabbed the ball. In 43 minutes, Djalo tried a speculative volley from just outside the centre circle but the ball went over the visitors’ bar. In 45 minutes, Guisborough headed over the Stan bar from a corner.

Although the 2nd half started with mainly pressure from the Stan, it was a relatively quiet period until the Stan had a free kick cleared in the 53rd minute twice. 5 minutes later & Guisborough had an attack cleared. In the 59th minute, a Chrisp ball into the Guisborough box was headed clear & was blocked when sent back in 3 times. In 60 minutes, Lister sent the ball up towards Djalo but a defender headed clear before he could get to it. There was more Stan pressure with both Giraud & Chrisp having efforts cleared. In 67 minutes, after 2 Stan attacks, Guisborough countered & hit the Stan side netting under pressure. Soon after, a speculative long range Guisborough effort went well over the Stan bar. 2 minutes later a Guisborough player broke forward but was dealt with by the Stan defence. In 71 minutes, a ball into Pearson in the visitors’ box saw his header blocked & put out for a corner from which the ball was cleared. Guisborough countered but Lister got out to clear. Most of the threat was now coming from the Stan although it was not coming to much. In 76 minutes, Guisborough tried a speculative shot from a free kick from half way as Lister was off his line but the ball went wide. In 81 minutes, a Guisborough free kick was easily caught by Lister. 3 minutes later & a Guisborough shot from just outside the Stan box went just wide. In 86 minutes, Lister got down to save from a Guisborough free kick. The match was now end to end with both teams knowing that probably one more goal would win the match for either of them. There were a few chances for the Stan just before 5 minutes of added time began. In 93 minutes, the Stan came close to scoring when they forced a corner from which the ball went through the crowded 6-yard box but was sent back in & headed off the line by a Guisborough defender. The match finished with a sustained Stan attack which itself ended with Walker shooting wide.

Although the Stan came close to scoring late on, a draw was an acceptable result against difficult opposition. Most of Guisborough’s chances though were from distance. So overall a good start to the season & the Stan are unbeaten & 2nd on goal difference even if there is still a long way to go. The Stan’s 1st away league fixture is next, on Saturday, when they travel to Lincoln United.

Stan Team: Lister; Fil; Chrisp (Boothroyd 89); Kanda (Y); Milburn (Y); Shepherd; Gascoigne (Hopper 86); Walker (Y); Pearson; Giraud; Djalo (Errington 66). Subs not used. Storey; Morris. Attendance: 459. Man of the Match: JJ Chrisp.

Kevin Mochrie

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