Season: 2024-25
0 vs 1 
2 vs 1 
Newton Aycliffe vs Heaton Stannington
Unfortunately, after 7 matches, the Stan finally suffered their 1st away defeat of 2025. It was against play off placed Newton Aycliffe & there was no shortage of drama & controversy which were both mainly caused by the referee. There were no changes from last week’s home win over Bishop Auckland.
Newton Aycliffe showed they meant business when in the 1st minute they shot over then Stan’s bar. The Stan then had a corner which came to nothing. 3 minutes later & Aycliffe got the ball into the stan box, but Stephenson cleared for a corner. Capewell cleared it before Stephenson sent a long ball up to Lamb who lost out to the home defence. The Stan were pressing now & Lamb advanced upon the home keeper who caught the ball. Adamson then headed past the post before Aycliffe attacked but the Stan blocked them twice. In the 7th minute, an Aycliffe corner was blocked in the 6-yard box & it was now the Stan defence who were working hard & they had to make 3 more clearances by the 10th minute. There was controversy after 12 minutes when Hopper & Brown went up for a ball, but the latter dropped to the ground earning him an Oscar nomination. The referee sent Hopper off after pressure from the home side. The extra player for Aycliffe led to a period of home pressure. This paid off in the 17th minute when, from a corner, a home header was missed by Brass under pressure & although Stephenson tried to stop the ball on the line it went into the net. 2 minutes later & Brass had to get down to catch. Capewell was then brought down in the home box, but nothing was given. In the 20th minute, Walker advanced down the right & was brought down. Stephenson’s free kick was headed just wide by Capewell at the far post. 3 minutes later & the home keeper got out to clear under pressure from Lamb. Both teams were trying to attack & Aycliffe shot well over in the 26th minute. The Stan were 2-0 down in the 27th minute when a poor clearance by Brass allowed a nearby home player to advance with the ball & because Brass & his defence couldn’t get the ball cleared, it was eventually forced into the net. Soon after there was an elbow on Slaughter & although a free kick was awarded, no cards were shown. The Stan didn’t give up & after Adamson had been shoved off the ball, Stephenson’s resulting free kick went just over the bar. Evans was then elbowed but only a yellow card was shown. Stephenson’s free kick from the incident went wide. In 36 minutes, Aycliffe shot just over from a corner. Slaughter then advanced but was stamped on & the only card shown was to Lamb for dissent. The Stan then had to clear & soon after Brass had to catch. Into added time, & Robson forced a corner & from it his glancing header went just wide. As the officials left the pitch, the conversations resulted in Dean Nicolson being booked & Brass being sent off..
Down to 9 men for the 2nd half saw defender Marriott go in goals with Burn replacing Adamson. Aycliffe immediately tried to test Marriott with a shot from distance, but it went wide. The Stan attacked followed on 50 minutes by a long range home shot which was deflected just wide for a corner. Capewell cleared from the corner & there was another corner from a deflected shot 2 minutes later which saw a shot hitting the side netting. Aycliffe kept the pressure on but without really testing Marriott & in 55 minutes Capewell headed clear. In 59 minutes, Marriott easily made his 1st catch. Aycliffe kept attacking & in 63 minutes they shot wide then well over the bar. In 66 minutes, a ball across the Stan box was missed by everyone. Capewell then cleared before a home long shot went well wide. In 69 minutes, the Stan had an attack cleared before more home pressure which the Stan again dealt with well. In the 74th minute though, a home effort was blocked on the line but was forced into the net for 3-0 to Aycliffe. In 77 minutes, Marriott blocked an effort on the line, Robson then blocked before Marriott caught the ball. The Stan subs revitalised the team & in 78 minutes sub Hornsby supplied sub Groves who shot straight at the home keeper. Aycliffe then shot well wide. The Stan kept trying to attack but it was Aycliffe who shot well over in 85 minutes. In 89 minutes, after Evans had blocked a shot, Marriott made a great save. In 91 minutes, Hornsby tackled a home player to clear an attack in the box, but the referee awarded a penalty. Marriott went the correct way but could not stop the ball going into the net for 4-0 for Aycliffe.
The team gave a heroic 2nd have performance despite being 2 players down & were unlucky to concede 2 further goals. It was a disappointing day on the road for the Stan & although Newton Aycliffe were always going to be a challenge, none of the Stan Army expected as heavy a defeat, inconsistent refereeing or 2 sending offs. Special praise must be given to stand in keeper Alfie Marriott who was awarded man of the match for his efforts. The defeat dropped the Stan into the relegation zone & one point from safety. Things brightened up by Monday though as Brighouse were deducted 3 points pushing the Stan back up 2 points & 1 place above the relegation zone. With 3 games to play the Stan are at home on Good Friday against Liversedge.
Kevin Mochrie
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4 vs 0 Heaton Stannington vs Bishop Auckland
It was 2 wins & 2 clean sheets in 6 days for the Stan & their well-deserved victory over North East rivals Bishop Auckland saw them move up to 12th place. They are now 3 points & 7 places from the relegation zone with 8 teams basically battling to avoid 4th bottom & relegation. The Stan scored twice late in the 1st half & although Bishop tried to fight back in the 2nd half the Stan held on for a well-deserved victory. There was 1 change from last week’s win at Grimsby with Marriott replacing Payne.
The Stan showed they meant business from kick off in this Friday night fixture & in the 3rd minute a great Marriott volley diagonally into the box went just over the bar. 7 minutes later & Slaughter’s 25 yard rocket hit the post. Lamb tried to get a rebound effort in but the ball was blocked for a corner. Brass then had to make his only save of the 1st half. A twisting run by Walker in 16 minutes ended with him being pulled down but nothing was given. In 21 minutes, Lamb was put through & although the keeper couldnt get to his shot it went wide of the post. 2 minutes later Walker shot wide from outside the box as the Stan kept the pressure on. In 30 minutes Lamb forced a save from the Bishop keeper. The expected goal for the Stan finally came in the 38th minute when Stephenson sent a cross into the Bishop box which Capewell flicked on to Hopper who forced the ball into the net at the far post. Into added time & a powerful shot from Walker was only stopped by a good save by the keeper. In the 3rd minute of added time, the Stan went 2-0 up from a corner when Stephenson sent the ball into the box for Marriott to head into the Bishop net.
The 2nd half started slower than the end of the 1st & the 1st effort was from Bishop in 54 minutes when a header from a long throw was deflected wide for a corner. Both teams were relatively quiet although it was Bishop who threatened more as the half went on. In 77 minutes, Bishop shot wide. In 82 minutes, after a Stan free kick had come to nothing, Bishop had an attack cleared. 2 minutes later they had another attack cleared although the ball was sent back in & Brass had to get up to catch. Into added time & both teams had attacks blocked.
It was a comfortable & deserved win for the Stan who worked hard throughout the match & never looked like surrendering their 2-0 half time lead. They now have momentum going into next Saturday’s away fixture at Newton Aycliffe.
Kevin Mochrie
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2 vs 0 
Grimsby Borough vs Heaton Stannington
While some people in Newcastle were watching a parade, the Stan Army made a 3-hour trip to Grimsby & the team made sure that they went home happy & singing. The Stan convincingly beat Grimsby Borough, with a well thought out & excellent team performance. They dealt well with playing into the wind in the 1st half & defended. Unlike Grimsby who didn’t so in the 1st half, they took advantage in the 2nd half of playing into the wind themselves & being able to attack basically at will. There were 3 changes from last week’s home defeat to Bridlington with Stephenson, Robson & Lamb replacing Shepherd, Burn & Turnbull. Jeremy Perera made his debut from the bench.
Grimsby had the 1st clear threat in the 2nd minute when they had a free kick into the Stan box which was cleared. In the 5th minute another Grimsby attack was blocked by Capewell & 3 minutes later Brass easily caught. With the wind in their faces, the Stan found it difficult to attack but in 8 minutes a long ball from Stephenson to Hopper saw him shoot but the ball was easily caught by Higton in the home goal. 2 minutes later & a Grimsby free kick was cleared followed soon after by a great defensive block by Robson. Grimsby kept attacking & the Stan kept defending & keeping them out. The Stan eventually got another attack in 17 minutes but although Adamson was in on the keeper, Higton easily cleared. The Stan had another attack cleared 4 minutes later. In the 24th minute, a Hopper effort was easily caught by Higton & 2 minutes later he advanced again but was brought down. A Grimsby player then broke but Brass got to the ball 1st. In 28 minutes, a Stephenson free kick resulted in Hopper heading wide. In 33 minutes, a Grimsby corner was cleared & soon after another home effort was easily caught by Brass. The Stan then had a shot blocked followed by Brass easily clearing a long-range Grimsby effort. In 36 minutes, a Lamb shot went across the home goal & wide. The ball came back in, but Lamb’s follow up shot was easily caught by Higton. Both teams attacked again & in the 39th minute a Grimsby shot was blocked by a Stan defender & the follow up shot went wide under pressure. In 41 minutes, Robson headed clear from a Grimsby free kick & Brass easily caught the rebound effort. 2 minutes later & the Stan had a corner cleared. In 45 minutes, Robson headed out for a Grimsby corner from which Brass easily caught the ball. In the 46th minute, Lamb broke but the high ball sent forward for him was cleared before he could get to it.
The 2nd half started with mainly pressure from the Stan. There was a sustained Stan attack in the 48th minute which include a Slaughter header being cleared. The positive restart by the Stan continued & in 52 minutes a Stephenson long range effort was caught by Higton. It was still mainly 1 way traffic & in 59 minutes a Capewell header, from a Slaughter throw in, hit the Grimsby post. Grimsby finally had their 1st clear effort of the 2nd half after 61 minutes when a ball from a free kick was headed over the Stan bar. The Stan pressure continued, including a Stephenson free kick being cleared in 66 minutes, until Grimsby had a shot deflected for a corner in 69 minutes. It was cleared & the long range rebound effort went well over the bar. It was back to Stan attacks & in 73 minutes, Lamb won the ball & passed to the advancing Errington, who had replaced the injured Adamson, but his shot went just wide. The Stan pressure finally paid off in the 74th minute when Lamb received the ball in the home box & took his time to confidently shoot past Higton & put the Stan ahead. 3 minutes later & the Stan were 2-0 up. Lamb was brought down just outside the Grimsby box & the ball from Stepheson’s free kick was headed into the net by Capewell at the far post & his celebrations with the jubilant Stan Army behind the goal earned him a booking. Soon after, a long-range Stan effort was caught by Higton. In the 80th minute, a Grimsby free kick was cleared & the Stan counterattack ended when Lamb was brought down but nothing was given. In the 82nd minute, the Stan secured their win when a penalty was given for a Grimsby hand ball in the box. Hopper took the penalty & sent Higton the wrong way to make it 3-0 for the Stan. Grimsby shot over in the 90th minute & 2 minute a long-range effort was saved by Brass who had had a relatively quiet game. Errington had a shot easily caught before the celebrations started after the final whistle.
This well-deserved win allowed the Stan to move out of the relegation zone & they are now 2 places & 1 point above it. A win at home on Friday night against Bishop Auckland will see them move up to 12th place.
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0 vs 3 Heaton Stannington vs Bridlington Town
After 2 successive wins, it was a bad day at the office for the Stan as this 6-pointer ended up in a defeat against clinical Bridlington Town when, partly because of other results the Stan could have gone 3 points clear of the relegation zone & jumped above 3 other teams in the league. There were 2 changes from last week’s 3-1 win at Ossett with Slaughter & Hopper replacing Marriott & Errington.
On Non-League Day, both teams started out trying to attack. The 1st clear effort came for Bridlington in the 5th minute although Brass easily caught. Hall in the Bridlington goal then caught a Walker effort from a corner. In the 8th minute, Turnbull & Evans both had to clear after a Bridlington free kick. A minute later & Bridlington shot over the Stan bar followed by a Stan free kick being cleared. In the 12th minute, the visitors were in the lead when, from a corner, Evans headed the ball clear but it went back in & Coulson got his head to it to put the ball into the net. After a quieter period, the Stan were back level in the 18th minute when Burn sent a ball through the Bridlington defence to the advancing Adamson who then was in on Hall & he confidently slotted the ball post him for his 1st league goal & his 2nd in 2 games. Both teams knew the game was still there to win & in 24 minutes Walker shot just over. Slaughter & Shepherd then both had to clear. The Stan then had an attack partially cleared but the ball went back into the visitors’ box & Capewell’s header was blocked. Bridlington countered but the move was stopped on the edge of the Stan box by Turnbull. Soon after, Turnbull had to block again. Almost immediately, in the 28th minute, Capewell cleared in the busy 6-yard box but the ball went out to Coulson who blasted it through the body of players & into the Stan net for 1-2. Both teams still tried to attack & in 35 minutes a ball across the Stan goal was missed by everyone. Bridlington then won a corner from which Evans headed clear, but the ball went back in & was cleared after a scramble. In the 40th minute, Walker shot wide through a crowd of players. Both teams finished the half trying to attack but Bridlington had more of the ball in the 1st half overall as well as a 1 goal lead at half time.
The Stan started the 2nd half with an attack being cleared but things went from bad to worse in the 47th minute. A high ball into the Stan box was eventually cleared but Bridlington sent the ball back in & Evans tackled a player on the bye line & a penalty was awarded. Coulson got his hat-trick in the 48th minute when he converted the penalty. 3 minutes later & Shepherd cleared the ball from a Bridlington corner although the Stan counterattack was stopped. In 56 minutes, a Bridlington long range effort went wide. There was then some Stan pressure, but they took a while to get the ball into the Bridlington box & the move ended after Turnbull’s cross resulted in Adamson’s effort going just wide. In the 59th minute there was a triple substitution for the Stan. In the 64th minute there was some pressure from the Stan when sub Lamb was in on Hall & forced a throw in. The Stan were now getting more of the ball but with no clear end product until a Capewell effort went wide in the 70th minute. In 73 minutes, Slaughter’s corner was headed clear & Lamb’s long range rebound effort was blocked. The ball went back out to Lamb who shot again but Hall caught the ball. The Stan pressure continued & a great diagonal ball by Turnbull was collected by Lamb but he was deemed to be offside. In 76 minutes, a long ball from Brass saw both Adamson & Lamb blocked. Bridlington then had their 1st attack for a while which resulted in a corner. From it, a long ball allowed Lamb to counter, but he lost the ball under pressure. After some more Stan pressure, Bridlington attacked twice in the 81st minute with the 2nd one involving the ball going across the Stan goal but it was missed by everyone. The Stan then attacked & Lamb was brought down although the resulting free kick came to nothing. In 85 minutes, Evans cleared from 2 Bridlington corners. In 88 minutes, it was 4-1 to Bridlington when a free kick into the Stan box was headed into the net at the back post by Allan. Sub Errington then had an effort cleared as the match entered 5 minutes of added time. He then headed well wide followed by Hall easily catching the ball. The match ended with a ball from a Stan corner being cleared.
This poor performance by the Stan, including few clear chances created, & no points means that they drop into the relegation zone & are 2 points from safety. There is still everything to play for though with 6 games to go starting with the trip next Saturday to Grimsby Borough.
Kevin Mochrie
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1 vs 4 
Ossett United vs Heaton Stannington
Tuesday’s high from knocking out Newcastle United & ensuring a senior cup final place at at James’ Park continued as the Stan secured a well-deserved away league win at Ossett United. The Stan remain undefeated on the road in 2025 after 6 away league fixtures. Relegation rivals Ossett had won in mid-week but they were no match for the buoyant Stan. There were 3 changes from the win over Newcastle with Marriott, Burn & Errington replacing Stepheson, Slaughter & Hopper.
After 4 minutes, the 1st threat came from Ossett after being awarded a dubious free kick but the Stan defended well & were awarded a free kick of their own. After a Stan attack in the 6th minute, Ossett had a shot from in the Stan box blocked. In 18 minutes, a Brass clearance deflected off an advancing Ossett player & the ball went out. In the 20th minute, a Stan move ended with Payne shooting just over. In 25 minutes, Marriott sent a volleyed cross into the box & although Adamson got his head to it, he lacked power & the keeper easily collected the ball. After a quieter period, Errington shot just wide from a difficult angle in the 37th minute. The 1st half ended goalless.
The 2nd half was to be a livelier affair than the 1st & contained all 3 goals. In 55 minutes, a Shepherd ball from halfway was not cleared properly by the Ossett keeper but the Stan couldn’t turn the rebound ball into the net. A minute later & a Stan header from a corner was blocked. In 60 minutes, the Stan won a free kick just outside the Ossett box. Burn sent the ball into the box & it was headed into the net by Shepherd to give the Stan the lead. Brass made an important double save from an Ossett free kick in the 68th minute. He dived to his left to stop the free kick then got down to stop the rebound effort. Ossett then sent the ball from the resulting corner wide. In 73 minutes, the Stan defence again worked hard to stop a joined-up Ossett attack. In 76 minutes, the Stan were 2-0 up when Adamson had won a loose ball on half way & decided to advance towards & into the Ossett box & when he reached the bye line he squared the ball for Lamb who tapped it into the net. Soon after, Walker blasted wide from the edge of the Ossett box. In the 90th minute, Ossett reduced the gap when they scored from shot from the edge of the packed Stan box. The Stan sealed their victory in the 96th minute, as Ossett pressed for an equaliser, when the advancing Lamb was supplied just outside the Ossett box & he advanced into it & shot to score his 2nd goal of the match.
After sustained pressure, the Stan got 3 goals in the last 30 minutes to secure a well-deserved & important win. The 3 points sees the Stan move up to 15th place & they are 4 places & 1 point above the relegation zone. They now host Bridlington Town on Saturday.
Kevin Mochrie
1 vs 3 Heaton Stannington v Newcastle United U21
Tell me Ma me ma I won’t be home for tea, I’m going to SJP Que Sera Sera. After a 35 year wait, the Stan will again be playing at St James’ Park although it is 45 years since they have been in the Senior Cup final. A crowd of 1652 watched the Stan take on Newcastle United Under 21s in the 1st ever Senior Cup match between the 2 clubs in the Stan’s 52nd season in the competition. The whole team put in a fantastic performance against their full-time opponents who included players with international experience & some who have been in the 1st team squad including for Champions League matches. The Stan scored 3 great goals, achieved a clean sheet & restricted their opponents to just 2 clear shots. There were 2 changes from Saturday’s defeat against Carlton with Evans & Shepherd replacing Burn & Marriott. It was Kane Evans 100th start for the club.
Apart from a Newcastle cross into the Stan box going out in the 3rd minute, it was the Stan who started the livelier & in 4 minutes Hopper did a 1-2 to advance into the Newcastle box but Harris got down to save easily. There was more Stan pressure before Harris easily collected from a long-range header from a long range throw. In 6 minutes, Capewell headed just wide from a corner.2 minutes later & Adamson ran through, but Harris got to the ball 1st. The Stan kept attacking & in 12 minutes a Hopper shot was deflected for a corner. From it, Adamson headed just wide. Hopper attacked into the box again in 14 minutes, but the ball was eventually cleared. The Stan were 1-0 up in the 15th minute when a joined up attack saw Adamson shoot against the right post but the ball went across the goal for Hopper to tap it into the net. The Stan Army erupted. In the 19th minute, after 16 minutes of the ball only leaving the Newcastle half once, Stanton had Newcastle’s 1st shot of the match but it went high & wide. In 22 minutes, Newcastle got their 1st corner but Brass made sure he caught the ball from it. A long ball was then sent into the Newcastle box but it was missed by Slaughter. In 27 minutes Turnbull cleared in the Stan box. In 30 minutes, Hopper twisted & turned before shooting just wide from the edge of the box. In 38 minutes, Harris got up to save under pressure from a Stan corner. The Stan kept pressing & in 42 mutes a defender did well to stop Hopper shooting. A joined-up Newcastle attack in 44 minutes was stopped by a great block by Shepherd. In 44 minutes, Newcastle were down to 10 men when Bailey was sent off for a 2nd bookable when he fouled Walker. In the 4th minute of added time, the Stan headed wide from a throw in.
The start of the 2nd half saw Lamb replace Hopper. In 50 minutes, Harris got up to catch a Slaughter cross into the box. 2 minutes later & a Stephenson free kick at the side of the box looked like it was going into the net but Harris got up to save. Lamb & Walker were combining well although it was a Capewell header from a corner in 54 minutes that was deflected for another corner. The Stan kept the pressure on & in 57 minutes a long-range Lamb effort went just wide. Stephenson then took a free kick from halfway which was initially blocked before Lamb chipped the ball over the defence but Harris caught it. In 61 minutes, a Turnbull long ball to Stephenson was put out for a throw in. From it, Adamson shot from the edge of the box & the ball went through the crowd & into the net for 2-0. In 65 minutes, it was nearly 3-0 when a Stephenson free kick from just outside the box went just over. The Stan kept the pressure on & in 70 minutes, from a Stephenson cross, Lamb’s effort was saved by Harris. It was still one way traffic until Newcastle had their 1st effort of the 2nd half put out by Brass in the 77th minute. In the 80th minute, a Shepherd effort went straight to Harris. It was all Stan pressure until a Newcastle attack was cleared in the 89th minute. There was icing on the win for the Stan in the 90th minute when a Stephenson free kick from halfway was put into the net by Marriott. There was 4 minutes of added time followed by Doris day starting singing.
Everyone associated with the club was ecstatic about the win & the Stan Army partied into the night. Thanks must go to all the volunteers, Newcastle United for their support & help & to all the fans. As well as a cup final to look forward to, both the win & the performance should put increased confidence into the Stan’s fight to avoid relegation. Hopefully the impact will be seen on Saturday when the team travel to Ossett United who won on Tuesday night to go 6 points ahead of the Stan.
Kevin Mochrie
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3 vs 0 
Heaton Stannington vs Grimsby Borough
The Stan failed to take the opportunity to achieve an important win against a team 3 points above them & despite very limited goal scoring opportunities for Grimsby Borough, it was the visitors who left with all 3 points. There were 5 changes from last week’s home defeat by Carlton with Marriott, Stephenson, Burn, Adamson & Hopper replacing Evans, Groves, Robson, Errington & Lamb.
The match started positively for the Stan with Hopper, Payne & Adamson combining going forward. After 5 minutes Stephenson got into the box but his shot was blocked & the follow up shot went wide from Burn. In 21 minutes, there was a good opportunity for the Stan when Adamson sent the ball into the busy Grimsby penalty box but Payne wasn’t quick enough to take advantage at the back post. Against the run of play, & with their 1st effort of the match, Grimsby were ahead after 25 minutes when Fenwick scored from a deflected shot. It was all pressure from Grimsby after the goal & they nearly scored again in 29 minutes when Drury shot just wide. 2 minutes later & the Stan showed they had not given up when Slaughter shot just over. After a quieter period, just before half time Stephenson crossed to Adamson who headed wide. In the 2nd minute of added time, Adamson had a great opportunity from a cross but tried to control the ball rather than shoot.
4 minutes after the restart, Errington blasted over the bar from just inside the box. In 54 minutes, Turnbull headed wide from a Stephenson corner. Slaughter then sent a long throw into the Grimsby box but no one was able to put the ball in the net. In 74 minutes, after a Grimsby time wasting attempt, Groves was shown a red card. Grimsby took advantage of the extra player & 2 minutes later they were 2-0 up when Burden-Whittleton advanced into the Stan box & sent his shot into the bottom right corner of the net. Shepherd got a goal back for the Stan in 82 minutes, but time was running out. 2 minutes later Walker sent a great shot towards goal, but it hit an off side Stan player in the stomach. The Stan kept pressing & in the 1st minute of added time Capewell headed at the keeper & the match finished with Walker shooting wide & Grimsby holding on for a win.
The Stan were undeservedly sunk by their fishing port visitors & they remain 1 place above the drop zone on goal difference. Next up is a huge match for the club on Tuesday when they host Newcastle United Under 21s in the semi final of the Northumberland Senior Cup.
Kevin Mochrie
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1 vs 2