For the 2^nd match in a row, the Stan took on a play-off placed team as they made the long journey to Derbyshire to face high flying Belper Town. Despite being competitive throughout the match, the Stan could not convert their chances & went home empty handed. There were 5 changes from Wednesday night’s draw with Stocksbridge with Marriott, Turnbull; Burn; Hopper & Thompson replacing Hornsby; Capewell; Slaughter; Errington & Stephenson.

The Stan were caught out early on when, in the 2^nd minute, Brass saved a home effort but Rawson got to the rebound 1^st & put the ball into the net. The Stan responded positively & in the 5^th minute, a cross by Hopper was palmed away by the home keeper but Burn’s follow up effort saw him not being able to connect cleanly with the ball. In the 7^th minute, a Belper free kick was confidently tipped over the bar by Brass for a fantastic save. In 14 minutes, Evans was fouled & the resulting free kick by Burn was tipped over the bar by the home keeper. In 21 minutes, Lamb put the keeper under pressure & stole the ball from him, but he could not direct the ball into the net. 2 minutes later & Thompson got in behind the home defence but his cross was intercepted by a defender before the ball could get to Lamb. In 26 minutes, Brass made another great save from a close range Belper effort. After a quieter period, the half ended with Brass making 3 saves in a row all from a close distance. The half ended with only the unfortunate early Belper goal separating the 2 teams after a competitive 1^st half.

In the 2^nd minute of the 2^nd half, there were more heroics from the Stan keeper when a home defender broke forward & Brass tipped his effort wide. In 54 minutes, Belper were 2-0 up when, from a free kick, Draper knocked the ball into the net at the near post. 2 minutes later, Brass saved again when he pushed the ball round the post. In 61 minutes, the Stan were unlucky when a Burn free kick thundered against the post. 3 minutes later & Belper cleared a ball from a Stan throw in but the ball went to Groves who, from distance, shot just by the post. The Stan were showing that they were determined to get something from the match. In 67 minutes, a Burn 25-yard free kick went well over the bar. In 70 minutes, Grove curled a free kick towards the back post, but a defender managed to get a touch & put the ball out for a corner which was then cleared. In the 79^th minute, Brass made another save but Shepherd then slid in to try & clear the rebound ball & unfortunately put it into his own net to give Belper a 3-0 lead. In the 90^th minute, sub Errington scuffed an effort wide. In the 93^rd minute, a Burn free kick was put round the post by the home keeper but the match ended with a 3-0 win for the home team.

Despite a hard-working performance, the Stan suffered a 3^rd heavy away defeat in a row. The scoreline was harsh despite the fact that Brass had to make some fine saves & was awarded man of the match for his efforts. As Sherwood Colliery lost 1-2, after leading 1-0, the Stan remain one place outside the relegation zone. Its back to Grounsell Park on Boxing Day at 11am when the Stan host the only other team in the league from North of the Tyne, 3^rd bottom Ashington.

Kevin Mochrie