On a bitterly cold day but in front of a great crowd of 372, there was a lot of action & attacking play from both sides but unfortunately only 2 goals as the Stan had to settle for a point when a win looked likely as Crook stole a draw even though they were down to 10 men after 8 minutes. There was 1 change from Wednesday’s home draw against West Allotment with Evans replacing Doyle.

The Stan kicked off positively with the ball being passed to Slaughter who advanced & tried a speculative long range shot which had to be blocked by a defender. Then at the other end, Corkhill had to punch away from a corner. Both teams were trying to attack & in 7 minutes, a Stephenson free kick saw Anderson slide towards goal but his effort hit the post. Crook then shot wide. In the 8^th minute, Crook were down to 10 men when Wearmouth was sent off after he had bundled into Scott, after he had realised the ball, & elbowed him in the back of the head. 2 minutes later, & a Stephenson free kick into the box was blocked & cleared. Another Stan attack saw the Crook keeper collide with the advancing Burn & clear the ball. In 13 minutes, a joined-up Stan attack ended with a Hopper header being cleared. The Stan attacked again & eventually Hopper headed over at the end of a 4 man move. In 18 minutes, from a Stan corner, a Scott header was blocked. Although there was more Stan pressure, both teams were trying to attack. In 25 minutes, the advancing Stephenson crossed to Burn who couldn’t get his shot in & the ball was eventually cleared. Hornsby then sent the ball into the box & 1^st Evans hit the post then Hopper has a shot cleared off the line. The Stan kept attacking although Crook won a corner in 36 minutes from which the ball was headed clear. In 39 minutes, Burn headed high towards the Crook far post, but the ball hit the crossbar. The move eventually resulted in a corner from which Stephenson shot across the Crook goal & the ball went out. In 42 minutes, Burn supplied Turnbull whose header went over the bar under pressure. Both teams were still trying to attack but the half ended 0-0.

Lashley replaced Scott at half time & 3 minutes into the 2^nd half Burn shot just wide. The Stan had another 4 advances blocked before Corkhill & the Stan defence had to make their 1^st clearance of the 2^nd half. The Stan had another 5 attacks cleared before Crook had an attack of their own cleared in 62 minutes. In 63 minutes, there was a handball by a Crook player just outside their box. From the resulting free kick, in 64 minutes, Stephenson sent the ball over the wall & straight into the net for 1-0. What a goal! Crook did not give up though & in 70 minutes, from a free kick, Corkhill had to flick the ball out for a corner. From the corner, the ball was initially blocked in the 6-yard box then forced into the net through lots of legs for 1-1. The Stan put pressure back on Crook as they sought a winning goal, & a header from Anderson was blocked in 78 minutes. Corkhill then had to save as a Crook forward collided with him & he was awarded a foul. In 81 minutes, a long-range effort saw Corkhill block then catch the ball. 3 minutes later, & a long range effort at the other end by Stephenson was put over the bar by the stretching home keeper when the ball looked like going into the Crook net. It was a great shot followed by a great save. Hornsby then sent a ball into the Crook box which went high & over. The Stan kept attacking but were being blocked. Crook did manage to attack in 86 minutes, but they were halted by a great tackle by Turnbull. In 88 minutes, a long diagonal cross by Stephenson saw Lashley’s resulting effort under pressure go just over. The Stan kept pressurising & at the start of 5 minutes of added time, Doyle sent a ball into the box which saw Reid get up to head but the home keeper put the ball just over the bar. From the resulting Stephenson corner, Lashley headed just wide. The Stan kept attacking but could not get the crucial 2^nd goal. The match ended in a similar fashion with Reid sliding into the 6-yard box but the ball was cleared for a corner from which Reid headed low but again the home keeper came to Crook’s rescue & cleared.

Thanks to some great saves & slow bye kicks, keeper Curran earned Crook a draw when the Stan should have taken all 3 points although they are still on target for a play off place. Next up for the Stan is a trip on Tuesday night to Whickham.

Kevin Mochrie

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After looking like they were going to eventually win a highly competitive match with a late goal, the Stan had to in the end settle for a draw as West Allotment Celtic got an even later goal. Although this local derby was full of action and entertainment, it looked like fans were going to witness the 1^st 0-0 draw this season at Grounsell until the 2 late goals. There were 5 changes from last Wednesday’s win at Benfield with Corkhill, Turnbull, Shepherd, Slaughter & Hopper replacing Brass, Evans, Reid, Marriott & Lashley.

On a pleasant evening, WAC were 1^st to show this was going to be a match with much attacking play when in 3 minutes they hit a shot just over the bar from just outside the 6-yard box after the initial ball into the box had been blocked. After a quieter period, the 1^st Stan attack came in 8 minutes which resulted in a corner. From it, Turnbull shot just wide. WAC then went up the pitch & shot across the Stan goal with Corkhill getting down to put the ball out for a corner. From the corner, the ball was cleared in front of a packed goal line. The 15^th minute saw the start of a couple of minutes of sustained pressure from the Stan. This included a shot by Hornsby being blocked & the rebound shot from Hopper was put just over the bar for a corner. From the corner, the ball was cleared & went out to Hopper on the edge of the box and his shot was deflected just over for another corner. In 18 minutes, Corkhill blocked a WAC shot. There was lots of action now from both teams with the ball being sent up and down the pitch. From the 33^rd minute, there was a couple of minutes of mainly pressure from WAC including a shot that hit the side netting of the Stan goal. It was back to end-to-end action now & in 40 minutes a WAC shot was blocked with the rebound effort going just wide. In 41 minutes, Stephenson shot well wide. Soon after, he won the ball & a joined up Stan attack eventually saw the ball sent across the visitor’s goal but was missed by everyone. The half finished 0-0 but the Stan had been trying to attack while their defence had also dealt well with the threat from WAC’s pacey players.

The 2^nd half started with a Stan effort being headed clear. In 48 minutes, a deflected ball to Hornsby resulted in him shooting over the visitor’s bar. It was all mainly pressure from the Stan now as they sought a possibly winning goal. In 53 minutes, a Stephenson free kick saw Hopper head the ball towards the net at the back post but the WAC keeper caught it. 2 minutes later & a Stan ball from a corner was parried away by the WAC keeper. The Stan kept attacking although the visitors were still potentially a threat. In 66 minutes, a joined-up attack ended with Anderson, who was working hard, shooting just over from the edge of the box. The Stan then shot wide followed by the WAC keeper getting down to save a long range effort. In 70 minutes, from a corner, Turnbull headed towards goal but the ball bounced of Hopper who was facing towards him. WAC then had a rare attack eventually shooting wide. It was then back to Stan pressure & in 75 minutes a Hopper shot from the edge of the box was deflected onto the post. Soon after, a WAC ball into the Stan box was headed clear. In 83 minutes, the Stan determination paid off when Hornsby sent a ball into the WAC box from the left & sub Lashley rose majestically to head it into the net for 1-0. What a header! In 87 minutes, a WAC ball into the Stan box was eventually put just wide for a corner. From the corner, the visitor’s headed the ball into the net for 1-1 on 88 minutes. There were still a few minutes for the Stan to get another goal & Hornsby sent a ball into the box for sub Sayer who headed just wide. The Stan kept the pressure on into added time but couldn’t get the crucial 2^nd goal.

The 1^st half of the match was a relatively even affair with both teams having chances to score. The 2^nd half was more one sided with the Stan dominating until the 88^th minute WAC equaliser and the Stan Army were disappointed that their team did not snatch a late victory. The draw moves the Stan up to 5^th place. On Saturday the Stan are at home again when they host Crook Town.

Kevin Mochrie

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Heaton Stannington were without the injured Carr, Hopper and Lamb, and Stephenson was not available, Stan in their previous seven NL 1 matches had conceded the first goal, and went on to win 3, draw 1 and lose the other three.

However they broke that bad pattern, getting an early goal, conceded an equaliser five minutes from half time but were still able to go to the changing rooms a goal up at the interval. The second half Stan were far more able to control the game and scored another goal and run out worthy winners, and rise up two places in the table. Warm applause at the end from most of the 361 attenders.

The match opened explosively with Stan scoring on 2 minutes, with a throw in from Kane Evans to Louis Anderson, back to Evans, then back to Anderson who played the ball inside for Andy Burn, just on the edge of the area, central, one touch to control before hitting a low shot into the bottom far corner. 1-0

Stan had a shout for a penalty three minutes later when Anderson was tackled in the area. Ref said play on.

Redcar responded with Mark Anderson having a low shot straight to Lewis Brass.

Jordan Lashley just failed to get on the end of a through ball, then Sean Reid hit a free kick over the bar.

Brass came to the rescue on 20 minutes as Curtis Round chased a ball into the area, but he came and caught the ball to deny the visitors any opportunity. Nine minutes later Brass came out of his area to head the ball away as Adam Boyes attacked, straight to Anderson who volleyed high over the bar.

Richie Slaughter was having a magisterial match, strong and resilient, leading his team in the battle. Alfie Marriott and Craig Scott were kept busy, and battled away strongly.

Scott headed behind to concede a corner as the Cleveland side were pushing for an equaliser.

On 35 minutes a good build up play, Anderson to Reid, with his goal bound shot pushed away for a corner,

A couple of minutes later the experienced Kevin Burgess brought down Lashley in the area. This time it was a penalty, with Burgess getting booked. Reid’s low spot kick was saved by Lee Roberts.

Redcar equalised on 40 minutes with the move starting on their left, just inside their own area by Boyes, he surged to the back post as Andersons shot was pushed away by Brass, with Boyes swooping to net from close range. 1-1

Two minutes added on when Reid fed Lashley to Anderson, with a defender intercepting but his pass went to Evans, who played a simple ball forward for Burns, one touch to set himself, then the ball went up and over Roberts. Home fans ecstatic. 2-1

HT 2-1

Stan did much better in the second half, contained and controlled Redcar’s threat. Stan were much hungrier to get into the Redcar box and score, whereas Brass was hardly troubled.

On 49 minutes Anderson to Reid to Lashley with his fierce shot finger tipped over the bar.

Brass made just one notable save in the second half, on 53 minutes with a cross to the back post for Jack Blackford to volley, ball stopped by keepers legs to concede a corner.

Just past the hour Burn to Anderson, his cross cut out, with Reid waiting, expectantly for that cross to get on scoring sheet.

Liam Doyle ran from his own half to the edge of the Redcar box, with a lovely pass to Reid, but his weak low shot was easily saved.

Danny Sayer replaced Lashley on 73 minutes, and was immediately in the action. A long throw from Jay Hornsby, headed forward by Reid to Sayer, with the ball to Burn whose wonderful low shot nestled in the bottom corner of the net. 3-1 A wonderful hat trick!

Five minutes of added on time, but no danger to Stan and they were warmly applauded at the final whistle.

To get a double over such a decent side speaks volumes of Stan’s determination to climb the table.

FT 3-1

Dean said after the match, “It was a real real decent job by every single player that took part, and thoroughly deserved. Everyone was excellent, you have be to beat a side like that. We were excellent second half, dominant, catching them on the break a lot, created a lot of chances.”

Stan are away on Wednesday night at Benfield, and then on Saturday welcome second placed Shildon to Grounsell Park.

Brian Pratt

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A healthy mid-week crowd of 413 witnessed only the Stan’s 3^rd home match of 2024 as they sought revenge for last month’s unlucky 1-0 defeat at promotion rivals Whitley Bay. The match looked early on as if it would be a goalless stalemate although both teams eventually managed to score once but neither team seemed to reach their expected potential on the park compared to most previous recent encounters. The Stan worked hard, including through Slaughter & Hopper, & there was a classic equaliser from Nick ‘Predator’ Cassidy. There were 3 changes from Saturday’s defeat at Bishop Auckland with Marriott, Lashley & Sayer replacing Turnbull, Shepherd & Stephenson.

The match started with both teams trying to attack but they were wiping out each other’s threats up front & as a result the 1^st clear effort wasn’t until 6 minutes when Bay shot wide. The Stan shot wide in 12 minutes, followed by the Bay doing the same, but neither team really threatened until 22 minutes. A Hornsby ball to Hopper on the edge of a busy Bay box saw his shot deflected over the bar for a corner which was eventually cleared. Unexpectantly, the visitors took the lead in 28 minutes when they had a shot blocked by Brass but a rebound shot from close range saw the ball forced into the net. The Stan didn’t sit back & in 29 minutes, after Hopper had won the ball & forced a corner, Lashley shot high & wide from outside the box. In 31 minutes, there was pressure from Bay as twice they shot across the Stan goal from a tight angle & both times the ball went just wide of the far post. From a resulting corner, a Bay player headed just wide. Although there was a quieter spell, in 35 minutes a joined up Stan attack ended with Sayer shooting wide. In 42 minutes, Hopper’s solo effort unluckily hit the post & this was followed by a bay counterattack which was stopped by Marriott. The half ended though with Whitley Bay leading 1-0.

The Stan started the 2^nd half positively with Hopper in the 48^th minute dribbling into the visitor’s box but shooting just over under pressure. In 53 minutes, a Stan free kick on the edge of the Bay box was cleared followed by Evans dealing well to stop the counter attack. Both teams were trying to attack but both defences were working well to prevent any real threats. In 65 minutes, the Stan were back on level terms when a ball from a Stan corner was cleared in front of goal & the ball went out of the box to Cassidy on the left who sent it back into the box over everyone & into the far top corner of the net. What a goal, especially given that he had only been on the pitch for 3 minutes. The Stan now started showing more confidence as they knew the match could be won & sub Doyle had a great opportunity in front of goal in 67 minutes but blasted the ball over the bar. There was a quieter 10 minutes as both teams still tried to attack but without making any real threats. The Stan had some sustained pressure in 79 minutes but the Bay keeper & his defence worked hard to deal with it. The last 7 minutes of normal time saw mainly pressure from the Stan as they sought a wining goal. In 86 minutes, Hopper entered into the box but, under pressure, he turned & shot just over. Into 4 minutes of added time & Whitley Bay finally attacked again but shot well over when they had a good opportunity in front of goal to score. In 91 minutes, Shepherd won the ball & passed to Lashley but he couldn’t supply the advancing Hopper. A minute later after a Bay advance, Hopper sent a long ball up to the advancing Lashley but he was wrongly deemed off side. Hopper then made a great run but couldn’t get a shot in & both teams had to settle for a draw.

Although either team could have snatched a victory, a draw seemed a fair result on a night with relatively limited chances for both teams. Next up is the NE6-NE7 derby as the Stan make the short journey to Sam’s Smith Park to take on Newcastle Benfield on Wednesday evening.

Kevin Mochrie

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In a cracking match, Heaton Stannington came from behind, after conceding an early goal, to win with a very late goal, to give them the double over third placed West Auckland.

Joe Shepherd returned to the first team, with Kane Evans making his 50^th start for the Stan.

A fine day, generally dull but a bit of sunshine crept in, but not for long, as it remained cold.

Stan started well and had a couple of attacking moves down the left flank, with shots not testing keeper Piotr Banda. And one long range shot from Sean Reid, Banda saved comfortably.

But it was the visitors who opened the scoring on 5 minutes, when a clearance from Lewis Brass hit the back of Joshua Scott, deflected up into the air and towards goal with Scott getting to it first and heading into the net. 0-1 His 18^th league goal of the season.

Stan reacted well with some good inter passing, Mark Turnbull finding Jordan Lashley but he couldn’t find space for a shot, but on 18 minutes a superb volley from Dan Stephenson which just went inches wide of the upright.

The moves from Stan kept coming, Richie Slaughter and Stephenson instigators of most flowing moves forward, but Stan found it difficult to finish off their moves.

Turnbull to Reid who found Stephenson who gave the ball out wide to Leighton Hopper, but his cross was deflected behind for a corner. Andy Burn to Stephenson and again to Hopper, who was a handful. A lot of possession, good passing, but that final touch was not working.

On 36 minutes a Burn effort was turned aside by Banda for a corner.

Burn to Reid back to Burn out to Hopper but again his shot went wide.

But the equaliser came on 41 minutes, Burn to Stephenson, to Lashley and across to Hopper, whose shot from outside the area, took a slight deflection and went into the top far corner of the net. 1-1 A well deserved equaliser.

HT 1-1

West Auckland raised their game but they met a stubborn home defence which stood strong with all that was thrown at them. On 50 minutes James Harrison just outside the area but his shot flew over the Stan bar.

Three minutes later Oscar Fletcher headed wide when he should have done better.

Mark Turnbull was yellow carded for a foul on Corey Nicholson. From the free kick Scott headed over the bar.

On 57 minutes Lashley shot low, Banda fumbled the ball to Hopper, 4 yards out, but amazingly, he hit the chest of the keeper.

Turnbull was impressive in getting in a tackle to turn the ball out of play, denying West Auckland a goal scoring opportunity.

Brass was at his best with a marvellous save on 59 minutes when Lee Hulme, 22 yards out was denied by a truly great save.

Strange moment just past the hour when VAR visited Grounsel. (without camera or dodgy white line) Asst referee raised his flag, was it for offside or a foul? Ref told him to put his flag down and play went on. Brass walked out of the way (why risk injury) as Scott netted. Quite a hold up as who knows what was said. Stan were awarded a free kick where the assistant had raised his flag.

On 68 minutes Reid seemed to be fouled as he passed to Hopper, but he dinked the ball on to top of bar and over.

Then Nicholson hit the base of the post from outside the area from a breakaway. Action from end to end as each side wanted a win.

Magic from Hopper on 76 minutes, having beaten a couple of defenders he squared the ball for Burn, many who saw that Barnoldswick blockbuster of a winner, thought here we go again, but he smashed the ball over the bar.

83 minutes Mark Turnbull was injured in another of his tackles and was replaced by Alfie Marriott.

Evans rescued Stan, when conceding a corner as Brass raced a long way out. Evans needed treatment. From the resultant corner substitute Danny Sayer headed away.

4 minutes of added on time.

Another world class save from Brass when Scott hit a goal bound shot but was denied by the flying keeper.

Last minute, and what an outstanding pass from Slaughter, through the middle for Hopper to run onto with Liam Potter taking Hopper out. Penalty given.

Game held up while Ben Dale was given a yellow card then another yellow as he kept on at the ref.

Ice man Hopper nonchalantly put the spot kick away to steal a win for Stan.

That’s half the league games now completed for Stan.

FT 2-1

Dean said after the match, “The equaliser was coming eventually. We were happy with 99% of it, but it was just that last cross, shot or whatever it was, that last pass, it was just letting us down. It was tough. We defended really well. Do not lose the game was the order, but we took all 6 points against them, was unbelievable.”

Brian Pratt

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