Season: 2025-26

Bridlington Town vs Heaton Stannington

While many people were undertaking festive activities or preparing for Xmas day itself, the Stan had a great day out at the seaside. After 3 defeats, the 4th ever match between the 2 teams saw the Stan batter Bridlington Town 4-0. After 20 away league matches in 2025, with only 1 to go, the Stan have only lost twice. There was 1 change from Wednesday’s 4-0 home win over Grimsby Borough with Burn replacing Lamb. And what a day it was for Andy Burn who made his 200th appearance for the Stan, scored the team’s 1st goal with a spectacular shot, was voted man of the match & was part of the winning team for both quizzes on the team bus.

On a cold but dry afternoon, the 1st action came in the 3rd minute when Hopper ran into the home box, but his shot was blocked for a corner. From it the ball was initially cleared before a Hopper follow up shot was blocked. The Stan were in the lead in the 4th minute when Pearson supplied Burn whose shot from just outside the box went through everyone & into the net. There were hints of Barnoldswick in this goal. A minute later, a Bridlington player broke & shot past the advancing Gordon but his effort was going just wide & was cleared. As well as trying to attack, the Stan were also defending well. After picking up an injury from a yellow card tackle after 5 minutes, Evans had to be replaced in the 14th minute by Chater. Both teams were trying to attack although the Stan were pressing more. In 25 minutes, Bridlington shot well over. The Stan then had 2 attacks that were cleared. In 29 minutes, a Bridlington long range effort was deflected just wide. The ball from the resulting corner was headed just high & wide. Both teams tried to attack but it was the Stan who came closest next when in 38 minutes Errington broke & Dash in the Bridlington goal came out to block but the ball went back to Hopper whose long chip went wide. The Stan were 2-0 up in 42 minutes when a long ball to Hopper saw him flick it on to the advancing Pearson &, with Dash coming out but missing the ball, was able to shoot into the net. Into injury time, & both teams tried to attack. In the 49th minute, Hopper was brought down just outside the home box but nothing was given. Soon after the Stan did win a free kick but it was headed clear in the home box.

After a quieter start to the 2nd half, in the 49th minute there was a ball into Pearson just to the right of the right post but he couldn’t make contact. Soon after a Bridlington attack was cleared & 3 minutes later, they had a shot blocked. The Stan countered & Dash had to come out to clear. In 56 minutes, Errington broke under pressure but his cross into the home box was intercepted. In 59 minutes, the Stan had a period of sustained pressure culminating in Errington shooting wide from the edge of the box. In 62 minutes, a through ball to the advancing Walker saw his shot from the edge of the box blocked by Dash. The Stan kept pressing & in 65 minutes Dash had to punch clear with Errington’s rebound shot going wide. In 70 minutes, a goalward Errington shot was deflected for a corner. The ball from Walker’s corner was partly cleared but Burn sent it back in although Walker’s shot was blocked. There was then a joined-up attack which saw Chrisp’s cross being put out for a corner. From it, in the 73rd minute, Capewell’s header hit the bar & Shepherd did not flounder as he put his follow up headed effort into the back of the net for 3-0 to the Stan. A minute later & a Pearson high ball into the box was caught by Dash. He also had to come out to save a Walker effort in 79 minutes. A rare Bridlington attack in the 80th minute saw them put the ball over the Stan bar. The Stan kept pressing although the hosts did force a corner in 87 minutes from which Capewell headed clear. 2 minutes later & a Stan ball across the Bridlington goal was cleared. In 94 minutes, Pearson crossed from the left across the home box to sub Johnson just outside the box who confidently shot past Dash to make it 4-0 & get his 1st goal for the Stan.

It was a brill performance from the Stan & both a 4th win & clean sheet in a row. The Stan perch 1 place & a point off Dunston who sit in the last play off spot & they are 17 points away from the relegation zone. There are 2 crucial home games up next as the Stan take on Dunston on Tuesday followed by league leaders Redcar Athletic on Saturday.

Stan Team: Gordon; Milburn; Chrisp (Beattie 85); Evans (Chater 13); Capewell; Shepherd; Hopper (Lamb 77); Burn; Pearson; Walker (Storey 85); Errington (Johnson 77). No cards. All Subs used. Attendance 158. Man of the Match: Andy Burn.

Kevin Mochrie

Photo Gallery

0 vs 4

Heaton Stannington vs Grimsby Borough

Grimsby Borough returned to High Heaton for the 2nd time in 11 days but tonight the match was completed unlike the 1st attempt which was abandoned due to a flooded pitch after 24 minutes with the Stan leading 1-0 & with Grimsby having missed a penalty. Building on Saturday’s 2-0 home win over Brighouse, the Stan had a comfortable 4-0 win over Grimsby & delivered a confident & entertaining performance for the Stan Army. There were 2 changes with Milburn & Errington replacing Robson & Lamb. The team was the same one that started the abandoned match against Grimsby.

On a blustery but mild evening the rain luckily stayed away. The Stan started on the attack & in the 2nd minute, after the ball from a corner was initially cleared, the ball came back into the 6-yard box & was cleared for another corner. The opening period was dominated by the Stan & the only 2 early Grimsby attacks were easily cleared in the 7th & 10th minutes. In the 11th minute, a speculative Stephenson long range effort went well over. 2 minutes later, & Evans nipped in front of an advancing Grimsby player to get the ball & stop the attack. Another Grimsby attack was cleared a minute later which led to Pearson advancing with the ball & he was brought down in the box by Lovett who was sent off. The penalty was taken by Hopper in the 16th minute who confidently sent the ball down the middle & into the net with the Grimsby keeper Auton diving to his left. So, with nearly 75 minutes still to go the Stan were 1-0 up & Grimsby were down to 10 men. The Stan kept attacking & in the 21st minute Errington crossed to the advancing Hopper in the box, but he couldn’t make contact with the ball & it was cleared. In 23 minutes, Walker shot from just outside the box, but Auton got down to save. In the 30th minute, the Stan were 2-0 up when a Stephenson ball into the Grimsby box was confidently put into the net by Pearson. A minute later & Pearson nicked the ball of a Grimsby defender & although his shot was on target it was deflected just wide for a corner. From the corner, the ball went initially out to the edge of the box but was sent back into the 6 yard box where there was a scramble but Auton managed to get himself on top of the ball. Play was being dominated by the Stan & in 36 minutes a Stephenson long range effort was caught by Auton. 3 minutes later & a Grimsby throw in into the Stan box was headed clear & the Stan counter attack involved 4 players, but the ball was eventually cleared. In 41 minutes, a Chrisp ball into the Grimsby box was blocked. Walker then supplied Pearson whose long range shot went just wide. Chrisp then sent a high cross into the box but it went wide & out. Soon after, Gordon came out to stop a Grimsby attack but missed the ball but luckily the Grimsby player’s shot deflected off him for a corner. From the corner, the ball went across the goal line to a Grimsby player at the far post, but his close shot was cleared off the line by Shepherd for another corner.

The 2nd half started with more Stan pressure & in 48 minutes Auton had to punch the ball clear although it was sent back in & he had to catch it. In 51 minutes, the Stan increased their lead when, from a joined-up attack, the ball was sent through by Stephenson to the advancing Pearson in the Grimsby box & he slotted the ball past Auton & into the net. 3 minutes later & Walker shot just wide. Hopper then crossed to towards the advancing Errington, but Auton got to the ball 1st. In 61 minutes, a Grimsby free kick was easily caught by Gordon. This was followed at the other end by an Errington shot from the edge of the box which was easily caught by Auton. There was more intermittent Stan pressure in between substitutions & in 73 minutes sub Johnson chipped the ball over the Grimsby bar from a corner. In 75 minutes, Pearson advanced with the ball & slotted it past Auton to make it 4-0 and get his hat trick. In 81 minutes, Johnson crossed to sub Lamb who shot just wide. 2 minutes later & sub Chater shot straight at Auton. The Stan kept pressing but the match ended still 4-0 to the Stan.

So a comfortable win & good team effort for the Stan saw them move up the table to 5th & into a play off place. On Saturday the Stan make the long journey to the Yorkshire seaside when they visit Bridlington Town.

Stan Team: Gordon; Milburn (Chater 76); Chrisp (Beattie 78); Evans; Capewell; Shepherd; Hopper (Storey 66); Walker; Pearson (Lamb 76); Stephenson; Errington (Johnson 66). No cards. All Subs used. Attendance 208. Man of the Match: Dale Pearson.

Kevin Mochrie

4 vs 0