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 2^nd 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 1^st 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 1^st clear effort in the 16^th 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 1^st clearance after 32 minutes. 3 minutes later & a Stan attack saw the home keeper catch the ball. The Stan had a 2^nd great chance to score after Hopper’s 1^st 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 2^nd 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 95^th 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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