Competition: Northern Premier League East

Bridlington Town vs Heaton Stannington

While many people were undertaking festive activities or preparing for Xmas day itself, the Stan had a great day out at the seaside. After 3 defeats, the 4th ever match between the 2 teams saw the Stan batter Bridlington Town 4-0. After 20 away league matches in 2025, with only 1 to go, the Stan have only lost twice. There was 1 change from Wednesday’s 4-0 home win over Grimsby Borough with Burn replacing Lamb. And what a day it was for Andy Burn who made his 200th appearance for the Stan, scored the team’s 1st goal with a spectacular shot, was voted man of the match & was part of the winning team for both quizzes on the team bus. 

On a cold but dry afternoon, the 1st action came in the 3rd minute when Hopper ran into the home box, but his shot was blocked for a corner. From it the ball was initially cleared before a Hopper follow up shot was blocked. The Stan were in the lead in the 4th minute when Pearson supplied Burn whose shot from just outside the box went through everyone & into the net. There were hints of Barnoldswick in this goal. A minute later, a Bridlington player broke & shot past the advancing Gordon but his effort was going just wide & was cleared. As well as trying to attack, the Stan were also defending well. After picking up an injury from a yellow card tackle after 5 minutes, Evans had to be replaced in the 14th minute by Chater. Both teams were trying to attack although the Stan were pressing more. In 25 minutes, Bridlington shot well over. The Stan then had 2 attacks that were cleared. In 29 minutes, a Bridlington long range effort was deflected just wide. The ball from the resulting corner was headed just high & wide. Both teams tried to attack but it was the Stan who came closest next when in 38 minutes Errington broke & Dash in the Bridlington goal came out to block but the ball went back to Hopper whose long chip went wide. The Stan were 2-0 up in 42 minutes when a long ball to Hopper saw him flick it on to the advancing Pearson &, with Dash coming out but missing the ball, was able to shoot into the net. Into injury time, & both teams tried to attack. In the 49th minute, Hopper was brought down just outside the home box but nothing was given. Soon after the Stan did win a free kick but it was headed clear in the home box.

After a quieter start to the 2nd half, in the 49th minute there was a ball into Pearson just to the right of the right post but he couldn’t make contact. Soon after a Bridlington attack was cleared & 3 minutes later, they had a shot blocked. The Stan countered & Dash had to come out to clear. In 56 minutes, Errington broke under pressure but his cross into the home box was intercepted. In 59 minutes, the Stan had a period of sustained pressure culminating in Errington shooting wide from the edge of the box. In 62 minutes, a through ball to the advancing Walker saw his shot from the edge of the box blocked by Dash. The Stan kept pressing & in 65 minutes Dash had to punch clear with Errington’s rebound shot going wide. In 70 minutes, a goalward Errington shot was deflected for a corner. The ball from Walker’s corner was partly cleared but Burn sent it back in although Walker’s shot was blocked. There was then a joined-up attack which saw Chrisp’s cross being put out for a corner. From it, in the 73rd minute, Capewell’s header hit the bar & Shepherd did not flounder as he put his follow up headed effort into the back of the net for 3-0 to the Stan. A minute later & a Pearson high ball into the box was caught by Dash. He also had to come out to save a Walker effort in 79 minutes. A rare Bridlington attack in the 80th minute saw them put the ball over the Stan bar. The Stan kept pressing although the hosts did force a corner in 87 minutes from which Capewell headed clear. 2 minutes later & a Stan ball across the Bridlington goal was cleared. In 94 minutes, Pearson crossed from the left across the home box to sub Johnson just outside the box who confidently shot past Dash to make it 4-0 & get his 1st goal for the Stan. 

It was a brill performance from the Stan & both a 4th win & clean sheet in a row. The Stan perch 1 place & a point off Dunston who sit in the last play off spot & they are 17 points away from the relegation zone. There are 2 crucial home games up next as the Stan take on Dunston on Tuesday followed by league leaders Redcar Athletic on Saturday.

Stan Team: Gordon; Milburn; Chrisp (Beattie 85); Evans (Chater 13); Capewell; Shepherd; Hopper (Lamb 77); Burn; Pearson; Walker (Storey 85); Errington (Johnson 77). No cards. All Subs used. Attendance 158. Man of the Match: Andy Burn.                        

Kevin Mochrie

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Heaton Stannington vs Grimsby Borough

Grimsby Borough returned to High Heaton for the 2nd time in 11 days but tonight the match was completed unlike the 1st attempt which was abandoned due to a flooded pitch after 24 minutes with the Stan leading 1-0 & with Grimsby having missed a penalty. Building on Saturday’s 2-0 home win over Brighouse, the Stan had a comfortable 4-0 win over Grimsby & delivered a confident & entertaining performance for the Stan Army. There were 2 changes with Milburn & Errington replacing Robson & Lamb. The team was the same one that started the abandoned match against Grimsby.

On a blustery but mild evening the rain luckily stayed away. The Stan started on the attack & in the 2nd minute, after the ball from a corner was initially cleared, the ball came back into the 6-yard box & was cleared for another corner. The opening period was dominated by the Stan & the only 2 early Grimsby attacks were easily cleared in the 7th & 10th minutes. In the 11th minute, a speculative Stephenson long range effort went well over. 2 minutes later, & Evans nipped in front of an advancing Grimsby player to get the ball & stop the attack. Another Grimsby attack was cleared a minute later which led to Pearson advancing with the ball & he was brought down in the box by Lovett who was sent off. The penalty was taken by Hopper in the 16th minute who confidently sent the ball down the middle & into the net with the Grimsby keeper Auton diving to his left. So, with nearly 75 minutes still to go the Stan were 1-0 up & Grimsby were down to 10 men. The Stan kept attacking & in the 21st minute Errington crossed to the advancing Hopper in the box, but he couldn’t make contact with the ball & it was cleared. In 23 minutes, Walker shot from just outside the box, but Auton got down to save. In the 30th minute, the Stan were 2-0 up when a Stephenson ball into the Grimsby box was confidently put into the net by Pearson. A minute later & Pearson nicked the ball of a Grimsby defender & although his shot was on target it was deflected just wide for a corner. From the corner, the ball went initially out to the edge of the box but was sent back into the 6 yard box where there was a scramble but Auton managed to get himself on top of the ball. Play was being dominated by the Stan & in 36 minutes a Stephenson long range effort was caught by Auton. 3 minutes later & a Grimsby throw in into the Stan box was headed clear & the Stan counter attack involved 4 players, but the ball was eventually cleared. In 41 minutes, a Chrisp ball into the Grimsby box was blocked. Walker then supplied Pearson whose long range shot went just wide. Chrisp then sent a high cross into the box but it went wide & out. Soon after, Gordon came out to stop a Grimsby attack but missed the ball but luckily the Grimsby player’s shot deflected off him for a corner. From the corner, the ball went across the goal line to a Grimsby player at the far post, but his close shot was cleared off the line by Shepherd for another corner.

The 2nd half started with more Stan pressure & in 48 minutes Auton had to punch the ball clear although it was sent back in & he had to catch it. In 51 minutes, the Stan increased their lead when, from a joined-up attack, the ball was sent through by Stephenson to the advancing Pearson in the Grimsby box & he slotted the ball past Auton & into the net. 3 minutes later & Walker shot just wide. Hopper then crossed to towards the advancing Errington, but Auton got to the ball 1st. In 61 minutes, a Grimsby free kick was easily caught by Gordon. This was followed at the other end by an Errington shot from the edge of the box which was easily caught by Auton. There was more intermittent Stan pressure in between substitutions & in 73 minutes sub Johnson chipped the ball over the Grimsby bar from a corner. In 75 minutes, Pearson advanced with the ball & slotted it past Auton to make it 4-0 and get his hat trick. In 81 minutes, Johnson crossed to sub Lamb who shot just wide. 2 minutes later & sub Chater shot straight at Auton. The Stan kept pressing but the match ended still 4-0 to the Stan.

So a comfortable win & good team effort for the Stan saw them move up the table to 5th & into a play off place. On Saturday the Stan make the long journey to the Yorkshire seaside when they visit Bridlington Town.

Stan Team: Gordon; Milburn (Chater 76); Chrisp (Beattie 78); Evans; Capewell; Shepherd; Hopper (Storey 66); Walker; Pearson (Lamb 76); Stephenson; Errington (Johnson 66). No cards. All Subs used. Attendance 208. Man of the Match: Dale Pearson.                        

Kevin Mochrie

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Heaton Stannington vs Brighouse Town

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Hallam vs Heaton Stannington

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Heaton Stannington vs Silsden

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Matlock Town vs Heaton Stannington

It was a fantastic day out for the Stan as they made the long 334 miles round trip to the picturesque Causeway Lane ground in Derbyshire to take on Matlock Town for the 1st time. The Stan competed equally with 2nd placed Matlock in front of a crowd of 761. The home side had gone ahead against the run of play & although the Stan equalised they were unlucky to go into half time 2-1 down. The Stan came out fighting in the 2nd half & never gave up. After getting level on 66 minutes, they peaked in the Peak District with a 92nd minute Hopper winner which sent the Stan Army ballistic.  There were 5 changes from last Saturday’s defeat to Emley with J.J. Chrisp, making his loan debut, Slaughter, Errington, Stephenson & Lamb replacing Beattie, Robson, Adamson, Walker & Pearson.

The 1st action of the game came in the 3rd minute, when Errington broke & was brought down by the last man on half way. 2 minutes later & a Stan attack saw a ball from Lamb go across the Matlock goal but was just missed by Hopper & went wide. Both teams were trying to attack & in 11 minutes Matlock got their 1st corner which was partially cleared by Capewell & the rebound shot went over. In 13 minutes, Errington broke & the move ended with his curving shot going just wide. 4 minutes later & a deflected Errington shot was caught by Boney in the Matlock goal. Almost immediately at the other end, Chrisp’s trailing leg caught a Matlock player & a penalty was awarded. The 18th minute penalty kick was put away by Wilson with Gordon going the wrong way & Matlock were surprisingly in the lead. In 21 minutes, Boney dived at Hopper’s feet to prevent his shot. A minute later, Stephenson then sent a long ball to Lamb who lost the ball. Boney then dropped the ball in front of Lamb allowing him to put it in the net but the referee blew his whistle claiming Lamb had taken the ball from the keeper’s hands. Soon after Errington sent a ball into the home box & it eventually came back to him & he supplied Hopper whose header was easily caught by Boney. In 25 minutes, the Stan were back on level terms when a Chrisp long ball to Errington saw him beat a defender & calmly put the ball past Boney for a great goal. In 28 minutes, Gordon caught the ball from a Matlock corner. & he easily caught again 2 minutes later. It was still mainly Stan pressure although Matlock shot just wide in 38 minutes. In 43 minutes, Matlock were again unexpectantly in the lead when  a player advanced into the Stan box & crossed to the advancing Viggars who slotted the ball into the net. Into 2 minutes added time & Boney had to make a catch from Shepherd who was shoved. The half ended with a great Evans tackle resulting in a home corner from which Gordon easily caught the ball. 

The 2nd half started with an Evans ball going just wide of the Matlock net. In the 48th minute, Gordon had to save & he also caught the ball from the resulting corner. There were then several Stan attacks & in 52 minutes an advancing Lamb was brought down. Stepehenson’s free kick into the home box was headed wide by Capewell. Hopper then broke & Boney could not hold onto his effort but Lamb couldn’t get to the ball in time to shoot. Matlock counterattacked & Capewell had to clear. It was then Hopper’s turn to counterattack & he was brought down. From the resulting free kick, Lamb lost the ball & Matlock rushed up the pitch shooting just wide. In 56 minutes, a move involving Stephenson & Hopper ended with a Chrisp long range shot being caught by Boney. After a Matlock corner was cleared, they attacked again in 59 minutes & a long range effort was headed wide by Capewell for a corner which was cleared. After some sustained Stan pressure, in the 66th minute sub Storey advanced with the ball & crossed it to Hopper who slotted it into the back of the Matlock net for 2-2. The Stan kept the pressure on & in 70 minutes, Burn shot just wide from the edge of the box. 4 minutes later & a Slaughter long range effort nearly took out a window in the flats behind the home goal. A Matlock player then broke but Gordon made a great save & from the resulting corner he caught the ball. After a quieter period, the Stan made a great block in 82 minutes. 3 minutes later & a Slaughter high ball into the home box was headed just wide by sub Adamson. In 87 minutes, Hopper won the ball in the Matlock box & shot just wide of the far post. In the 90th minute, Capewell cleared twice just outside the Stan box. In 92 minutes, it was the Stan who secured the 3 points when super-duper Hooper got hold of the ball in the home box & shot past Boney from a tight angle. What a finale. The late winner was the icing on the cake for one of the Stan’s best 90 minutes for a long time. 

What an achievement & what a team performance as the Stan rise to 8th in the league & are now only 3 points off a play-off place. They have played 18 away league games in 2025 & have only lost twice & are unbeaten in the last 8. Next up for the Stan is a home match next Saturday against Silsden.

Stan Team: Gordon; Evans; Chrisp; Burn; Capewell; Shepherd; Hopper; Slaughter; Errington (Storey 63); Stephenson; Lamb (Adamson 75). No cards. Subs not used: Flynn; Beattie; Milburn. Attendance 761. MoM: Dan Stepheson.                          

Kevin Mochrie

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Heaton Stannington vs Emley

Although the vast majority of the 408 crowd at sunny Willow Park had come to see the Stan play & win, it was Emley who undeservedly went away with all 3 points. There was not much between the 2 teams & while Emley went ahead because of 2 debateable decisions by the officials, the Stan did get a goal back with 20 minutes remaining & although they rallied for the remainder of the match, they could not find the net again. There were 3 changes from last Saturday’s win at Garforth Town with Evans, Beattie & Burn replacing Milburn, Stephenson & Slaughter. Leighton Hopper made his 150th start for the Stan & also scored as well as being awarded man of the match. 

With the backdrop of the fantastic new Heaton Stan Harry banner, both teams tried to attack from the kick off & after 4 minutes Burn shot wide. There was then a scramble in the Emley box which was cleared. 4 minutes later & an Emley attack was cleared. After 10 minutes, a long ball by Adamson saw Pearson break with the ball but was blocked. In 14 minutes, Lambton in the Emley goal caught a ball from a Beattie free kick. With 20 minutes gone, both teams were still trying to attack but the defences were doing well. Hopper was then hacked down on halfway, but nothing was given. In 24 minutes, an Emley ball into the Stan box was headed clear by Capewell. In 32 minutes, 4 minutes after a Pearson advance at the other end that came to nothing, a ball from an Emley free kick was headed just wide although the whistle had been blown for a foul for the Stan. In 37 minutes, Robson went in for the ball to stop an advancing Emley player but although he got to the ball 1st, the referee decided to award a penalty. Emley’s Gordon confidently put the ball in the left-hand corner of the Stan net to make it 1-0 to Emley after 38 minutes. The match had been relatively even until then & the Stan continued immediately trying to attack with Adamson shooting in the crowded Emley box, but Lambton caught his effort. The Stan kept the pressure on until half time including a Robson cross in 44 minutes being headed clear followed by a Burn free kick being caught by Lambton, but the half ended with Emley maintaining their slender lead.

Lamb replaced Beattie for the 2nd half as the Stan sought to get back into the game. It was Emley who threatened 1st in the 46th minute when they shot just wide. There was a quieter period until the 57th minute when an Emley player hit the side netting. Hopper then had a shot blocked. This was immediately followed with Emley’s Thompson breaking forward & his long-range effort beat Gordon & went into the Stan net. There were calls for offside, but they were ignored as the Stan went 2 goals down. Soon after the Stan forced 2 saves from Lambton. After 68 minutes, a Walker cross to Pearson saw him shoot across the Emley goal with his effort going just wide. In 70 minutes, Pearson broke through the Emley defence & into their box but was shoved down from behind. This resulted in Emley’s Barks being sent off & a penalty being awarded. The penalty, in the 72nd minute, was scored by Hopper who reduced the deficit to 1-2. Most of the remainder of the half saw Stan pressure as they tried to at least get an equaliser & maybe a winning goal. In 73 minutes, a ball from a Burn free kick was headed clear. A 2nd Burn free kick was also cleared twice. The Stan pressure continued but the next clear chance was after 82 minutes when a Capewell header was cleared. Despite the continued Stan pressure, the next clear chance was in 89 minutes when a ball into the Emley box fell to Evans in the 6-yard box whose shot was blocked. There was a great opportunity for an equaliser a minute later when Pearson turned & shot but his effort was blocked by Lambton for a corner. The Stan attacks continued & Hopper was brought down in the box in the 95th minute but nothing was given. The ball was sent back into the Emley box, but Hopper headed over the bar. The Stan soon after won a corner, which Gordon went up for, but it was cleared & the final whistle was blown as the Stan started to attack again.

So, despite the late rally, the Stan failed to enforce their authority on the match & 2 unfortunate goals conceded meant that it was the visitors who left with the 3 points. The Stan remain 10th in the league but face a difficult & long day on Saturday when they travel to Derbyshire to take on 2nd place Matlock Town.

Stan Team: Gordon; Evans; Beattie (Lamb 46); Robson (Y); Capewell; Shepherd; Hopper; Burn; Adamson (Errington 67); Walker (Storey 92); Pearson. Subs not used: Flynn; Milburn. Attendance 408. MoM: Leighton Hopper.                          

Kevin Mochrie

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