After the last 2 league visits to Newton Aycliffe ended in defeat, the Stan got revenge through a professional, comfortable & entertaining 3-0 victory. On a dark Friday night in deepest County Durham, there was only 1 team in it as the Stan got back to winning ways. There were 3 changes from the away defeat to Lincoln United 10 days ago with Evans, Walker & Johnson replacing Burn, Robson & Storey.

The Stan started on the attack & in the 2nd minute a Payne free kick into the Aycliffe box was cleared. The home side then had a shot deflected high for a corner which came to nothing. Both teams were trying to attack & in 6 minutes a ball from the advancing Errington was deflected & cleared. There was an early lead for the Stan in the 7th minute when Walker supplied Pearson who broke with the ball & entered the box before comfortably shooting past Seymour in the home goal to make it 1-0 for the Stan. It had been a confident display so far from the Stan including in defence. It was all Stan attacks now & Johnson hit the side netting in the 12th minute. A minute later, from a Stan corner, a Capewell header was put off the top of the bar & out for a corner by Seymour. In 16 minutes, a long ball to Errington saw him advance into the home box under pressure but Seymour collected the ball. Aycliffe made a rare move forward, but the flag was up. Soon after they had a speculative long-range effort that  went just over the Stan bar. In 21 minutes, a home attack was cleared. In 23 minutes, the Stan advanced twice although soon after Evans had to make 2 good clearances. In 26 minutes, a Johnson diagonal long ball to Errington saw him on the left of the box with no support & under pressure he sent in a cross come shot that hit off the keeper & then off the far post & into the net for 2-0. The Stan kept attacking & in 28 minutes Johnson went down the right, but his shot was caught by Seymour. It was still mainly one sided & in 34 minutes a Pearson ball deflected off Seymour but was then cleared. It was still all Stan & in 37 minutes an Errington high ball into the home box saw Seymour put the ball over his own bar for a corner. In 39 minutes, a rare Aycliffe advance saw them shoot from just outside the Stan box, but Gordon easily caught. The 1st half ended with a ball from Payne going across the Aycliffe goal.

The Stan started the 2nd half on the attack with their 2nd shot going wide. In the 47th minute, Aycliffe got their 1st corner of the match which came to nothing. In the 49th minute, Johnson advanced on the left & sent a speculative shot, from outside the box past Seymour, who was expecting a cross, & into the net for 3-0. What a goal! In 53 minutes, a Stan free kick ended with a shot from Milburn hitting off Shepherd & going towards the net but Seymour caught at the 2nd attempt. In 55 minutes, an Aycliffe free kick into the box was easily collected by Gordon. 2 minutes later & Errington won the ball & sent the ball towards Pearson, but it hit the back of his foot before it was cleared. In 60 minutes, Johnson sent a ball into the home box but there was no one there. This was followed by a speculative long range home effort which went just wide. 2 minutes later & a deflected Aycliffe shot was easily caught by Gordon. In 64 minutes, from a Burn free kick, an Errington header was caught by Seymour. In 67 minutes, a Johnson break was blocked for a corner. After some rare home pressure, in 74 minutes Errington won the ball & was tackled in the home box before he could shoot. Aycliffe then shot just wide. In 78 minutes, there was a sustained period of home pressure which eventually resulted in a corner. From the corner, the ball went across the Stan goal & out. There was then more Stan pressure & in 84 minutes Capewell had the ball in the Aycliffe net, but the offside flag was up. In 86 minutes, a joined-up Stan attack came to nothing. It was still all Stan pressure & in 87 minutes sub Blaney sent a ball into the home box but the ball was intercepted. After 5 minutes of added time, where both teams tried to attack, the final whistle was finally blown & the triumphant Stan Army could celebrate. 

It was a great evening for the Stan Army as their team put on a great show for them. All the team played well & looked hungry, but Sam Johnson edged it for man of the match not just because of his wonder goal but for his overall performance where he gave 100 % all night in attack. For the 1st time ever in league action, the Stan host Blyth Spartans on Wednesday night. 

Stan Team: Gordon; Milburn; Evans; Deverdics (Storey 75); Capewell; Shepherd; Johnson; Payne (Y); Pearson (Blaney 84); Walker (Burn 62); Errington (Lamb 75). All subs used. Attendance 197. Man of the Match: Sam Johnson.                  

Kevin Mochrie

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Unfortunately, after 7 matches, the Stan finally suffered their 1^st away defeat of 2025. It was against play off placed Newton Aycliffe & there was no shortage of drama & controversy which were both mainly caused by the referee. There were no changes from last week’s home win over Bishop Auckland.

Newton Aycliffe showed they meant business when in the 1^st minute they shot over then Stan’s bar. The Stan then had a corner which came to nothing. 3 minutes later & Aycliffe got the ball into the stan box, but Stephenson cleared for a corner. Capewell cleared it before Stephenson sent a long ball up to Lamb who lost out to the home defence. The Stan were pressing now & Lamb advanced upon the home keeper who caught the ball. Adamson then headed past the post before Aycliffe attacked but the Stan blocked them twice. In the 7^th minute, an Aycliffe corner was blocked in the 6-yard box & it was now the Stan defence who were working hard & they had to make 3 more clearances by the 10^th minute. There was controversy after 12 minutes when Hopper & Brown went up for a ball, but the latter dropped to the ground earning him an Oscar nomination. The referee sent Hopper off after pressure from the home side. The extra player for Aycliffe led to a period of home pressure. This paid off in the 17^th minute when, from a corner, a home header was missed by Brass under pressure & although Stephenson tried to stop the ball on the line it went into the net. 2 minutes later & Brass had to get down to catch. Capewell was then brought down in the home box, but nothing was given. In the 20th minute, Walker advanced down the right & was brought down. Stephenson’s free kick was headed just wide by Capewell at the far post. 3 minutes later & the home keeper got out to clear under pressure from Lamb. Both teams were trying to attack & Aycliffe shot well over in the 26^th minute. The Stan were 2-0 down in the 27^th minute when a poor clearance by Brass allowed a nearby home player to advance with the ball & because Brass & his defence couldn’t get the ball cleared, it was eventually forced into the net. Soon after there was an elbow on Slaughter & although a free kick was awarded, no cards were shown. The Stan didn’t give up & after Adamson had been shoved off the ball, Stephenson’s resulting free kick went just over the bar. Evans was then elbowed but only a yellow card was shown. Stephenson’s free kick from the incident went wide. In 36 minutes, Aycliffe shot just over from a corner. Slaughter then advanced but was stamped on & the only card shown was to Lamb for dissent. The Stan then had to clear & soon after Brass had to catch. Into added time, & Robson forced a corner & from it his glancing header went just wide. As the officials left the pitch, the conversations resulted in Dean Nicolson being booked & Brass being sent off..

Down to 9 men for the 2^nd half saw defender Marriott go in goals with Burn replacing Adamson. Aycliffe immediately tried to test Marriott with a shot from distance, but it went wide. The Stan attacked followed on 50 minutes by a long range home shot which was deflected just wide for a corner. Capewell cleared from the corner & there was another corner from a deflected shot 2 minutes later which saw a shot hitting the side netting. Aycliffe kept the pressure on but without really testing Marriott & in 55 minutes Capewell headed clear. In 59 minutes, Marriott easily made his 1^st catch. Aycliffe kept attacking & in 63 minutes they shot wide then well over the bar. In 66 minutes, a ball across the Stan box was missed by everyone. Capewell then cleared before a home long shot went well wide. In 69 minutes, the Stan had an attack cleared before more home pressure which the Stan again dealt with well. In the 74^th minute though, a home effort was blocked on the line but was forced into the net for 3-0 to Aycliffe. In 77 minutes, Marriott blocked an effort on the line, Robson then blocked before Marriott caught the ball. The Stan subs revitalised the team & in 78 minutes sub Hornsby supplied sub Groves who shot straight at the home keeper. Aycliffe then shot well wide. The Stan kept trying to attack but it was Aycliffe who shot well over in 85 minutes. In 89 minutes, after Evans had blocked a shot, Marriott made a great save. In 91 minutes, Hornsby tackled a home player to clear an attack in the box, but the referee awarded a penalty. Marriott went the correct way but could not stop the ball going into the net for 4-0 for Aycliffe.

The team gave a heroic 2^nd have performance despite being 2 players down & were unlucky to concede 2 further goals. It was a disappointing day on the road for the Stan & although Newton Aycliffe were always going to be a challenge, none of the Stan Army expected as heavy a defeat, inconsistent refereeing or 2 sending offs. Special praise must be given to stand in keeper Alfie Marriott who was awarded man of the match for his efforts. The defeat dropped the Stan into the relegation zone & one point from safety. Things brightened up by Monday though as Brighouse were deducted 3 points pushing the Stan back up 2 points & 1 place above the relegation zone. With 3 games to play the Stan are at home on Good Friday against Liversedge.

Kevin Mochrie

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