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

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The Stan had their 2^nd trip to the seaside in 4 days but this time it involved an almost 250-mile round trip to Bridlington. Unfortunately, the outing was spoiled not by sand in the Stan Army’s sandwiches but by one early goal & good goal keeping by Bridlington’s Sebastian Malkowski who is on loan from Worksop Town & is a former Polish international keeper. There were 2 changes from Tuesday’s senior cup win at Blyth Town with Ellison & Anderson replacing Slaughter & Stephenson. Andy Burn made his 100^th start for the club.

From kick off the Stan attacked but it was Bridlington who took a shock early lead after only 4 minutes when they broke forward & Dyer shot past 2 defenders & Brass sending the ball into the Stan net. 2 minutes later & it was Bridlington who attacked again but Brass caught the ball although soon after they also shot well over the bar. In 9 minutes a Stan attack was blocked with a home counter attack coming to nothing. The Stan were trying to attack & in 14 minutes a cross from Lamb was headed out for a corner before Thompson could get to it. From the corner the ball was punched clear. Thompson then got into the box with the ball, but the keeper caught his effort. It was mainly Stan pressure now & in 18 minutes Lamb forced a corner from which the ball was caught by the keeper. Bridlington then had 2 attacks cleared. In 25 minutes, a home player advanced on his own & forced a great save from Brass. 2 minutes later & Bridlington had another attack cleared. At the other end, Anderson shot wide from close range. There was a quieter 10 minutes although Bridlington had 3 corners cleared. In 41 minutes, Capewell got up to head a ball from a Stan corner but Malkowski caught it. At half time there was only the unfortunate early Bridlington goal separating the 2 teams after a relatively even 1^st half.

The Stan started the 2^nd half positively with a free kick & another attack both being cleared. In 52 minutes, a Lamb free kick into the box was caught by Malkowski under pressure. Bridlington then had an attack cleared twice. Anderson & Malkowski then both went for a ball but the keeper just got to it 1^st. It was mainly Stan attacks now with a Burn shot easily caught in 56 minutes. 2 minutes later & Bridlington shot wide. The Stan then attacked again twice & on the 2^nd occasion both Anderson & Lamb were fouled in the box, but nothing was given. In 62 minutes, a Stan corner was cleared for a 2^nd one from which the ball was partially cleared before Lamb shot wide. The Stan pressure continued & it wasn’t until 68 minutes when the home side attacked again & headed over the bar. Sub Sayer then shot over the Bridlington bar & soon after he also headed wide. Immediately after in the 71 minute, Sayer sent the ball into the box for Lamb to head into the home net but his effort was offside. In 75 minutes, after Shepherd had initially cleared, Bridlington shot just wide. Both teams were still trying to attack & in 80 minutes a ball from the left by sub Hornsby bobbled but, with Malkowski unable to get to it, it unfortunately went just wide. The next Stan attack saw Anderson shoot wide. 2 minutes later & Bridlington had 2 attacks cleared. In 88 minutes, Malkowski caught another Stan effort. The last few minutes of the match saw continued Stan pressure, but it came to nothing & the match ended with Malkowski catching another Stan effort from a free kick.

So, despite trying, the Stan could not cancel out Bridlington’s 4^th minute goal & their efforts were not helped by the absence of Slaughter & Stephenson. A big positive was the sizeable section of the Stan Army who were present at this welcoming ground with a number of fans staying for the weekend. They will all be back in High Heaton for Saturday though to see their beloved Heaton Stannington take on Grimsby Borough.

Kevin Mochrie

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