Season: 2024-25

Heaton Stannington vs Sheffield

A united Stan drew 0-0 with Sheffield FC on a Wednesday night when they met for the 1st time. They achieved a clean sheet & an important point but neither team was able to break the stalemate. There were 5 changes from Saturday’s defeat at Carlton with De Jesus, Hornsby, Slaughter, Stephenson & Lamb replacing Brass, Evans, Beattie, Anderson & Walker. For keeper Neil De Jesus it was both his 1st home & league match & his efforts earned him both a clean sheet & the man of the match award.

The 1st clear effort came for Sheffield after 10 minutes when Hinton shot from the edge of the Stan box forcing a great save from De Jesus. The resulting corner saw Ayres shoot high & wide. 10 minutes later & Slaughter shot wide from the edge of the Sheffield box. Both teams continued to battle but with little end product although Ayres headed wide in 39 minutes. Although both teams were positive & battling, the 1st half end goalless & with not much end product to report on.

After 10 minutes of the 2nd half, Sheffield thought they had broken the deadlock when a free kick into the Stan box saw Hinton head the ball against the bar. In the 63rd minute, after a few minutes of Stan control, Thompson headed just wide after the ball had been crossed into the box to him. 2 minutes later & the Stan had another great chance to take the lead when Lamb ran down the left outpacing a following defender & crossed to Thompson who should have scored but was blocked by the Sheffield keeper. It was still mainly Stan when, in 69 minutes, a Stephenson volley was blocked by the head of a defender for a corner. The resulting corner saw a number of Stan heads try to get up to the ball but it still would not go into the net. In 78 minutes, it was Sheffield who had the chance to score when De Jesus saved a shot from Watson & the rebound effort by Ayres hit the Stan bar. 3 minutes later & De Jesus made another good save when he stopped an effort from West. In 84 minutes, the action continued when it looked like Marriott was going to score for the Stan but his effort, although on target, was blocked well by a Sheffield player. In the 3rd minute of added time, there was a great break by the Stan but Stephenson couldn’t get the ball in the net and the match relatively surprisingly ended 0-0.

Both teams had stepped up the pressure in the 2nd half & although both had good efforts to score, neither were able to get the ball in the net. Following on from this competitive match, the Stan are at home again on Saturday when they host Emley.

Kevin Mochrie

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Carlton Town vs Heaton Stannington

Having named the same line-up for the last three games, changes were made for the trip to Carlton with Lamb, Slaughter and Turnbull missing, replaced by Anderson, Burn and Ellison respectively.

The opening stages were largely a tactical battle to put pressure on each other, without really producing any significant chances. Carlton showed off their impressive long-throw weapon on a couple of occasions in the first five minutes but they were dealt with by the towering Stan defence. The Stan’s first decent opening came on 17 minutes when a ball was flashed in low from the left but Thompson and Anderson could only watch as it flew past their feet. A wicked ball in from the right by Kane Evans three minutes later found the head out Thompson but he couldn’t direct it towards goal under pressure from a defender.

The Stan were playing well and were starting to look like the side most likely to take the lead, with the kind of attractive passing football we’re used to really coming through here. On 26 minutes, a precision ball from the left managed to squeeze between three Carlton defenders, perfectly onto the foot of Thompson who controlled with one touch and then laid it off for Ellison, who did well to adjust himself for a shot in a split second, but the shot was never troubling the home goalkeeper too much.

The game’s opening goal came on 40 minutes. Lewis Durow tossed the ball forward with a diagonal ball on halfway which was flicked on towards the box. Niall Hylton ran onto it, used his strength to hold off the Stan defender before firing to the far post on the turn.

The Stan responded well and tried to find an equaliser before half time – Thompson crossing dangerously but unable to connect with anyone in the area and cleared from danger.

The task became more difficult just four minutes after the restart. Lewis Brass’ goal kick was met by a Stan head, but the second ball was won by Carlton who quickly mounted an attack. The away defence were caught too narrow and after a number of flick-ons, Oliver Clark was able to run at Brass before finishing to the far post. 

On 65 minutes, Shay Richardson received a throw near the corner flag, quickly crossed and found Thompson in acres of space to bundle home. But it would prove to be nothing more than a consolation goal. A similar routine from a throw produced the Stan’s best chance to equalise on 87 minutes, but the black and white head that rose up to it couldn’t get it on target. 

The Stan are now winless from their last five league away games – and will relish the fact that the next four games are all at home, where their fortune has been much better so far this season.

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Dunston UTS vs Heaton Stannington

After nearly 2000 miles of travelling so far this season, the Stan only had to cross the Tyne & travel 8 miles to face Dunston for the 1st time ever in league action. Unfortunately, although they deserved at least a point, the Stan’s 4 match unbeaten run came to an end. There were no changes from Saturday’s 2-0 home win over Sherwood Colliery.

Dunston started on the attack & the 1st 20 minutes saw the Stan finding it difficult to get possession. In the initial 1st minute attack, a penalty was awarded to Dunston for a high foot by Slaughter as a home player tried to head the ball in the box. The resulting 3rd minute penalty though was expertly saved by Brass who dived the right way. The Dunston possession continued & in 7 minutes one of their players passed from the left across the front of the Stan goal to an advancing teammate but Shepherd managed get back & position himself to prevent him putting the ball in the net & it went out for a goal kick. The Stan were trying to attack but to no avail, & in 13 minutes Dunston headed wide. In 21 minutes, Evans stopped a Dunston attack allowing Stephenson to counter attack & pass to the also advancing Lamb who returned the ball to Stephenson but his shot was blocked near the left post. This was the Stan’s 1st clear attack & they started to get more into the game after this although Dunston still looked dangerous. In 30 minutes, a home shot deflected off Beattie for a corner but it could have gone anywhere. From the corner, Brass caught the ball which was then followed by a joined-up Stan attack although it ended with Lamb scuffing his shot. Dunston then shot just wide under pressure followed by another attack that was blocked by Shepherd. In 38 minutes, a ball up to the advancing Lamb was blocked by the home keeper & the rebound shot from a Stan player forced a great save from the keeper. From the resulting corner, there was a scramble in the 6-yard box resulting in Thompson forcing the ball into the net to make it 1-0 to the Stan in 38 minutes. 3 minutes later & Dunston were back on level terms when, from a corner after a great tackle by Evans, Swailes got up to head into the Stan net. In 43 minutes, Dunston were 2-1 up when a free kick into the Stan box was initially cleared but was sent back in towards the goal & was headed down to allow Devitt to kick it into the net. The Stan had some late pressure but they went into the break shocked by the late change in fortunes.

The Stan came out for the 2nd half with their heads held high & started positively with 2 early corners. In 53 minutes, Dunston headed wide, but 2 minutes later Lamb won the ball & supplied Beattie who did a 1-2 with Richardson but was blocked in the home box. Although the Stan were keeping the pressure on, it was Dunston who had the next clear chance in 64 minutes when they headed just wide. The Stan then forced a block then a save by the Dunston keeper. The Stan were now looking more confident & stringing passes together. In 69 minutes, a speculative shot by Lamb forced the keeper to get down to save. Lamb had another shot blocked 5 minutes later. Soon after, a Stephenson free kick into the home box was missed by Shepherd under pressure. After more sustained Stan pressure, they got an equaliser in 79 minutes. Thompson sent the ball into the Dunston box & it was headed into the net by Burn who had only been on the pitch for 3 minutes. The Stan sensed the opportunity was still there to win the match & kept the pressure on Dunston including through 2 free kicks into the home box. In 85 minutes though it was Dunston who were in the lead when, from a corner, Swailes again headed into the Stan net against the run of play. The Stan resumed their pressure & Dunston headed a ball clear in 87 minutes. In 89 minutes though, Dunston came close to scoring again when a solo run saw a player shoot across goal but the ball went just wide under pressure. 8 minutes of added time saw the Stan try to attack but with no more goals coming even though the match ended with Burn shooting just wide.

Although Dunston had most of the possession in the 1st half until its frantic finale which included 3 goals in 5 minutes, the Stan stepped up a gear at half time & were the better team in the 2nd half. Unfortunately, due to clinical finishing from corners by Dunston, they returned over the water with no points. The Stan now have a long journey on Saturday to Nottinghamshire where they face Carlton Town.

Kevin Mochrie

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Heaton Stannington vs Sherwood Colliery

It was the Stan who were merry men after this match as they comfortably beat Sherwood Colliery to go up to 12th in the league. There were no changes from the starting line up that drew 1-1 at Cleethorpes a week earlier.

Both teams started trying to attack but, on a sunny afternoon, Sherwood had the 1st shot after 4 minutes which was cleared. The Stan could have scored from a 7th minute corner, but Shepherd headed wide. In 14 minutes, a ball to Beattie allowed him to advance down the left & send a cross into the box but a Sherwood defender managed to intercept the ball before it could reach a Stan player. In the 16th minute, an advancing Richardson was intercepted but Lamb won the ball back from the defender, he turned then sent a low shot past the Sherwood keeper to put the Stan ahead. Sherwood responded positively & tried to get back into the game but Lamb nearly scored again in 21 minutes when, after Stephenson had  intercepted a loose Sherwood pass & supplied him, his shot hit the post. The remainder of the 1st half saw Sherwood having a lot of possession but they did not create any clear chances.

There was a quieter start to the 2nd half until in the 54th minute Beattie took the ball off the Sherwood keeper, who was trying to walk it out from the back, but although Beattie got the ball past the keeper his shot hit the side netting. 2 minutes later & an advancing Beattie passed to Stephenson just inside the box but his effort went high & wide when there was an opportunity to score. The Stan’s lead was made comfortable in the 62nd minute, when a corner from the right was sent into Capewell who headed into the net for his 1st goal for the Stan. In 71 minutes, a Sherwood shot was well blocked by Shepherd. Both teams continued to try & attack but it appeared clear that the Stan were not going to throw away the 3 points.

It was a deserved win, although against determined opposition, & the Stan are now unbeaten in 4 matches. They now have their shortage league journey of the season on Tuesday night when they cross the Tyne to play Dunston.

Kevin Mochrie

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Heaton Stannington vs Brighouse Town

Although Brighouse is famous for its brass band, it was the Stan’s Lewis Brass & his outfield band of players who were top of the pops with a comfortable 2-0 win in front of a crowd of 422. There were 4 changes from Tuesday’s Senior Cup win over Whitley Bay with Brass, Shepherd, Slaughter & Stephenson replacing De Jesus, Marriott, Sayer & Burn.

In the High Heaton sunshine, both teams tried to attack from the start, but the 1st clear effort came from the Stan after 7 minutes when Evans cut into the box & supplied Lamb who put the ball over the bar. Lamb then advanced again but was blocked by 2 defenders. This was followed by Brighouse’s 1st venture near the Stan box but their cross was blocked although 2 minutes later they did get the ball into the Stan box but it was easily cleared. There was a sustained Stan attack in 17 minutes which ended with Evans putting the ball into the 6 yard box & although it was blocked, Lamb at the back post managed to send the ball back out to Beattie who blasted it into the net. 2 minutes later, Anderson supplied Lamb who was brought down just inside the Brighouse box. The resulting penalty in the 20th minute was comfortably put away by Anderson for 2-0. Brighouse did try to attack after this but their efforts were easily dealt with by the Stan. They did get a corner in 24 minutes which Turnbull cleared. Brass then had trouble with his knee but was able to continue. After a quieter period, a speculative long-range effort by Richardson went over the bar. Both teams were trying to attack but with no real end product. A Brighouse long range shot after 35 minutes went high & wide. The Stan were battling well & in 39 minutes Lamb got past the visiting keeper & was brought down but he was offside. Lamb & Stephenson then attacked again but a foul was given for Brighouse. The visitors then had an attack blocked then cleared. They then sent a free kick into the box which was blocked by Richardson then cleared. Brighouse’s late rally continued with a shot deflected for a corner which came to nothing. The Stan though ended the half comfortably leading by 2 goals.

The Stan started the 2nd half positively but little happened until Brighouse got a corner in 52 minutes. The ball from it was cleared & Brighouse then got a free kick just outside the box which was blocked. The Stan tried to attack but remained relatively quiet until, in 58 minutes, Anderson was brought down as he was about to advance. Brighouse’s Acquah was booked as a result &, because he had already been booked a minute earlier, he was then sent off. The resulting free kick from Lamb went round the Brighouse wall forcing a full length save from their keeper Cooper. A minute later & a Stephenson corner was initially cleared to Slaughter who sent the ball back in. Cooper got down to try & catch it but only managed to do so after competition from a scramble of foots involving 3 or 4 Stan players who were trying to direct the ball into the net. The Stan kept the pressure on their 10 man opponents. In 71 minutes, form a Lamb corner, Turnbull put the ball over the bar. It was mainly all Stan pressure now including sub Walker having an effort cleared in 81 minutes followed by Lamb shooting over the bar. Lamb had a shot caught by the keeper in 84 minutes before he was substituted. In 86 minutes, a Brighouse free kick into the Stan box was cleared followed by a rebound shot being caught by Brass. There was then a sustained Stan attack which ended with the ball going across the 6 yard box but missing everyone. After 4 minutes of added time the match ended with the Stan still in control & winning 2-0.

So, the Stan march up to mid-table (13th) after a solid & hard-working performance. A win always looked assured after the 1st goal went in on 17 minutes. On Wednesday night they have another home league match when they host Garforth Town.

Kevin Mochrie

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Whitley Bay v Heaton Stannington

Heaton Stannington are through to the last eight of the Northumberland Senior Cup – Joe Shepherd scoring a late equaliser to send the game to a penalty shootout.

The Stan started the game on the front foot and probably should’ve had something to show from the spell of dominance. Konner Lamb was played through on 10 minutes, but took his shot too early under pressure and fluffed his lines. A few minutes later Lamb turned provider for Louis Anderson, whizzing down the left wing to cut a ball into the box – Anderson was offside which will have come as a relief to him as his shot was unfathomably off-target.

It took Whitley Bay a little while to get going – but on 17 minutes they forced goalkeeper Neil de Jesus – making just his second appearance for the club – into a low save at his near post with a powerful shot from the edge of the box.

The chances kept coming for the Stan in the first half without any success. Anderson and Kailem Beattie both had shots pushed away from a very similar position to the left of the edge of the box in the 20th minute. A killer through ball from Andy Burn to Lamb just after the half-hour mark would’ve almost certainly led to a goal if the flag hadn’t gone up. Just before half time, a long throw found Kane Evans at the back post, but his left-footed volley didn’t have the kind of power it needed to beat Whitley Bay goalkeeper Richie Crawford.

Having dominated the first half but without anything to show for it, the Stan were punished from the penalty spot. There were arguments from the Stan supporters who were best placed to see it about whether the foul took place inside or outside the box, but those protests were ignored and Callum Larmouth dispatched his kick to put the home side ahead.

The Stan’s failure to take a first-half lead looked like it was going to bite them on the backside – as Whitley Bay tried to double lead just after the hour mark through Mackenzie Sharpe send an effort fizzing just wide of the post. And in the meantime, the Stan continued to battle but found themselves frustrated in the final third.

Centre back Joe Shepherd came off the bench in place of Mark Turnbull on 78 minutes, but joined the attack as the Stan chased the equaliser. With one minute of normal time remaining, Kailem Beattie did well to hold the ball up under challenges out wide, before finding space to cross to the back post where Shepherd lurked and basically threw himself at the ball, almost taking the frame of the goal out as he bundled the ball home. To have not lost the game in normal time will have been encouraging, regardless of what was to follow in the penalty shoot-out next.

Matt Foster, Shay Richardson, Andy Burn, Kailem Beattie and Konner Lamb all put their penalties away for the Stan – so it was Whitley Bay’s Jake Forster blazing his kick over the bar that decided the outcome of the match. While survival in the Northern Premier League East Division is clearly going to be the main focus for Heaton Stan this season, the club are now two games away from a St. James’ Park final – something not to be sniffed at.

Liam Milburn

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Bradford Park Avenue vs Heaton Stannington

Heaton Stannington gave themselves a mountain to climb at Bradford (Park Avenue) – and never quite recovered from a shocking start which saw them 2-0 down inside six minutes.

It was the Stan who got the game underway, playing the ball straight back to goalkeeper Lewis Brass who launched the ball upfield. The home side sent the ball back his way and put him under pressure immediately. He found Liam Doyle but the right-back’s first touch was heavy, putting the ball on a plate for the advancing Jack Normanton, who was able to scoop the ball over Brass into an empty net.

The second blow was dealt just five minutes later, as Bradford’s left winger was able to burst past Doyle out wide and then play a perfect through ball into the centre for Connor Shanks to slot away.

Many in the Horsfall Stadium would’ve expected this to become a procession, but the Stan stabilised. The damage that had been done in the early stages meant that the home side were much harder to break down, but had the game remained goalless after the opening exchanges, there’s every chance this could’ve been a positive result.

After a quarter of an hour, Dan Stephenson tried his luck from 25 yards to attempt to pull back into the game, but it wasn’t too much of a challenge for goalkeeper Ed Hall. Another 15 or so minutes later, Konner Lamb was able to burst into the area and shoot, but again, the keeper only had to move minimally to get himself on top of the ball.

While the result will have undoubtedly been a disappointment for manager Dean Nicholson and his staff, the biggest concern of the afternoon will have been the loss of Leighton Hopper, Louis Anderson and Liam Doyle to injury, with the latter looking the most serious. But the effort of the players can’t be faulted – mistakes happen but it’s how you recover and learn from them that matters, and although they came away from West Yorkshire empty-handed, they can be pleased with their work rate and determination when the game settled to keep the score down and to try to get something out of it.

Attention turns now to a Coast Road derby against Whitley Bay in the Northumberland Senior Cup, which could prove to be a good opportunity to make some changes and build some confidence ahead of a return to league action next Saturday when the Stan are at home to Brighouse Town.

Liam Milburn

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Heaton Stannington vs Newton Aycliffe

Heaton Stannington climbed into the top half of the Pitching In Northern Premier League East Division table after coming out on top in a six-goal thriller with North East neighbours Newton Aycliffe.

Lewis Brass returned in goal after missing the previous seven games through injury – and the away side tried to put him under pressure from the kick-off, shooting from the halfway line but without enough lift or power to really test him.

The Stan struggled in the opening stages of the game with Newton Aycliffe playing with dominance and determination. Their first big chance produced the game’s first goal, with some neat passing getting them from midfield to the front line with two quick touches. Cieran Jackson seized upon the ball, weaved between two defenders to get it into his right foot, before slotting into the bottom corner.

Aycliffe tried to double their lead just a few minutes later, but Dan Capewell got down to slide in front of an attempted low cross from captain Ethan Wood. The resulting corner was cleared behind for another one – and from that, Joe Ferguson saw an effort from the edge of the box crack the post, via at least one deflection.

Having improved as the half progressed, the Stan bagged an essential equaliser on 37 minutes. The Aycliffe defence got in front of Joseph Thompson to block the ball from finding him for what would’ve surely been a goal, and then the resulting corner was saved well by the goalkeeper Jim Pollard, but only into the path of Leighton Hopper to stab home his seventh of the season.

Whatever manager Dean Nicholson said at half time had clearly had an effect, because the home side turned the game in their favour from the restart, creating all of the chances in a frantic opening 15 minutes. They deservedly went ahead just after the hour mark when a good spell of passing play in the opposition third ended up at the feet of Connor Walker with enough time and space to steady himself, pick his spot and fire the Stan into the lead.

Just six minutes later, a bit of breathing room. Brass got the ball forward, Joseph Thompson gambled on the flick from a teammate, battled with his defender to retain possession, and then racing through to slot it into the far side of the goal. Louis Anderson had only been on the pitch for around 30 seconds when he made it 4-1, running onto a neat flick by Richie Slaughter before poking home with his left foot.

It could’ve been even more comfortable just a couple of minutes later but Aycliffe’s defence tightened up and gave themselves a platform to rescue something from a game that had totally fallen away from them. It looked as though they would have a fighting chance on 78 minutes when they were awarded a penalty, but Dean Thexton blazed his kick over the bar, much to the delight of Stan goalkeeper Brass who received a booking for his overzealous celebration.

Aycliffe did pull a goal back to make it 4-2 in injury time through Cole Kiernan, but the job had been done earlier in the match with the Stan showing the kind of dominance and clinical finishing that some games have missed this season. Another historic night as the club secured its first home league win in the Northern Premier League East Division – and attention now turns to a trip to Bradford (Park Avenue) on Saturday to see if they can make it back-to-back league victories for the first time.

Liam Milburn

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Clitheroe v Heaton Stannington

The Stan had a new player between the posts – and Neil de Jesus was busy throughout the afternoon. On 10 minutes, he had to act fast to push a shot to his right and then get down for the rebound, which was luckily without too much venom.

Having prevented the home side’s first big chance, he helped to get the Stan up the pitch for their first opportunity. De Jesus rolled the ball out to Marriott who launched the ball forward to Leighton Hopper, who latched onto it, knocked it down for Konner Lamb on the edge of the area, but his shot rolled towards Clitheroe goalkeeper Hakan Burton.

De Jesus was called upon again just seven minutes later, producing another spectacular save – similar to his first of the game – to prevent Clitheroe from the edge of the area.

On 26 minutes, Danny Sayer tried his luck from range with an attempt very similar to Lamb’s earlier effort, but it was similar in every way as it skidded across the surface and easily into the arms of Burton.

Having held off the home side in a dominant opening half hour, the Stan had arguably the best chance so far on 33 minutes. In a rare spell where there were plenty of amber shirts parked in the opposition box, Lamb shot across goal from the right, forcing the keeper down low. The ball was pushed into the path of Hopper who couldn’t meet it with his foot, and Beattie at the back post who could only hit the side netting.

The Stan had done well to weather something of a storm in a first half where Clitheroe dominated the ball for large spells and piled on pressure. But just seconds after the restart, things started to unravel. The home side attacked straight from their kick-off, getting the ball from their keeper to their frontline very quickly. A dangerous in-swinging ball from the right produced a stabbed finish from makeshift right-back Andy Burn into his own net, in his mind presumably trying to get his foot in front of it before the striker behind him did.

Nine minutes later, Clitheroe gave themselves some breathing room. The attack began with some good defending to keep us out – with Lamb and Sayer both having attempted blocked or saved – before getting up the pitch quickly as they had done all game. Dan Capewell did well to get the ball out of the box from their first wave of attack, but his clearance fell to Connor High in space on 55 minutes. He took one touch to control the ball, before unleashing a low powerful shot into the bottom corner, out of the reach of the diving de Jesus.

Clitheroe made sure of their win on 66 minutes. A high ball from Miles Storey sailed over the midfield and defence to Louis Potts, who brought it down beautifully, used his defender to set himself up to the shot, before guiding it into the bottom corner.

But if there’s one thing we know about Heaton Stan, they never give up, even in a position like this which they aren’t so used to after last season’s promotion heroics. If anything they improved in the closing stages as Clitheroe started to take their foot off the pedal, with substitutes Louis Anderson and Joseph Thompson particularly standing out.

Anderson went close on 78 minutes, getting through on goal but being charged down before he could get his shot off, but he would later score a consolation goal, with Dan Stephenson seizing upon a lapse in concentration in the Clitheroe defence, racing to the by-line to cut one into the box for Anderson’s tap-in. It didn’t affect the outcome of the game, but it felt right that the Stan had something to reflect the effort they’d exerted.

And so the club’s first ever FA Trophy journey draws to a close. Manager Nicholson conceded afterwards that winning the competition was always going to be a long shot, and that cementing the team in the Northern Premier League East Division would now be a welcome primary focus.

Liam Milburn

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