Season: 2025-26
4 vs 3 
Heaton Stannington vs Whitley Bay
One hundred seasons since the Stan 1st qualified for & entered the Senior Cup, they were at St James’ Park for a 2nd year in a row to defend the trophy. This time they were the finalist from a higher division as their opposition was Northern League Division 1 Whitley Bay. After a relatively even 1st half, although most of the play took place in the Whitley Bay half, the Stan took an early 2nd half lead, but their opponents equalised 6 minutes later & neither team could find a winning goal. The match went straight to penalties & although the Stan had the opportunity to win with their 5th penalty, it was Whitley Bay who won 6-5 to lift the trophy. There were 2 changes from the final league game versus Hallam with Payne & Lamb replacing Burn & Errington.
The start of the match was accompanied by singing & drums from the 3289 crowd who were mainly located in the East Stand. It was Whitley Bay who threatened 1st in the 1st minute although Brass got down to easily save. The Stan won a corner in the 4th minute but the ball from it went out. Soon after the Stan had a free kick into the Whitley box that came to nothing. In 7 minutes, Capewell got in the way of a ball into the Stan box & it went wide for a Stan goal kick. Both teams were trying to attack & in 13 minutes, Brass easily collected from a Bay shot. 2 minutes later & Hopper broke but was tackled. Soon after the Stan broke again & Hopper passed across to Lamb who supplied Walker but he shot over. The Stan were still pressing & eventually forced a clearance from Asikaogu in the Whitley goal. In 18 minutes Capewell partially cleared a Whitley attack then the ball was put out for a corner. From it, the ball was headed onto the hit the roof of the Stan net. In 20 minutes, Asikaogu got out to clear before Pearson could get to the ball. The ball from the resulting throw in was caught by Asikaogu. Walker was then pulled down & from the resulting Chrisp free kick, Shepherd’s header was easily collected by the keeper. Soon after, Pearson was brought down & Chrisp’s free kick was punched clear by Asikaogu. The ball went out to Lamb but his ball back into the box was cleared to Chrisp whose long-range effort went over the bar. The Stan had another attack cleared followed by a Bay attack which ended with a shot going high & wide. In 30 minutes, a Stan shot was blocked & the ball sent back into the Bay box by Evans was cleared. In 32 minutes, there was a joined-up Stan attack that was eventually cleared. Hopper was brought down and the resulting Pearson free kick from just outside of the Bay box went over the wall but Asikaogu stopped it & although the ball went back out to Pearson his rebound shot went over the bar. In 37 minutes, Bay broke & shot but Brass got down to stop it although the rebound shot was smothered in a scramble in front of the Stan goal & was eventually cleared. Although it was against the general run of play, Bay should have scored from this opportunity. 2 minutes later & bay attacked again but Chrisp cleared for a corner. From it, the ball was partially cleared before ending in the arms of Brass. He then sent a long ball up for the advancing Hopper but Asikaogu got to it 1st. Soon after, Lamb sent a diagonal ball to Pearson who eventually managed to supply Hopper, but his effort went just wide. In 44 minutes, Pearson supplied Walker who passed a defender & ran in on goal but his shot was saved by Asikaogu. During the minute of added time, the Stan had another opportunity to take the lead, but Pearson shot wide.
Despite the Stan having most of the ball in the 1st half, the 2nd half started goalless, but this was to change very soon. In 48 minutes, Pearson supplied Lamb in the Bay box, but he shot wide but a minute later in the 49th minute, the Stan were 1-0 up. From a throw in, the ball was passed to Pearson who advanced into the box from the left & his unexpected shot from a tight angle forced a great save from Asikaogu but the ball went out to Payne on the edge of the box & his shot went past everyone in the crowded 6 yard box & into the net. 3 minutes later, Brass got out to clear then Asikaogu had to also clear at the other end. In the 54th minute, Bay shot wide but the ball was deflected for a corner. From it, in the 55th minute, the ball was blocked in the Stan box twice before being slotted into the net by sub Nkunku for 1-1. The Stan didn’t give up & resumed trying to attack & in 59 minutes, Lamb sent a ball through to the advancing Pearson but, with only the keeper to beat, he shot over the bar. 2 minutes later & Lamb supplied Pearson again, but he was blocked. Bay then sent a long ball up, but Brass got out to clear. Bay then had another shot cleared out to the edge of the box resulting in a blasted shot that saw Brass get down to put the ball out for a corner. In 63 minutes, Brass got up to clear a Bay corner. Sub Errington forced a 65th minute corner from which Chrisp put the but the ball across the Bay goal & out. In 65 minutes, a Bay cross into the Stan box met an advancing player but his effort went wide. Soon after Bay attacked again & after the ball had been blocked & Robson had cleared, a follow up long range shot went high & wide. Chrisp & Hopper supplied the advancing Pearson in 70 minutes, but he was offside. In 73 minutes, a Stan attack eventually ended with Errington shooting well over. In 77 minutes, a ball from a Bay corner was headed clear by Shepherd & the rebound shot from the edge of the box went just wide. In 81 minutes, Robson supplied Chrisp whose ball into the box was saved by Asikaogu. Bay countered but the ball was cleared. In 86 minutes, sub Burn’s speculative long range effort went well wide. Errington then sent a diagonal ball into the box but it went straight to Asikaogu. In 88 minutes, a 40-yard Bay free kick went well over. In the last minute, sub Storey supplied Pearson but his shot was easily saved. Into 5 minutes of added time, & a joined up Stan attack saw the ball blocked in the Bay box 3 times. The Stan attacked again & this time Hopper was blocked. Bay were defending well & stopping the Stan’s persistent efforts. Against the run of play in the 93rd minute, Brass got out to punch the ball clear & relatively soon after it was all over bar the penalties.
So just like last year, the match was to be decided by penalties which were again taken at the Gallowgate end. Bay went 1st & scored as Brass went the wrong way. Hopper then casually sent Asikaogu the wrong way for 1-1. Bay scored from their 2nd penalty as Brass again went the wrong way. Pearson then calmly slotted the ball under the diving keeper’s arms to make it 2-2. Bay scored their 3rd as Brass again didn’t predict the direction. Storey sent the keeper the wrong way for 3-3. Brass went the right way for Bay’s 4th penalty but it sneaked into the corner of the net. Errington confidently sent his penalty into the top left corner of the net even though Asikaogu went the right way. The 1st 8 penalties had all been scored & it was 4-4 each going into the last round of standard penalties. Brass saved Bay’s 5th penalty to give Andy Burn the chance to win the cup for the Stan. He took the penalty well but Asikaogu saved it. For the 6th round of penalties, the Bay penalty went under Brass & Chrisp confidently put his into the left-hand corner of the net. It was now 5-5 & Bay scored from their 7th penalty putting the ball into the left corner of the net. Robson took the Stan’s penalty, but Asikaogu saved it for Bay to win the cup 6-5 on penalties.
Despite having opportunities to win, & Whitley Bay tiring in the 2nd half, the trophy just slipped away from the Stan on the 7th & final round of penalties. Thanks must go to the Stan Army for their impressive turn out at St James’ Park. Despite the narrow loss, it was still a great achievement for the club making the final two years in a row & the Stan also have had their highest ever league placing, 7th in the Northern Premier League East Division, to celebrate. The Stan now look forward to the 26-27 season & the opportunity to aim for both league & cup glory.
Stan Team: Brass; Evans; Chrisp; Robson; Capewell; Shepherd; Hopper; Payne (Storey 75); Pearson; Walker (Burn 75); Lamb (Errington 64). Subs not used: Gordon; Johnson. Attendance 3289.
Kevin Mochrie
Photo Gallery
1 vs 1 
0 vs 4 Heaton Stannington vs Hallam
The Stan’s season finished with a visit from Sheffield team Hallam but unfortunately it also ended with a narrow defeat due to a 2nd half penalty. There was only the one goal for Hallam & chances were relatively few although the Stan had two 1st half goals disallowed for being offside. On the plus side the Stan have ended their 2nd season in the Northern Premier League East in 7th place which is their highest ever league finish. There were 4 changes from last Saturday’s defeat at Grimsby with Evans, Chrisp, Robson & Errington replacing Johnson, Hornsby, Payne & Storey. Ex Blue Brazil Tom Flynn, who announced his retirement, was on the bench.
On a sunny afternoon, both teams started positively although it was Hallam who had a free kick cleared in the 2nd minute. The Stan had an attack cleared in the Hallam box in the 5th minutes followed by the visitors’ counter attacking but Evans did well to halt them. In 11 minutes, the Stan had an attack cleared & 3 minutes later Warhurst in the Hallam goal had to catch before a Stan player got to the ball. Hallam then counter attacked but blasted the ball over the Stan bar. There was not much between the teams although in 18 minutes a Hallam player broke through & collided with Brass, but the ball was guided out. The Stan then attacked followed by some great defending at the other end by Capewell. In 21 minutes, an Errington shot went wide. After a quieter period, Warhurst blocked a Stan ball in front of his goal in the 27th minute. Soon after Hopper won the ball & forced his way by 3 defenders & blasted the ball towards the net but Warhurst somehow got a hand to it for a corner which was subsequently cleared. Errington then sent a long ball towards Hopper, but Warhurst cleared it for a throw in. Soon after a long diagonal ball was sent to Errington & he eventually passed it to Pearson in the Hallam box but his shot was blocked. 2 Hallam players counter attacked but the resulting shot was blasted over the Stan bar under pressure from Capewell who helped deny a goal scoring opportunity. Errington was then brought down just outside the Hallam box. Burn sent the ball from the resulting free kick to Pearson who supplied the advancing Hopper in the 6-yard box & he slotted the ball into the Hallam net but the flag was up for offside to deny the Stan a 33rd minute lead. 3 minutes later & a Hallam defensive error allowed Pearson to slot the ball into the Hallam net but again the flag was up for offside. After another quieter period, in 44 minutes a Hallam player ran in towards the advancing Brass but he couldn’t get his hot away & the ball went out before another Hallam player could get to it. Although most of the limited number of chances were for the Stan, it was stalemate & goalless at the end of the 1st half.
Half time saw Payne & Lamb replace Burn & Errington. The 1st action of the 2nd half saw a high ball into the advancing Pearson but Warhurst got to it 1st. 3 minutes later & Hopper won the ball on the edge of the Hallam box & chested it down but his shot went just wide under pressure. Walker then had a shot that was easily caught by Warhurst. In 55 minutes, a Pearson ball in from a corner was caught by Warhurst. 2 minutes after & a ball from a Pearson free kick was sent into the Hallam 6-yard box by Shepherd but was blocked by a defender. In 59 minutes, a ball was sent through towards Lamb, but Warhurst got out to clear. The next Stan shot was offside & was followed by a quieter period. There was a period of sustained Stan pressure in the 67th minute but 5 different players were all blocked. In the 70th minute, Capewell blocked an advancing Hallam player on the edge of the Stan box & a penalty was awarded. Salmon- Howarth took the penalty in the 71st minute & scored as Brass went the wrong way. In 75 minutes, Brass took a free kick from halfway which resulted in Capewell kicking the ball high over the Hallam bar from 6 yards out under pressure. In 78 minutes, a joined up attack ended with Walker shooting over from the edge of the Hallam box. In 81 minutes, a ball from a Hornsby corner skimmed over a number of heads & went out for another corner which was cleared. The ball came back in & was cleared but was sent back in & the resulting Capewell header was deflected over the bar for a corner. Hallam then had 2 corners in a row. In 83 minutes a ball from a Walker corner saw a Shepherd shot go wide. The ball was sent back in & although Pearson was brought down nothing was given. In 85 minutes, a Hornsby ball into the Hallam box was headed jus wide by Capewell when it looked like it was going into the Hallam net. By 88 minutes, it was all Stan now but they couldn’t get another shot in including when a ball into the box saw Lamb get up to head but he couldn’t make contact. The ball went back out to Capewell whose long range shot forced Warhurst to get down to put the ball out for a corner. From the corner, a Shepherd header was blocked for another corner. In 92 minutes, a ball from a Walker corner was headed clear. It was still all Stan & in 94 minutes Brass got up for a corner which he just missed making contact with. Soon after, Brass had to easily collect followed by a Stan attack being cleared before the final whistle was blown.
Despite having much of the ball & a number of chances, the Stan failed to find the Hallam net & lost narrowly in a relatively uneventful match. The Stan can now look forward to a 3rd season in the Northern Premier League East but before that there is the matter of the Senior Cup final at St James’ Park versus Whitley Bay on 5 May.
Stan Team: Brass; Evans; Chrisp (Y) (Hornsby 64); Robson; Capewell; Shepherd; Hopper (Johnson 64); Burn (Payne 46); Pearson; Walker; Errington (Lamb 46). Sub not used: Flynn. Attendance 510. Man of the Match: Connor Walker.
Kevin Mochrie
Photo Gallery #1
Photo Gallery #2
0 vs 1 
Newcastle Independent vs Heaton Stannington A
Following a superb win on Wednesday, we travelled to Newcastle Independent looking to secure back-to-back victories for the first time in well over a month and also full of trepidation for which version of our opposition we were going to face. On a tricky pitch where the grass could have done with being cut before the game kick off, both sides struggled for rhythm and with our momentum also not helped by the trigger happy linesman that was running the opposition’s defensive line in the first half and who became an increasing source of frustration as the half went on. Chances also came and went at both ends, and we were indebted to both Reece Dunbar Phillips and Zamo Khalil for an outstanding last-ditch table and huge save, respectively. The second half followed a similar pattern until the introduction of 17-year old Harlan Croft in the 60th minute and it was he, less than 5 minutes later, who was on hand to turn home a cross by Ryan Milburn in an attack that he had started. By then, the tackles were flying, but the lads were managing the game really well until the officials intervened with five minutes to go, with a penalty awarded in circumstances where virtually nobody appealed and Zamo had made a save. In the aftermath, and still reeling from being pegged back by the penalty that was struck home with aplomb, we found ourselves down to ten minute as well, but this farcical episode only served to galvanise the lads as we went looking for 3 points. And as Dan Morton whipped another cross back into the box, George Riley rose about the opposition keeper to nod towards the back post and in his desperate attempt to clear the ball, the opposition’s defender made sure that the ball crossed the line. However, there was only George Riley looking to claim it. A late scare saw the opposition hit the bar a couple of minutes later, but we hung on and took another big step towards hopefully achieving a top 5 finish.
Russell Ward
4 vs 1 Grimsby Borough vs Heaton Stannington
It was grim in Grimsby for the Stan as they were brought back down to earth after the celebration of having booked their place in the St James’ Park senior cup final 3 days earlier. Although there was limited action from both teams, Grimsby Borough seemed to want the result more & they definitely needed it as the 3 points meant that they are now mathematically safe from relegation. In the 1st half, Grimsby converted almost all their chances into goals while the Stan only had one clear effort. 3 substitutions at half time saw the Stan get back into the game in the 2nd half but they could not overcome the 3-goal half time deficit. There were 2 changes from Wednesday’s Senior Cup win over Newcastle University with Hornsby & Burn replacing Chrisp & Robson.
With the wind behind them, Grimsby showed they meant business when, in the 2nd minute, they had a shot but it went wide of the Stan goal. They had another weak shot in the 8th minute but 4 minutes later they were in the lead through a Wireko shot from the edge of the Stan box. The Stan defence stopped a Grimsby attack in 14 minutes & did really well a minute later when a Grimsby header was cleared on the goal line followed by Brass saving the rebound effort. The Stan should have scored in the 29th minute when a Burn free kick saw the ball somehow not go in the net as it hit the bar & then also the keeper before being cleared. Grimsby though went 2-0 up with their next effort in the 37th minute when Flett lobbed Brass. A minute later & Brass stopped a Toppo shot but Ceesay put the rebound effort into the net for 3-0. It was a relatively quiet 1st half but despite this Grimsby had a comfortable 3 goal lead & the Stan had only really threatened through one free kick.
Hoping to take advantage of both the wind behind them & fresh legs, the Stan made 3 substitutions at half time with Lamb, Evans & Errington replacing Hopper, Payne & Walker. After a quiet start to the 2nd half, Brass had to save in the 51st minute. The Stan were looking better this half & in the 61st minute they came close when they forced a good save from the home keeper, but the rebound Stan shot went over the bar. In the 67th minute, the Stan got a goal back from a set piece with man of the match Capewell scoring. Although Grimsby were tiring as the half went on, it was them who scored again on the break in the 87th minute when Ceesay was supplied in the Stan box & he made it 4-1 to Grimsby allowing them to avenge their 4-0 defeat to the Stan in December.
Although the 1836 miles on the road this season ended with a defeat, a great season overall was celebrated on the long bus journey home. The Stan hope to bounce back on Saturday & secure a 7th place finish, their highest in their history, when they host Hallam in the last league match of the season.
Stan Team: Brass; Johnson; Hornsby (Y); Burn; Capewell (Y); Shepherd; Hopper (Lamb 46); Payne (Evans 46); Pearson; Walker (Errington 46); Storey. Sub not used: Gordon. Attendance 165. Man of the Match: Dan Capewell.
Kevin Mochrie
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4 vs 1 1 vs 2 Heaton Stannington vs Newcastle University
It took the Stan 38 seasons to reach their 1st Senior Cup final, 26 years to the 2nd & another 45 until their 3rd & 1st successful appearance but it’s only been a season since then & the Stan are going back to St James’ Park to defend the Senior Cup. The Stan had to come from behind against a competitive Newcastle University team who had taken an early lead & the match was pretty even at half time. Thanks to a motivational speech by manager Dean Nicholson at half time, the Stan came out all guns blazing & ended up winning comfortably. There were 2 changes from last Friday’s win over Ossett United with Payne & Pearson replacing Lamb & cup-tied Hornsby.
Under very wet conditions, there was cup fever at Willow Park & the match started with the Stan almost immediately testing Logan the Uni keeper. In the 4th minute he had to get up to save to stop a Shepherd headed effort. The Uni then had 2 attacks from which Brass easily caught both times. In 7 minutes, a Stan corner was headed clear. Both teams were trying to attack but it was Newcastle Uni who took the lead in the 11th minute when a run down the left saw Powell take a speculative long range shot as other players were also advancing into the box & his effort went past Brass & into the net for 0-1. 3 minutes later & the Uni advanced again but Brass got down to save. The Stan were back level in the 19th minute when a Johnson run forced a corner. From it, Robson headed forcibly into the Uni net from 6 yards for his 1st Stan goal. Soon after, a long high Stan ball into the Uni box was cleared by Logan before Storey could get to it. In 25 minutes, an advancing Johnson was pulled back but nothing was given. There was then a joined-up Uni attack but it ended with them shooting well over when they should have scored. In 32 minutes, there was a sustained attack by the Uni with 2 clearances followed by a long-range effort that forced a great stretching save from Brass. In the 34th minute, Johson got the ball on the right & advanced & shot but his effort was deflected just wide for a corner. From it, Shepherd got up to head & the ball was deflected for a 2nd corner from it the ball hit the post & was then cleared. In 37 minutes, the Uni won the ball on the right & the ball was sent into the Stan box towards an advancing player sliding in, but he just missed the ball. In 41 minutes, after Hopper had been brought down, Chrisp’s free kick went high over the bar. The half ended with a Stan attack being blocked & the match being finally balanced.
It looked like the Stan team had been fed rockets at half time as they came out on fire & battered the Uni defence. In 47 minutes, a Stan attack saw the ball hit the post & then went off Logan in the Uni goal & out. From the resulting corner, there was a scramble before the ball was cleared off the line for another corner. From it, Logan got down to catch. After these 3 good efforts, the Stan scored in the 50th minute when an attack was cleared but the ball was put back in to Storey who put the ball in the net for 2-1. In 54 minutes, a Uni cross into the box led to Brass getting up to catch. The Stan then had a corner cleared & was followed by a Uni attack which ended with Brass getting down to catch. In 58 minutes, Pearson advanced with the ball & rounded Logan & confidently slotted the ball into the net for 3-1. A minute later & Logan got down to collect the ball just before Hopper got to it. There was then a long ball to Pearson who advanced under pressure, but his shot was blocked by the advancing Logan. In 62 minutes, Logan got to the ball just before Hopper. Soon after, the advancing Johson was blocked. In 68 minutes, Hopper broke with the ball & rounded 3 players but Logan dived at his feet to get the ball. In 69 minutes, a Uni attack from the right into the box was slotted just wide. The Stan were looking comfortable but the Uni were not giving up. In 73 minutes, Pearson shot straight at Logan. 2 minutes later, the Uni forced a great save from Brass. From the resulting corner, the ball went high & out. In 82 minutes, Lamb won the ball in the Uni box, but Logan made a good save to prevent him scoring. Hopper, who had been to Lamb’s right, then advanced & forced a great save from Logan. In 85 minutes, the Stan were 4-1 up when Logan couldn’t get his hands on a ball coming in from Burn on the right which allowed Hopper to slot the ball into the net. In 87 minutes, a throw in into the Stan box saw a Uni player brought down. From the resulting penalty, Brass went the right way & made a great save. Lamb countered & passed to Pearson on the left but his shot went just wide of the far post. Into 2 added minutes & in the 91st minute a ball in from the left to Pearson in the Uni box saw him blast the ball into the Uni net for 5-1. Soon after, Chrisp blasted over the Uni bar followed by the final whistle.
A game of 2 very different halves, saw the 2nd relatively one sided in the Stan’s favour as they scored 5 goals in total to win for the 2nd time in a row. Despite the score, congratulations must go to the Uni keeper Ross Logan who delivered a great performance. The Senior Cup final will be played at St James’ Park on Tuesday 5 May at 7.30pm. Before that, the Stan have 2 final league matches with Grimsby away on Saturday & Hallam at home on the following Saturday.
Stan Team: Brass; Johnson; Chrisp; Robson; Capewell; Shepherd; Hopper; Payne (Burn 64); Pearson; Walker; Storey (Lamb 64). Subs not used: Gordon; Flynn; Errington. Attendance 436. Man of the Match: Sam Johnson.
Kevin Mochrie
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5 vs 1 
