What a day. What a season. The Stan beat West Auckland 3-0 to win promotion to Northern Premier League East Division in the 4^th tier of non-league. This was achieved in front of a record crowd of 2107 & was followed by the team & the Stan Army partying into the night. There was 1 change from Thursday night’s semi-final win over Birtley with Sayer being replaced by Slaughter who returned from suspension. There was a 100^th start as a Stan player for Leighton Hopper.

The first 6 minutes of the match saw mainly pressure from West Auckland but both teams were trying to attack. In the 6^th minute Reid past to Burn who was blocked & the visitors countered but put the ball wide under pressure from Brass. A Stan attack started by Slaughter was then headed clear & although the ball came back in it was caught by the keeper. 2 minutes later, a West free kick was blocked then cleared & Hopper countered & suppled Hornsby who was fouled. The resulting Stephenson free kick was headed over by Shepherd. Both teams were trying to attack & in 12 minutes a West free kick was cleared by Turnbull. The West keeper then had to catch twice before West hit the side netting in 19 minutes. In 20 minutes a ball from a Stan corner was punched clear by the keeper for another corner from which the ball was headed clear. The action continued at both ends & West had 2 corners before they shot over the Stan bar. Both teams were trying to attack but the defences were also working hard to stop them. In 31 minutes, the visiting keeper got to the ball just before Hopper. In 34 minutes, a ball from a Stephenson corner was headed clear before Slaughter sent it back in but the keeper caught it. In 36 minutes, there was a high defensive header from Turnbull but Brass then had to punch the ball over the bar. After Lamb had broke & was tackled just outside the West box, a Stephenson free kick was tipped away & down by the keeper although Shepherd’s close follow up shot was blocked. In 40 minutes there was some sustained pressure by the Stan ending with Burn heading just wide. 2 minutes later & the visitors shot wide & then sliced another effort over the bar. In the 45^th minute, Lamb was about to shoot in the box but was prevented by a good tackle. Soon after he broke again & passed to Reid whose header was saved by the keeper & Stephenson’s follow up shot went wide.

With nothing between the teams at half time, manager Dean Nicolson did what he had done on Thursday & switched Lamb to the right wing. In less than 2 minutes the change had paid off when Lamb passed 2 players on the left corner edge of the West box & instead of passing he shot from the edge of the box & his diagonal high ball went into the far corner of the net for 1-0 in 47 minutes . What a goal! Almost immediately, Lamb again passed 2 player & shot just wide. The Stan kept attacking & in 56 minutes it was 2-0 when Slaughter passed to Reid whose effort was headed off the West goal line, but Burn was there to head the rebound effort into the net. West were not going to give up, but the Stan were also looking for more goals. In 65 minutes, Hopper broke, beat 3 men & tried to chip the keeper but the ball went just over. In 70 minutes, Brass got down to put a West effort just wide. West then sent a diagonal ball into the Stan box but it went high & over. 2 minutes later & Brass had to push the ball clear from a West corner. In 75 minutes, Burn shot over the West bar. Both teams continued trying to attack & in 80 minutes a West corner was headed clear by Reid. This was followed by a sub Anderson speculative long range shot which the keeper had to get down to save. West then saw an effort from a free kick being headed wide under pressure. In 85 minutes, sub Doyle shot just over. Almost immediately the Stan were 3-0 up as Doyle passed to Anderson who confidently shot past the keeper. Sub Lashley broke but was blocked & West shot well over in 89 minutes. Into 5 minutes of added time & West shot over again. In 93 minutes Lashley shot just wide under pressure. The match ended with a joined up Stan attack which finished with Anderson being blocked & Doyle then slicing the ball over the bar.

After a relatively even 1^st half, the Stan stepped up a gear to comfortably beat West Auckland 3-0. The whole team put in a strong performance & as a result they were collectively given the man of the match award. Congratulations must also been given to Dean Nicolson & his management team. The team were also cheered on by most of the crowd including the Far Corner & the mini ultras. The result also means that the Stan have not been beaten at home in league related action since the 1^st game of the season & are currently unbeaten in 13 games. It was a historic day which paves the way for a future in a league (& the FA Trophy) & at a level that the Stan have never played in before in their 114 years of official existence. And no, it is not a dream- the Stan have actually achieved promotion & after only two seasons in Northern League Division 1. What a team!

Kevin Mochrie

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Interview – Dean Nicholson

Interview – Andy Burn

Interview – Paul Dixon (BBC Newcastle)

Success in probably the Stan’s most important match in their history means that on Monday they will play in an even more important match as they host the play-off final. Birtley had been slightly the better team in the 1^st half but the Stan stepped a gear in the 2^nd half & although they only won by 1 goal it could have been by many more. There were 2 changes from last Saturday’s win at Crook with Brass & Sayer replacing Corkhill & Cassidy.

A cold Thursday evening was warmed up by a bumper crowd of 1235 which included a good following from the visitors. Both teams started positively. In the 3^rd minute, Birtley keeper Gordon got to the ball just before the advancing Lamb, but the ball came back to Lamb although his effort hit off Gordon from close range for a corner. Both teams were trying to attack & in 12 minutes Lamb crossed into the Birtley box towards Reid but the ball was put out for a corner from which the ball was headed clear. Birtley then got a corner from which Brass punched clear for another corner & from it Reid headed clear. 2 minutes later & another Birtley corner was cleared by Evans. A 3^rd attack in a row from the Stan saw, in 16 minutes, Gordon getting to the ball just before Hopper & Lamb. In 18 minutes, a Stephenson free kick into the Birtley box was headed just wide by Reid. It was still end to end & in 26 minutes Reid shot just over from just outside a busy Birtley box. Gordon then caught from a Stephenson free kick before Brass had to catch from close range at the other end. Brass then had to catch from a 2^nd Birtley corner in 34 minutes. Both teams were still trying to attack but Birtley were having slightly more of the ball. In 37 minutes, Birtley attacked again followed by Gordon having to get down to save from Lamb. Another Birtley attack was cleared followed by Gordon having to catch at the other end. The half ended with 2 more Birtley attacks with the 2^nd seeing the ball being headed clear 1^st by Burn then by Evans. The 1^st half showed that the match could go either way although Birtley had slightly more of the pressure.

Dean Nicolson showed he meant business by moving Lamb at the start of the 2^nd half to the right wing. This increased his threat & he should have got a few goals if not for the skill of Gordon the Birtley keeper. In 48 minutes, a Stephenson corner saw the ball go high across a busy Birtley box but miss everyone. The 1^st few minutes of the 2^nd half saw mainly pressure from the Stan & this paid off in 51 minutes when the Stan went 1-0 up. Hornsby sent the ball into the Birtley box & although it was blocked it came out to Shepherd just outside the box & his blasted shot took a slight bounce which fooled the keeper & went into the net. 3 minutes later & it was back to defensive work for Shepherd as he had to clear from a Birtley attack. Both teams continued to try to attack. In 57 minutes, a Birtley corner was cleared by Burn. Birtley had 2 corners before, in 63 minutes, a Lamb ball into the visitors; box was put out for a Stephenson corner. From it the ball was initially cleared before Lamb’s follow up long range effort was spliced wide. Burn then sent a low range effort of his own into a busy Birtley box & although it was deflected, Gordon got down to save it. The Stan defence stood strong against another Birtley attack before Hopper had a great chance but put his effort over the bar. In 69 minutes, a Burn free kick went over the wall & hit off the keeper, but his rebound shot was blocked & cleared. A Stan throw in into the Birtley box was then headed clear followed by a Stephenson shot from the edge of the box hitting the keeper & Lamb’s rebound shot was blasted well over the bar when he should have scored. The Stan kept the pressure on & in 75 minutes a ball from Lamb was headed on by Reid but Gordon tipped it off the bar. It was a fantastic save. 2 minutes later & Brass  had to get down to save. The Stan shot wide then just wide in 79 minutes. Birtley then shot over the Stan bar followed by a Reid shot being saved by Gordon. It was then back to the Stan end & Birtley shot over. It was end to end with both defences having to work hard. In 89 minutes, a long ball to Lamb on the right saw him supply Reid who forced a fantastic leaping save from Gordon. In the 90^th minute, Reid headed clear from a Birtley corner. There were 4 added minutes as both teams still tried to attack. In 93 minutes, a  Brass clearance then saw Lamb counter & pass to Hopper who was brought down but the flag had gone up for offside. A Birtley attack was cleared & it led to another counterattack with Hopper supplying Lamb who beat the keeper but the ball hit the outside of the post & went out. In 95 minutes a Birtley effort was blasted over the Stan bar.

It was an entertaining & hard-fought game especially in the 2^nd half when the Stan demonstrated what they could do up front while still being strong at the back. They were only limited to 1 goal due to some great saves by Birtley keeper Alfie Gordon but this meant that there was the threat of Birtley getting a late equaliser.  The Stan now host West Auckland Town on bank holiday Monday afternoon in the play-off final. The prize for the winners is promotion to Northern Premier League East Division.

Kevin Mochrie

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With a play-off place having been secured in the previous match, the Stan needed 4 points from their last 2 matches to ensure a home play-off match rather than an away one. They stayed on course to achieving this after a hard-working performance saw them deservedly grind out a 1-0 win against tough opposition. Boro Rangers, visiting Grounsell Park for the 1^st time, put up a good fight & although they put on a great deal of pressure as the 2^nd half progressed, the Stan stayed strong & weathered the storm. There were 2 changes from last Saturday’s draw at Guisborough with Scott & Lamb replacing Turnbull & Reid.

The match started on a cold Thursday night with Boro shooting into the sun. The 1^st 10 minutes involved mainly pressure from the Stan but with no real threat attached. In 10 minutes, Hooper shot wide followed 2 minutes later by a Boro long ball to an advancing player but Brass got to it 1^st. In 16 minutes, a Stephenson long ball towards Lamb saw the Boro keeper get out of his box to get to it just before Lamb did. Hopper then flicked the ball onto Lamb, but he was blocked. A Boro attack was then cleared followed at the other end by Lamb supplying the advancing Lashley but his effort hit the bar. The ball came back in from Burn, but the Boro keeper got down to collect it. There was then a relatively quiet period although Sayer shot well over in the 30^th minute. There was though still some intermittent attacks from both teams & in 32 minutes a Boro free kick hit the Stan wall & the rebound shot went wide. In 37 minutes, from a Lashley corner, a Stephenson shot hit a Boro player’s arm & a penalty was given. Hopper, in the 38^th minute, sent the keeper the wrong way & scored to make it 1-0. There was some late pressure from Boro, including them shooting well over the Stan bar twice, but the half ended 1-0 to the Stan.

There was a livelier 2^nd half but with no goals. It started with a Hopper shot being caught by the Boro keeper. In 48 minutes, Scott had to head clear. This was followed by a Stan counter attack but the Boro keeper got to the ball before Lamb. Brass easily caught a Boro effort a minute later. In 51 minutes, a Stephenson long ball to Hopper saw the Boro keeper get to it 1^st. Both teams were trying to attack & in 53 minutes Brass had to punch clear a Boro effort. In 56 minutes, an advancing Boro player forced a diving save from Brass. From the resulting corner, the ball was headed clear & a rebound shot went well wide. In 58 minutes, a Lamb shot was blocked & there were calls for a Stan penalty as Hopper & a Boro player went down in the box. In 66 minutes, after a quiet period, a Boro counter attack saw the ball sent across the Stan box but no one was able to make contact. In 70 minutes, Marriott replaced Lamb to help strengthen the defence & protect the slender lead. In 74 minutes, the Stan shot wide. Although both teams had been trying to attack, the last 10 minutes saw relatively sustained pressure from Boro with the Stan defence having to work hard. In 83 minutes, Brass had to make a catch & 2 minutes later he made a great save. Boro attacked again but shot over. Boro kept attacking & Brass had to save again in 89 minutes. Sub Lennox then counter attacked but was offside. Soon after he counter attacked again but the Boro keeper got to the ball 1^st. There was a great moment in the last minute when Ryan Baily came on as a sub for his 1^st appearance in 18 months due to long term injury. 6 minutes of added time were played & although there was some more Boro pressure the Stan achieved both a clean sheet & 3 points.

There was delight at the final whistle throughout most of the 421 crowd as a determined Stan held on against late pressure to secure all 3 points. The Stan’s last league game of the season, where they now only need a point to ensure 3^rd place, takes place on Saturday & involves a trip to Crook Town.

Kevin Mochrie

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Playing their 3^rd game in 5 days, the Stan hosted league leaders Shildon for the 1^st time since in 72 years. It was a hard fought, attacking & competitive match. After an even 1^st half, 2 early Stan goals rattled Shildon but by full time the visitors were back in contention & threatening an equaliser, but the hard-working Stan held on for a deserved & important win. There were 3 changes from the draw at Whickham 2 nights earlier, with Palmer, Slaughter & Lashley replacing Scott, Stephenson & Sayer.

On a dry but cold Wednesday evening, both teams started by trying to attack. The Stan were disadvantaged early on as they were shooting into a low but bright sun until it set behind the houses at the Holy & Far Corners end. In 4 minutes, a Shildon free kick into the Stan box was headed clear by Turnbull. Reid & Hopper then advanced but Reid was offside. Soon after, there was a great joined up effort involving Hornsby, Hopper, Palmer & Reid & which ended with Lashley’s shot hitting the side netting. A Shildon attacker then fell in the Stan box followed by a Stan attack which ended with Hopper trying to supply Burn who could not get to the ball. Both teams were trying to attack but were cancelling each other out. In 22 minutes, Hopper forced a corner from which the Shildon keeper caught the ball from Reid’s header. Hopper especially was keeping the pressure on the visiting defence as he worked his socks off. In 28 minutes, a speculative Lashley shot from just outside the box went just wide. 2 minutes later & a ball from a Shildon corner went just wide. In 32 minutes, Hopper rounded 2 defenders but was then blocked as he entered the Shildon box. As both teams continued their positive approach, in 40 minutes the diving Brass had to punch clear an effort from a Shildon free kick which went round the wall. 3 minutes later & an injured Palmer had to be replaced by Sayer. The Stan then then had 3 corners, but the half ended in stalemate.

There was excitement early in the 2^nd half as the Stan got 2 quick goals. In 48 minutes, a Lashley free kick from the right was sent into a busy box & hit the bar before being headed into the net by Shepherd. 2 minutes later & a long ball to Hopper resulted in him breaking forward & he advanced towards the Shildon goal comfortably slotting the ball past their keeper for 2-0. What a start to the 2^nd half. The goals were followed by more Stan pressure as a free kick was cleared & another Stan shot went wide. With 30 minutes still to go, Shildon pulled a goal back when, from a free kick, the ball was headed into the Stan net in a crowded box by Greulich-Smith for his 200^th competitive goal for Shildon. Soon after, Burn headed clear. Turnbull then supplied Hopper who advanced to the edge of the Shildon box, but the keeper made himself big & managed to get a hand to Hopper’s shot. Both teams were trying to attack when they could, but the Stan defence especially were having to work hard to stop Shildon advances. Shildon shot wide in 71 minutes followed by a great block by Evans. In 74 minutes, Hopper & Reid joined up to supply Sayer who shot just wide. There was then another great defensive tackle by Evans who thoroughly deserved his man of the match award. In 76 minutes, a Shildon free kick was headed clear by Reid with the long range rebound shot hitting the underside of the Stan bar before Brass caught the ball to the relive of the Stan Army. There was more Shildon pressure resulting in 2 more clearances by Evans. In 80 minutes, a Hopper run into the Shildon box ended in a corner which was then cleared. Then it was back to pressure from Shildon with Evans blocking & then heading clear from a corner followed by Brass punching clear. There were 2 more Shildon corners with the 2^nd in 85 minutes being headed clear by Turnbull. Evans then cleared again followed by Brass punching clear a long-range effort. The Shildon pressure continued with Evans clearing in 87 minutes before a Shildon player headed well wide of the Stan goal. Into 4 minutes of added time & a high ball was sent towards the advancing Hooper but the Shildon keeper got to it 1^st. Hopper attacked again but was blocked. Both teams were still positive, but the match ended with the Stan winning 2-1 & Shildon dropping down to 2^nd place behind Bishop Auckland who won.

Unlike on Monday night at Whickham, the Stan resisted the late pressure & did not concede an equaliser. They were encouraged by the support of the vocal Stan Army especially through the Junior Ultra section who sang throughout the match. This was a crucial 3 points, & against top opposition, in the race for a play off spot & also for hopefully securing home advantage. The Stan jump from 5^th to 4^th & are now only 1 point behind 3^rd place West Auckland with 3 games to play compared to their 1. Next up on Saturday, the Stan & 2 coaches of supporters travel to 6^th place, & fellow play-off contenders, Guisborough.

Kevin Mochrie

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The battle for a play off position resumed against North Shields with Stan eventually running out winners and look to be on course to claim a top 5 position in the League table, but it is 3^rd position that guarantees a home tie in the NL 1 Play offs at the end of the season.

One change from previous match, Richie Slaughter back for Louis Anderson, and a welcome return, after missing 14 weeks through injury, Konner Lamb on the bench in place of Adam Lennox

A close and tough match with a strong wind blowing down the pitch, in the faces of Stan.

But it was another early goal for Stan, on 3 minutes Andy Burn set up Sean Reid in space in the area and he made no mistake, giving Callum Dobson no chance, smashing the ball home from around 15 yards.

North Shields hit back and equalised on 5 minutes, when Kane Evans did well to head behind for a corner on the left, denying Ben Harmison a chance. However, Yeon Kwak put in an inswinging corner, which Harmison headed into the net. 1-1

One minute later Will McCamley fouled Slaughter, and in his hurry to take the free kick he foolishly responded and was red carded. Down the sink went the plans to get in front and give some players a rest for the upcoming games.

Remarkably Stan went back in front, a free kick taken by Stephenson with Craig Scott effort pushed away by Dobson, only for Hopper at the back post to hit into the roof of the net. 2-1

Good work by Danny Sayer coming back to help out the defence, with an intelligent tackle with the ball going back for Brass to collect.

However NS got another equaliser on 22 minutes. A very long throw in from Jaidon Odle found McCamley at the back post and he drilled the ball low into the net. 2-2.

A decent long ball from Stephenson was held up in the wind with Hopper unable to gain control and the chance was gone.

Towards the interval the visitors gained a couple of corners, both Scott and then Reid heading away the danger.

HT 2-2

Jordan Lashley came on for Stephenson. Finally Darryll Donnelly got a yellow card for constant fouls on Hopper. Reid got in a header from the free kick but Dobson saved comfortably.

Rain swept over the ground, oh dear, when will we see the last of this kind of weather?

But out of the gloom, a bright ray of sunshine as Jay Hornsby made it 3-2, hitting spectacularly (from 30 around yards) past a helpless Dobson. 3-2. That is Stan’s 300th goal in cup and league since Dean and Andy took over as managers. It has been a special time for all who have witnessed the amazing rise of the club under the managers.

Reid was shocked to be booked for a tackle which I and he thought was a good tackle and winning the ball. A couple of mutes later Reid needed treatment on a facial injury, he was able to carry on.

75 minutes, and what Stan fans had been waiting for, the return of Konner Lamb, after not being involved for 14 weeks due to injury. He replaced Hopper. It took him only 11 minutes, when Burn played the ball down the left for Lamb to collect and get to the byline, cut inside and fire low into the net. 4-2

7 added on minutes, but the game was over, Stan had moved up one place to 4^th and seek another win on Monday evening at Whickham

FT 4-2

Andy McBryde said after the game, “It was a tough match. Relieved, and really proud and happy after that. Over the moon with them. We went down to 10 men, but I always fancy us at home. We are where we are in the league because of what has been built in the dressing room. The shift that they have just put in has been unbelievable.”

Brian Pratt

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Usually, you would be called an April Fool to go out in torrential rain on April 1^st but there were no fools among the 502 crowd who sensibly turned up to watch this important clash between 2 play-off rivals with 3 points at stake & potentially a home play-off advantage for the winners. In the end, despite both teams positively trying to win, the match ended in stalemate. There were 3 changes from Friday’s 4-2 win at Sunderland RCA with Evans, Sayer & Anderson replacing Shepherd, Doyle & Lashley.

The Stan started positively from the kick off with Hopper almost immediately running in on the Birtley goal, but the flag was up. Anderson had a shot saved in 5 minutes & 2 minutes later the Stan had 2 make 2 clearances as Birtley also tried to attack. The Stan then had to head clear another Birtley effort before a visiting player shot just wide when they looked like scoring. Birtley had another corner cleared in 10 minutes while 3 minutes later Stephenson sent a free kick over the bar at the other end. Anderson then won the ball & advanced but was blocked for a corner. On an increasingly heavy pitch, both teams were trying to attack but both defences were also working well. In 27 minutes, a long range Birtley effort saw Brass punch the ball over the bar. From the resulting corner, Brass got down to make a great save. It was end to end with Hopper looking particularly dangerous. In 34 minutes, Burn & Sayer had shots blocked followed by Hopper having a shot saved. In 37 minutes, Sayer shot just over under pressure. Birtley then had 2 corners that were cleared. A Stepheson free kick went wide in 40 minutes followed b ymore end to end action including Brass punching out for a corner. The half ended with another Birtley corner which Reid headed clear.

The 2^nd half started slightly quieter as both teams had to deal with the increasingly wet & muddy conditions. Brass had to save in 49 minutes but there was then action at both ends. In 57 minutes, a Hornsby ball into the Birtley box was headed over by Burn. Soon after Hornsby sent a diagonal ball into the visitor’s box & although it went past the diving keeper it also went just wide of the post. In 60 minutes, Reid won the ball & passed to Hooper who shot just wide. In 63 minutes, from a Stephenson corner, Turnbull was blocked twice before a Birtley counter attack was cleared. It was mainly Stan now although Brass had to save in 67 minutes. 2 minutes later & Birtley shot well over the bar. Just after coming on as a sub, Lashley was supplied by Reid but the keeper got out to block his shot. In 76 minutes, Birtley headed just wide of the Stan goal. Things were more even now between the 2 teams with conditions getting more slippy. In 78 minutes, a ball from Horsnby was cleared & Birtley counter attacked with Scott clearing before a rebound shot went just over. In 81 minutes Birtley shot wide under pressure. In 82 minutes, Sayer was cynically brought down as he was about to enter the Birtley box & the resulting Reid free kick hit the wall. Twice the Birtley keeper got to the ball before the advancing Hopper before Brass easily caught from a long-range effort in 88 minutes. Both teams were still trying to attack as the match entered 3 minutes of added time. In 92 minutes, Reid headed clear from a Birtley corner & the ball went back into the Stan box & went just wide of the post although the Stan were given a free kick for a push. Lashley then broke & supplied Hornsby who headed the ball into Reid whose header was easily caught by the Birtley keeper as the match ended 0-0.

Both teams dealt well with the poor conditions underfoot & remained positive as the pitch got soggier. The draw meant that Birtley remained in 3^rd place with the Stan in 5^th 2 points behind but with a game in hand which if won would take them back to 3rd place. The Stan are now away on Saturday at Crook Town.

Kevin Mochrie

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