Season: 2023-24
2 vs 0 
Emley vs Heaton Stannington
Heaton Stannington fans travelled to West Yorkshire to give Emley their best FA Vase attendance of the season, 438, but they witnessed the end of their Vase journey for this season, at the same stage as last season, conceding a lone second half goal.
Expectations were high, Leighton Hopper had a superb solo run in the opening minute, leaving 3 men behind but was unable to test keeper Declan Lambton, but a big blow on 5 minutes as he tackled Paul Walker, and had to be substituted by Liam Doyle.
Emley started brightly and exerted pressure in the early period of the first half, their midfield well on top, with Stan missing the suspended Richie Slaughter.
On 14 minutes right back Samuel Pashley did well to deny Andy Burn a shot, but conceded a corner on the right. Dan Stephenson took it, setting up Sean Reid to run onto and head the ball low and wide. Joe Shepherd did well with a high ball as Lambton looked to get in and score.
On 21 minutes nearly a great through ball for Konner Lamb but the ball hit his heel as he surged forward. Just inches away from a most interesting opportunity for Stan.
Tom Flynn was again outstanding, but needed some treatment but was able to continue.
Emley captain Alex Metcalfe, put in an excellent cross but Ruben Jerome headed inches over the bar. Shepherd blocked a shot by Joe Clegg, and Craig Scott did similarly with 2 shots. Stan mistake at the back but Flynn made another good save.
An Emley corner on 42 minutes, but Stan breakaway, Lamb to Stephenson, but Metcalfe got back to deny Stan.
Three minutes added on with Stan winning a free kick but Stephenson fired over the bar.
HT 0-0
On 51 minutes Doyle drove a shot over the bar. Three minutes later good fortune for Emley, when they built up well from a throw in, the ball ricocheting to Metcalfe who poked in from close range. 0-1
Emley the better side but a cruel way to concede.
On the hour the first of 6 bookings in the match, Joseph Kenny, Emley
Flynn saved a couple of low shots, one from Emley leading goal scorer, Iyrwah Gooden, was well saved.
Mark Turnbull won a corner on the right, Stephenson took giving Scott a header which Lambton saved.
Nathan Greenwood made his debut, replacing Shepherd on 64 minutes. He soon had a low shot saved by Lambton.
69 minutes Kane Evans was booked.
Then a good link between Stephenson and Louis Anderson, great ball for Greenwood who shot from a narrow angle, which helped Lambton make a save.
On 73 minutes another Stan opportunity when Anderson crossed for Burn, but he didn’t connect properly.
75 minutes Lamb cut inside with his strong shot hitting a defender, did he use his arm, Far corner thought so, but referee pointed to his shoulder and ignored Stan appeals for a penalty.
On 77 minutes, a foul by Turnbull, which produced a yellow card for him. The free kick, a cross for Jack Cowgill to head goalwards but Flynn made his best save of the game, outstanding!
On 80 minutes Scott was booked, then Reid, with Jerome booked for kicking the ball away, in an attept to run the clock down.
In the dying moments Anderson with his back to goal managed a bicycle kick but Lambton made a good save.
Stan did throw everything into the closing minutes but were unable to snatch an equaliser.
Brian Pratt
Photo Gallery
1 vs 0 Heaton Stannington vs Darwen FC
The Stan remain on the road to Wembley after a comfortable win over Darwen of the North West Counties League Premier Division in the 1st round proper of the Vase. The Stan have now played & beaten 2 ex-league teams in the Vase having won 2-1 at Nelson in 2016 & are in the 2nd round for the 1st time since the 1981-82 season. There were 7 changes from last Tuesday’s Senior Cup match at Benfield with only Hornsby, Stephenson, Shepherd & Anderson starting both games. Tom Flynn replaced injured Lewis Brass in goals.
The match was played in surprisingly dry conditions & started with both teams trying to attack. Darwen had the 1st attack although it was the Stan who, from a Stephenson free kick, had the ball in the net in the 2nd minute courtesy of Hopper but Anderson was flagged for off-side. The Stan attacked again twice then Flynn had to get up to catch a high ball in 5 minutes. 2 minutes later & Darwen shot wide.
The lively start continued as both teams tried to attack when they could. In 14 minutes, a long-range Slaughter effort beat the Darwen keeper & hit the left post. Darwen had an attack cleared in 17 minutes, but it was the Stan who took the lead a minute later. A home attack saw Lamb calmly blast the ball with his left foot through a number of defenders to make it 1-0 to the Stan. A minute later & Hopper broke through but was blocked as he entered the 6-yard box. Soon after another Stan attack was headed away in front of goal.
The match was being played at a high tempo & in 23 minutes it was the Stan who scored again. Hopper ran through &, with defenders on either side of him, he kept his calm, entered the box & slotted the ball past the Darwen keeper. Darwen hadn’t given up though & in 28 minutes a free kick into the box was cleared for a corner. From the corner, the Stan headed clear from in front of the goal before a Darwen player headed over the bar.
Both teams kept attacking when they could & in 36 minutes a Stephenson free kick went just over the bar. In 39 minutes, a clash involving Slaughter eventually saw the referee consulting the linesman before sending him off. Darwen tried to take advantage of their extra man & in 43 minutes Reid had to head out for a corner. From the corner, Flynn expertly pushed the ball clear. Into added time & Darwen attacked again but the half ended with the Stan leading 2-0.
The 2nd half started like the 1st with both teams trying to attack although the Stan defence had to work harder due to the sending off, but they were soaking up the pressure. In 53 minutes, Shepherd headed clear before a Darwen player shot well over. In 57 minutes, there was a long ball to Lamb, but he was brought down as he was about to advance into the visitor’s box. As a result, the referee sent off a Darwen player & the numbers on each team were even again. The Stan shot well over from the resulting free kick.
In 66 minutes, another bad tackle on Lamb just outside the visitor’s box saw a Darwen player receiving a yellow. Stephenson sent the resulting free kick towards the goal, but the Darwen keeper punched the ball away. Both teams were trying to attack but cancelling each other out. In 73 minutes Lashley replaced Lamb. A minute later, a diagonal ball from Reid gave the advancing Lashley his 1st touch of the ball since coming on & with it he comfortably sent the ball into the net for 3-0. What a goal!
In 78 minutes, Darwen had 2 corners with the 2nd headed clear. From it, the ball went back into the box & a shot by a Darwen player went just wide. In 82 minutes, sub Sayer sent the ball into the box but no one was there to connect with it & it was eventually cleared. Soon after, Sayer crossed to Hopper who flicked on the ball to Reid, but his effort was saved by the Darwen keeper. From the resulting corner, Hopper headed over.
In 87 minutes, the Darwen keeper got to the ball just before Hopper. A Darwen attack was then blocked by Shepherd. Into 5 added minutes & a Burn header from a corner was blocked. The match ended with a Darwen long range effort going well over the bar.
The Stan deserved their cup win with all the team working hard although Flynn in the Stan goal was rarely tested. Although each side had a player sent off, it was not a dirty game & most fans appeared surprised at both decisions. The Stan now travel in the 2nd round to Emley, near Huddersfield, of the Northern Counties East League Premier Division.
Kevin Mochrie
Photo Gallery
3 vs 0 
Newcastle Benfield vs Heaton Stannington
The Stan played local rivals Benfield for the 2nd time in 11 days but this time it was in cup action. Despite a 2nd half revival by the Stan, the match eventually resulted in the Stan narrowly exiting the Senior Cup in the 1st round.
Unfortunately, the atmosphere was dampened by a serious accidental injury to Stan keeper Lewis Brass which resulted in him being replaced & having to go to hospital. Everyone’s thoughts are with him & hope that he will recover from his injuries soon.
There were 8 changes from the team that beat West Allotment on Saturday with only Marriott, Shepherd & Stephenson starting both games.
Benfield started on the attack & they had a free kick cleared after 2 minutes. The Stan had the ball in the Benfield net after 6 minutes when a ball from a corner had initially been cleared then was headed into the net, but the flag went up for offside. Both teams were trying to attack but it was Benfield who nearly scored when, in 9 minutes, Brass blocked a home effort & the close range rebound shot was cleared off the line by Shepherd. From the resulting corner, Brass got up to catch the ball.
Benfield were now looking dangerous although the Stan were attacking when they could. Benfield scored though from a speculative shot in the 16th minute, which was sent through a crowded box & went past Brass’s left & into the net. Benfield were looking in control now & had a number of attacks cleared. In 27 minutes, a home effort was headed clear with the follow up shot going well over the Stan bar.
A rare joined up Stan attack in 28 minutes saw Doyle brought down in the box by the Benfield keeper. Anderson took the resulting penalty & blasted the ball into the net to make it 1-1 after 29 minutes. The goal appeared to waken up the Stan although Brass had to get down to block from close range in 32 minutes. The ball came back in & went straight across the goal line & eventually was put out for a corner. Both teams were trying to attack & Benfield blasted an effort over the bar in 36 minutes.
In 40 minutes, Cassidy sent a free kick over the home bar but the Stan were playing better football now & the advancing Doyle then forced a corner. Things went disastrously wrong in the 45th minute when Shepherd under hit his intended pass to Hornsby allowing a Benfield player to get to the ball. Shepherd slipped trying to block him which allowed the player to put the ball past Brass & give Benfield an unexpected 2-1 lead at half time.
The 2nd half started quieter, but this was to change in the 51st minute. From a Benfield attack, Brass caught the ball to make a save but a player collided with him knocking him out & the ball was forced into the net. There was a long period of treatment before Brass was able to be carried off the pitch & a goal was given to Benfield.
Shepherd replaced Brass in goal & Turnbull came on as a sub. The Stan didn’t give up & in 60 minutes Dunn had a long range shot blocked. Lamb & Slaughter were brought on to also show that the Stan meant business. In 63 minutes, Stephenson supplied Lashley who chipped the keeper, but his effort went slightly wide.
Although the Stan were pressing, it was Benfield who had a clear opportunity in 66 minutes when, after Marriott had failed to clear, a home player advanced into the box but Shepherd got down to make a great block. There was then a period of sustained Stan pressure but unfortunately without any clear opportunity mainly due to the efforts of the home defence. In 79 minutes, Doyle, who worked hard all night, sent a great ball into the box & although Lashley missed it a Benfield player kicked the ball just wide for a corner which was eventually put over the bar by the Stan.
The Stan kept pressing & dominating possession &, due to the injury to Brass, there was 10 minutes of added time. In 92 minutes, Lamb made a great run into the box, but the ball was cleared. Almost immediately the Stan attacked again when Slaughter sent the ball forward which saw Lamb nip through a line of defenders to get to the ball, round the keeper & shoot into the net.
With only 1 goal in it now, there was everything to play for, but it was Benfield who nearly tied things up a minute later when Shepherd had to make a great save. This then resulted in 3 corners with Shepherd making a great save from the 2nd one when he put the ball over the bar. Soon after, Hornsby won the ball & supplied Lamb, but the home keeper just got to the ball 1st. The Stan were looking for an equaliser but they eventually ran out of time.
Benfield had much of the early play & were helped by 2 unfortunate goals, but the Stan showed their usual resilience & determination & nearly sent the match to penalties. Good substitutions by Dean Nicholson & excellent goalkeeping by stand in keeper Shepherd also helped. Subject to forecasted severe weather, the Stan are again in cup action this Saturday when they host Darwen in the FA Vase. The chance of playing at St James’ Park this season might have gone but a trip to Wembley is still possible!
Kevin Mochrie
Photo Gallery
3 vs 2 West Allotment Celtic vs Heaton Stannington
The short trip to local rivals West Allotment Celtic in East Palmersville saw the Stan leave with an important 3 points which sees them remain 5th in the league with games in hand over some of the teams above them.
There was not much between the 2 teams, but the Stan did enough to eventually score in 73 minutes & then hold onto their slender lead to win. There were 3 changes from the team that drew 0-0 at Boro Rangers on Wednesday night with Flynn, Shepherd & Sayer replacing Brass, Hornsby & Anderson.
On a cold, blustery but sunny afternoon there was a slow start to the match although WAC had to replace an injured player, ex-Stan Jack Errington, in the 3rd minute. The home keeper was forced to catch at the 2nd attempt in 7 minutes, but nothing much else happened until the 12th minute when Shepherd supplied the advancing Hopper & he forced a corner from which Sayer headed over.
WACs 1st clear attack was blocked in 15 minutes which then saw Hopper counter attack but, from a tight angle & under pressure in the box, he put the ball onto the top of the net. Both teams then had attacks cleared. In 22 minutes, Hopper was brought down 40 yards out but Stephenson sent the ball from the resulting free kick into orbit.
WAC had a corner in 27 minutes after great defensive work from Turnbull but it was cleared. At the other end, both Turnbull & Hopper had consecutive shots blocked. WAC countered & the ball went high across the Stan goal but the resulting shot was cleared. It was then the Stan who countered but the keeper got to the ball before Lamb.
There was more action now & the WAC keeper had to get out again to clear in front of an advancing Lamb. In 38 minutes, Sayer headed clear from a WAC corner followed by Lamb, who noticed the WAC keeper off his line, trying a speculative long shot but it went wide.
WAC had the best opportunity of the match so far in 43 minutes when a player broke forward & Flynn had to make a great save. A minute later, & Lamb had a shot blocked. Hopper crossed the ball back into box which the keeper blocked & Reid put his rebound shot over the bar. The half ended 0-0 & it had been a relatively even & quiet affair.
The 2nd half also had a quiet start apart from in 49 minutes when WAC won a corner. It was followed by Sayer making a run up to the other end, but he put his shot over the bar. There was then another quiet period until Flynn punched the ball away from a WAC corner in 55 minutes which led to a joined up Stan counter attack which eventually was blocked.
Nothing much else happened until the WAC keeper easily caught a Stephenson free kick in 65 minutes then a WAC attack was eventually cleared for a corner. From it, Flynn got down to save.
Both teams were trying to attack but with no end result although this was to change in the 73rd minute. Stephenson’s corner ball was cleared to the edge of the penalty box allowing Slaughter to shoot through a busy box with the keeper parrying his effort which allowed Marriott to put the rebound into the net.
The match livened up after this as the Stan knew they had made the crucial breakthrough & were determined to hold onto their lead while WAC knew that at least a draw was still possible. As a result, WAC headed just over in 75 minutes & 2 minutes later Flynn had to punch away the ball from a corner. The Stan then pressurised the WAC defence but in 80 minutes, WAC had a good effort that went just wide.
Hopper was trying to advance with the ball whenever he could & in 84 minutes shot wide under pressure from a tight angle. Doyle then cleared from a WAC corner as the home team kept the pressure on. In 89 minutes, Flynn came out to the edge of his box to clear but an advancing forward collided with him. Both were on the ground for a number of minutes which led to a lengthy period of added time.
After a tense 8 added minutes & 2 clearances for the Stan Army, but with no serious threat from the frantic home team, the match ended with the Stan on the attack & with 3 precious points to take home.
The Stan Army were delighted with this important if narrow win which sees the Stan still only having being beaten once in their 11 league matches this season & that was on the opening day. The Stan have another very short journey on Tuesday night when they visit Benfield in the Northumberland Senior Cup.
Kevin Mochrie
Photo Gallery
0 vs 1 
0 vs 0