Season: 2024-25
2 vs 1 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 
Heaton Stannington vs Carlton Town
The Stan’s undefeated run of 10 points from 4 games came to a sudden & unexpected end against mid table Carlton Town. It was a poor performance from the Stan against an average team but one that took their chances. There were 2 changes from last week’s important draw at Emley with Slaughter & Lamb replacing Burn & Hopper.
Both teams started positively, including with Lamb pressing, but the 1st chance wasn’t until the 4th minute when a Carlton free kick came to nothing. Groves then sent a free kick into the box but Capewell’s shot, after a touch on from Turnbull, was blocked for a corner which then went wide. In the 9th minute, a Carlton attack saw the ball deflected for a corner which then saw the ball being cleared twice. The ball then seemed to remain mainly in the middle of the park until some Carlton pressure in the 16th minute which ended with a curling shot from the edge of the Stan box which went just wide. The Stan were not holding onto the ball even though they were winning it. In the 20th minute Errington advanced passing to Walker on the right who kept the ball in & supplied Evans who was blocked for a corner. Groves corner ball went straight to the keeper. Carlton then shot well over. In 23 minutes, A Groves free kick into the box was headed clear & the ball went but back in but was cleared again. In 26 minutes, a Carlton free kick was initially cleared but a rebound shot which was blasted from outside the box was put over the bar by a great stretching save by Brass. In the 27th minute, Brass blocked the ball from the corner with his feet but he couldn’t collect it & it was forced into the net by Sargent from the resulting scramble for 0-1. In 29 minutes, Errington was blocked as he entered the Carlton box but only a foul was given in the D. The resulting Grove free kick went straight through the wall to the visiting keeper. 3 minutes later a Carlton free kick was cleared followed by a Grove free kick being caught by the Carlton keeper. Carlton then had a free kick cleared with the long shot rebound effort being deflected for a corner. In 37 minutes, Brass got down to save from a free kick. There was then a great chance for the Stan when Walker on the right crossed on the bye line into the box to Lamb in front of goal with only the keeper to beat but he couldn’t make contact with the ball. Both teams were trying to attack & after both keepers had easily cleared, the half ended with a Stan free kick going well wide.
The 1st 3 minutes of the 2nd half saw the ball mainly in the Stan half. In the 50th minute Carlton shot just wide. 3 minutes later & a ball from a Carlton corner went well wide. In the 55th minute, Hopper replaced Lamb & Burn replaced Payne. Unfortunately, this was followed immediately by Carlton getting a 2nd goal in the 56th minute. The ball from a Carlton free kick bounced awkwardly & went past Brass & into the net. The Stan were back under pressure & didn’t get their 1st chance of the half until 60 minutes when Evans sent a good ball forward but Walker couldn’t get on the end of it. Errington then sent a free kick into the Carlton box, but their keeper easily collected it. In 65 minutes, Brass had to go out to clear. Both teams were still trying to attack but the Stan’s passing & ball control was letting them down. In the 69th minute, Carlton were 3-0 up when a ball from the left into the Stan box was put into the net under pressure by Manneh. In 79 minutes, Brass got down to stop the ball. Both teams seemed to run out of steam & the match fizzled out finishing with a 3-0 win for Carlton.
It was an unexpected but deserved defeat for the Stan who looked flat & often failed to hold onto the ball or complete passes. Off days happen so hopefully this was just one of these from a good set of players. Next Saturday the Stan are at home against Grimsby Borough in a potential relegation 6 pointer.
Kevin Mochrie
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0 vs 3 
Emley vs Heaton Stannington
With the Emley Moor Tower as a backdrop, which is the highest free-standing structure in the UK, the Stan delivered a towering performance against 2nd placed Emley to earn an important point although it could have been 3. This entertaining match saw the Stan make 1 change from last week’s win at Sherwood with Burn replacing Slaughter.
On a sunny afternoon, the Stan nearly took the lead in the 1st minute when Hopper broke, supplied by Payne, & shot just wide across goal. In 7 minutes, a long-range Errington effort went well over. After 15 minutes, a great move by Turnbull saw him send a long ball to Walker who tried to chip the home keeper but his effort went just wide. Although the majority of the play had so far been in the Stan half, Emley had their 1st clear effort in the 16th minute when a long-range shot went well over. 3 minutes later & a joined up Stan attack ended in a foul for Emley from which Turnbull made a great defensive block. The Stan kept the pressure on although it was Emley who shot well wide in 26 minutes. Both teams continued to try & attack & Brass had to make his 1st clearance after 32 minutes. 3 minutes later & a Stan attack saw the home keeper catch the ball. The Stan had a 2nd great chance to score after Hopper’s 1st minute effort when, after 39 minutes, the advancing Groves did a 1-2 with Hopper but, with only the keeper to beat, his shot went just wide. Both teams ended the half positively, with the Stan having put in a good positive display, although the final action of the half saw an Emley free kick into the box blocked with the rebound effort going wide.
2 minutes into the 2nd half & Brass had to make a great block to stop an Emley attack. Hopper then broke but was blocked. Walker won the ball back but nothing was given when he was brought down just outside the Emley box. After a quieter period, Brass had to get down to save a deflected shout after 56 minutes. In 61 minutes, Lamb replaced Hopper & this introduced new pressure on then home defence. The ball was mainly in the Emley half until after 69 minutes, an Emley free kick was punched clear by Brass followed by the home side shooting well over. After 75 minutes, Errington sent a long ball to Burn in the home box, but he couldn’t get his head to it. After having already shoved Lamb twice, Emley’s Cowgill then grabbed him by the collar & although all 3 incidents happened as Lamb was advancing towards the home box Cowgill was only booked. Emley looked rattled now & this time it was Walker who was pulled down on the edge of the box followed by Cowgill being subbed. Burn sent the free kick into the box, but it was cleared on the goal line by a defender for a corner. Walker’s corner was cleared & so were the follow up shots by Grove & Walker. Emley continued to try & disrupt play, especially through the fouling of Berchil. & in 84 minutes, Lamb was pushed down just on the edge of the Emley box. The resulting free kick from Burn looked like it was going into the net, but the keeper managed to catch the ball. In 89 minutes, from a free kick on half way, Emley sent a long ball into the Stan box which Brass punched clear. The 6 minutes of added time saw the Stan keep the pressure on but the Emley defence was solid. In the 95th minute, the Stan blocked an Emley effort before the home side shot over. The match ended with Emley shooting over again.
Every Stan player gave a great performance & they should have won although they were hindered by over physical opposition & consistently poor decision making by the officials. The Stan are now unbeaten in 4 matches & although they are only 3 points & one place above the relegation zone, getting 10 points from the last 12 means that they are catching up with the teams above them. On Saturday they host mid table Carlton Town in another important match.
Kevin Mochrie
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0 vs 0 Sherwood Colliery vs Heaton Stannington
Heaton Stan made it three wins on the spin for the first time, secured just a second away win of the season and the club’s first double in the Pitching In Northern Premier League East Division, but perhaps most importantly, took three points against a relegation rival in Sherwood Colliery.
The first chance of the game came on nine minutes through Mark Turnbull, who received man of the match from the supporters for his defensive work, but probably not for this effort which was a volley over the bar from a corner. Dan Capewell also missed a good chance from a set piece, heading over on 19 minutes.
Turnbull’s defensive prowess was on full display throughout the game but particularly on 11 minutes when Jacob Pearce got to the byline and attempted to cut the ball across the six yard box, but Turnbull timed a slide tackle perfectly, blocking the attempted square pass and then stepping out confidently.
Connor Walker hit two goals against Bradford (Park Avenue) during the week and picked up where he left off 23 minutes into this game. The move started at the feet of Lewis Brass who had just come to claim the ball away from an advancing Sherwood attacker. The Stan goalkeeper played a long ball forward towards Jay Errington, who combined with Dan Groves and then Leighton Hopper who raced to the left-side of the box, cut a ball to Walker on the edge of the area who steadied himself before slotting a beautiful finish into the keeper’s bottom-right corner.
The next goal would be crucial and both sides had their opportunities in the 15 minutes after Walker’s opener. Jay Errington clipped the bar with an overhead kick, and at the other end Bircumshaw fired over from the edge of the area, and Pearce put a free header over the bar from close range.
The Stan would go in at the break 2-0 up thanks to some more magic from Connor Walker. Sherwood’s failure to clear their lines under intense Stan pressure allowed Walker to pick up a loose ball around 25 yards out, find space on the edge of the D before adjusting his body to fire a wicked shot into the near bottom corner, clipping the post on its way in.
Sherwood were resurgent in the second half without breaching Brass. The Stan had done all of their hard work in the first half and just had to defend valiantly in the second half, which they did with aplomb. Fantastic scenes ensued at full time as the players and coaches came across to the noisy Stan Army section to thank them for their support. The journey home reflected the jubilant mood, as belief grows that survival in our first season in the Pitching In Northern Premier League East Division is very achievable.
Liam Milburn
0 vs 2 5 vs 0