The Stan won their 4th match in a row as they hosted 2nd placed Matlock Town for the 1st time. The Stan played well in a hard-fought match & deserved their win against one of the league’s richer clubs. There was 1 change from Wednesday’s win over Bradford Park Avenue with Gordon replacing Brass in goal who was injured during the warm up. 

On a beautiful spring afternoon in front of a crowd of 434, the 1st action came in the 6th minute when a Stan ball into the Matlock box was missed by everyone. A Matlock player then broke & passed back to another player, but Hornsby managed to put the ball out for a throw in. Both teams were trying to attack & in 10 minutes a Matlock attack was blocked 3 times followed by a longball to counter attacking Errington. He chipped Lambton, the advancing Matlock keeper, but the ball was too high & went over the bar. In the 14th minute, a Burn free kick went just over the Matlock bar. Matlock then attacked but the defence dealt with it. Matlock then had a corner from which a header from a visiting player was cleared off the goal line in a scramble which also saw Gordon’s top come off. Lambton soon after easily caught a Stan effort. 3 minutes later & Matlock had a shot blocked & 2 minutes later Lambton then Gordon both easily caught the ball. This was followed by a Matlock free kick which was blocked twice followed by Gordon easily collecting the ball. Soon after, Matlock shot just wide. 2 minutes after that a ball from a Matlock corner was cleared. In 31 minutes, Lambton easily caught the ball. This was the start of a period of Stan pressure which the Matlock defence managed to deal with. In 33 minutes, a ball from a Stan corner was headed clear. A minute later & another Stan corner saw the ball headed clear but it came back to Pearson who supplied Lamb on the wing, but his curving ball went straight to Lambton. Matlock then had a corner from which the ball was headed clear although there was a foul on Gordon. There were then 2 more Matlock attacks which were easily dealt with. In 42 minutes, Lambton easily caught a Stan shot. Soon after a ball from a Matlock corner was headed clear. There were 4 minutes of added time & in 47 minutes a speculative long range Matlock effort went just wide. The Stan then attacked which saw Pearson then Errington both brought down in the Matlock box but nothing was given. Soon after a long diagonal ball to Pearson saw him cross to Errington in the Matlock box & he was brought down & a penalty was awarded. Pearson took the 50th minute penalty & sent the ball high to the left above Lambton, who had dived the correct way, & into the net for 1-0 to the Stan. It was Dale Pearson’s 20th goal of the season in all competitions. The half time whistle was blown immediately after the restart.

After a relatively balanced 1st half, the Stan started the 2nd half with a late slender lead. A minute into the half & there was some Matlock pressure including a glancing header across the Stan box which was missed & ended with Gordon getting up to catch. In the 51st minute, Lambton collected the ball just before Pearson got to it. Soon after, Burn passed to Pearson who supplied Lamb whose shot was blocked. Soon after the ball went out to Errington whose high shot from outside the box was caught by Lambton who was behind the goal line although the ball was judged not to have crossed it. There was a bad tackle on Chrisp after 54 minutes. 3 minutes later & a Matlock attack was blocked by Gordon. The ball was then forced into the net but as Gordon had been fouled in the process the goal was disallowed. A minute later & Gordon made a great save. In 61 minutes, a long-range Stan shot went straight to Lambton. In 69 minutes, Pearson crossed to Lamb in the Matlock box who was blocked followed by Errington also being blocked. In 72 minutes, a period of Stan pressure came to nothing. In 75 minutes, Milburn headed clear a ball from a throw in then a Matlock shot from the edge of the box went wide. This was followed by a Stan joined up attack which ended with Lamb slicing his shot allowing Lambton to catch the ball. In 77 minutes, there was a good opportunity when Burn sent the ball across the Matlock box, but Lamb could not make contact. In 80 minutes, a Stan shot went over the Matlock bar & a minute later a Lamb shot was blocked. In 87 minutes, Lambton got down to collect under pressure. Matlock counter attacked although Gordon managed to block the advancing Matlock player. The resulting throw in resulted in a great save from Gordon. In the 90th minute. A Matlock player received a straight red card for dissent. In 93 minutes, Lambton managed to get to a high Stan ball before subs Hopper & Walker could get to it. Hopper kept pressuring while the Stan defence also battled well to stop Matlock advances. In 96 minutes, a long-range Matlock shot went high & over. The Stan advanced again & tried to keep the ball in the corner. In 99 minutes, a Matlock free kick was headed clear by Capewell. The final whistle was finally blown in the 100th minute followed by the Matlock manager being sent off.

It was another great win from the hard-working Stan against physical opposition. Special mention to man of the match Dan Capewell & Alfie Gordon in goal. The Stan are now only 6 points of a play off position with 6 games to go. Next Saturday the Stan travel North to take on Blyth Town.

Stan Team: Gordon; Milburn; Hornsby (Storey (Y) 93); Evans; Capewell; Shepherd; Burn; Chrisp; Pearson; Errington (Walker 89); Lamb (Deverdics 89). Sub not used: Payne. Attendance 434. Man of the Match: Dan Capewell.                  

Kevin Mochrie

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The Stan bounced back from mid-week defeat to beat Garforth Town who were one place above them in the league. It was a hard fought but deserved win with Garforth competing throughout the match on a sunny afternoon in front of 301 fans. There were 2 changes from Tuesday’s home defeat to Redcar Athletic with Brass & Hornsby replacing Gordon & Deverdics. For the 3rd match in a row, there was an ex-player returning to action for the Stan. This time it was man of the match Lewis Brass in goal.

After a slow start, in the 6th minute Burn played in Lamb, but he was offside. Garforth then had a free kick into the Stan box which ended with the ball going well high & wide. In 10 minutes, a Stan attack came to nothing. The Stan attacked again eventually resulting in a corner which came to nothing. In 14 minutes, a high ball into a busy Stan box saw a Garforth shot going just wide. Another Garforth attack was cleared followed by Lamb counter attacking but a defender headed back to Flatters in the Garforth goal. The Stan pressurised again but it came to nothing. Garforth counter attacked forcing a great save from Brass. It was end to end now but both teams were cancelling each other out. In 23 minutes, a Garforth corner resulted in Brass catching but not holding the ball but Shepherd managed to clear. In 26 minutes, a Pearson throw in into the Garforth box was headed on by Capewell, but the ball was cleared. Garforth counter attacked but were stopped by a great save from Brass. 2 minutes later, a great long range shot by Burn went just over. In 29 minutes, Lamb sent a long ball to the advancing Pearson who, under pressure, slotted the ball past Flatters to make it 1-0 for the Stan. Garforth didn’t give up & in 31 minutes Brass got down to save in a busy box. In 33 minutes, Hornsby sent a high ball into the Garforth box, but Flatters got up to save. The Stan then had a throw in into the Garforth box which was headed clear. Chrisp’s rebound shot was partly cleared before the ball was sent back in & cleared again. In 38 minutes, Burn sent a free kick into the Garforth box & a Stan shot went just wide. Garforth then counter attacked with a player rounding Brass, but the ball was cleared off the line by Evans. Garforth then had a corner which resulted in Shepherd heading clear followed by the ball being blocked twice. In 42 minutes, a Garforth attack was cleared. The Stan then had a high free kick into the Garforth box which Flattesr got at the 2nd attempt. Garforth then had a free kick into the Stan box which was cleared. The 1st half ended with the Stan holding onto their 1-0 lead against a dangerous Garforth team.

Both teams started the 2nd half attacking. In 49 minutes, Lamb won the ball & advanced into the Garforth box under pressure, but Flatters got down to grab the ball. Both teams were trying to attack & in 54 minutes a Walker shot was easily caught by Flatters. This was followed by a Burn free kick which ended with a Johnson shot being caught by Flatters. 2 minutes later, a Burn free kick into the Garforth box went straight to Flatters. Soon after, Johnson sliced a shot across the Garforth goal, but an unmarked Lamb could not make contact at the far post to put away a good opportunity. Soon after, the ball went back into the Garforth box, but Flatters got to the ball 1st. In 61 minutes, a Garforth shot went wide in a busy Stan box. In 67 minutes, there were 2 good opportunities for the Stan when a Lamb shot was blocked by Flatters & he then stopped the Pearson rebound effort. In 70 minutes, Johnson forced a corner from which Flatters caught the ball. A minute later & Evans cleared a ball from a Garforth corner. Lamb then cleared again followed by a Garforth free kick that hit the wall & the attack ended with Garforth shooting just over the Stan bar. In 77 minutes, a Garforth corner was cleared in the Stan 6-yard box. Johnson counter attacked with the ball eventually being put over the Garforth bar. In 79 minutes, Pearson passed to Johnson whose shot was deflected off a defender, but Flatters got down to save. In 82 minutes, Brass easily got down to collect twice. 3 minutes later & sub Errington shot in the Garforth box but Flatters blocked with his body. In 86 minutes, a Burn corner was cleared out to Pearson whose shot was blocked by Flatters. In 91 minutes, Evans cleared. A minute later & Brass made a great save as Garforth advanced on mass. The Stan had to clear again before trying to attack themselves, but the match finished still only 1-0.

The Stan deservedly won with a good professional display but had to hold on against good opposition. As a result, the Stan have moved up from 8th to 7th with Garforth dropping to 9th. Credit must be given to both keepers made number great saves to keep the score down. Next Saturday the Stan travel to Yorkshire to take on 3rd placed Emley. 

Stan Team: Brass; Evans; Hornsby (Deverdics 82); Chrisp; Capewell; Shepherd; Walker; Burn; Pearson (Y); Johnson; Lamb (Errington 74 (Y)). Subs not used: Storey; Gordon; Hopper. Attendance 301. Man of the Match: Lewis Brass.                  

Kevin Mochrie

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It was always going to be a challenge for the Stan as league leaders Redcar Athletic visited Willow Park on the back of 9 consecutive wins and being unbeaten in 18 matches. An injury hit Stan battled but unsuccessfully as Redcar won 4-0. Although they deserved to win, the score flattered the visitors especially as 2 goals were avoidable & the 4th was scored late on against the run of play as the Stan attempted a comeback in the 2nd half. There were 3 changes from Saturday’s away defeat to Silsden with Deverdics, Walker & Lamb replacing Milburn, Robson & Errington. Danny Sayer made his return for the club from the bench. 

Redcar started on the attack although it was the Stan who threatened 1st in the 3rd minute when a long ball to Lamb in the Redcar box saw him brought down but nothing was given. 2 minutes later & a Johnson attack saw his shot forced wide. Redcar avoidably score in the 8th minute when a back pass was sliced by Gordon & the ball went towards the advancing Boyes but although his 1st touch was blocked by a defender, he put the ball in the net at the 2nd attempt. Soon after, the Stan had a chance to equalise when a joined-up attack ended with a blasted shot by Shepherd which was stopped by Mazfari in the Redcar goal. In the 11th minute, although it should still have been goalless, Redcar were 2-0 up when a counterattack saw Gordon come out for the ball, but it was not properly cleared & Boyes forced it into the net. In 14 minutes, there was a scramble in the Stan box, but the flag was eventually up. In 17 minutes, Lamb attacked followed by a Redcar attack that were both cleared. Both teams were trying to attack on a regular basis but none of the attacks at either end were coming to anything. Things changed in the 41st minute when a joined-up attack by Redcar saw the ball go to Guru & he brought it down in the middle of the busy box & comfortably slotted it past Gordon for 0-3. Soon after the Stan had half time to cover at half time from the shock of being undeservedly 3-0 down.

After a quiet start to the 2nd half, a Redcar player advanced in the 51st minute &, with only Gordon to beat, shot just wide when it looked like he was going to score. The Stan were still trying to attack & in 59 minutes a Pearson ball into the Redcar box was headed clear to Lamb who was blocked followed by Burn shooting wide. The Stan were having more of the ball than Redcar now & in 64 minutes, after the advancing Lamb was brought down, Burn’s free kick was cleared. The ball went back in but was cleared twice. In 68 minutes, Johnson advanced into the box & controlled the ball but his shot in the busy box hit the side netting although the flag then went up. Soon after, a Pearson ball went across the Redcar box but there was no one there to make contact. In 74 minutes, a Crisp free kick into the Redcar box saw a Stan shot but Mazfari got down to block but the flag then went up. Redcar had a rare corner in 76 minutes that was cleared. 2 minutes later & a Pearson shot was blocked by Mazfari. In 80 minutes, Redcar had a rare advance & hit the side netting. There was more Stan pressure in 84 minutes but 2 minutes later Gordon had to come out to clear before an advancing Redcar player could get to the ball. Against the 2nd half run of play, Redcar scored a 4th goal & Boyes got his hattrick in 88 minutes when he got the ball on the right & under pressure shot & scored off the left post. The Stan resumed attacking but the match ended 0-4.

Unlike in the gameshow of the same name as the size of the crowd, 321, the Stan did not leave with a prize or even a Dusty bin. As Redcar look certain to be promoted, most of their remaining opponents will likely have a similar fate thanks to their clinical approach & well-paid players. The Stan can get back to winning ways on Saturday when they host Garforth Town.

Stan Team: Gordon; Evans; Chrisp; Deverdics (Hornsby 73); Capewell; Shepherd; Walker; Burn; Johnson (Sayer 86); Pearson (Y); Lamb (Storey 73). Sub not used: Flynn. Attendance 321. Man of the Match: Connor Walker.                  

Kevin Mochrie

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It was Pontefract who got the icing on their cake with a narrow 1-0 win. It was a disappointing performance from the Stan although it was only a defensive error that allowed the visitors to win. Despite Pontefract having more of the pressure overall, the Stan did have a few limited opportunities of their own to get something out of the match, especially as the 2nd half went on, but ultimately failed to do so. There was 1 change from Wednesday’s win over Ashington with Beattie replacing Chrisp. Recent signing Nicholas Deverdics made his debut for the Stan from the bench.

On a damp, overcast but dry afternoon the 1st action came in the 5th minute when Gordon went out to clear. A Pontefract throw in into the Stan box was then cleared before the ball was sent back into the Stan box & cleared again. In the 7th minute, a Pontefract player made a break forward, but Walker made a great tackle to stop the advance. The Stan’s 1st real threat came in the 8th minute when a throw in into the visitors’ box was cleared. After a quieter period, the Stan had attacks cleared after 14 & 17 minutes. There were then 2 Pontefract attacks with Hopper putting the ball from the 2nd out for a corner. In 22 minutes, Beattie had to be replaced by Walker because of an earlier tackle on him. A minute later & Pontefract sent the ball into the Stan box & Gordon got down to block but the scramble lasted for a few seconds more as the ball continued to bounce about the 6-yard box until it was cleared to safety. In 25 minutes, the Stan forced a corner which came to nothing. 3 minutes later & a Pontefract player broke forward but Milburn guided the ball out. Another visiting player then broke & shot from just outside the 6-yard box, but Capewell blocked followed by Gordon getting down to put the ball out for a corner. From it, Gordon put a rebound shot from the edge of the box over the bar for another corner which saw the ball go out. It was a not a good game so far & although Pontefract didn’t have many opportunities, the Stan had less. In 36 minutes, a Pontefract free kick into the Stan box bounced awkwardly but then went straight into the arms of Gordon. 3 minutes later & the Stan advanced & an Errington cross into Pearson saw him head the ball towards goal but Christy in the Pontefract goal got up to catch it. In 45 minutes, a Burn free kick from halfway saw Capewell go to get on the end of it in the Pontefract box but he was flattened & nothing was given. Into 4 minutes of added time, & a Pontefract corner was missed by everyone except a visiting player 12 yards out from the far post but although he had a clear shot, Gordon managed to save. Soon after, a long-range Pontefract free kick went straight towards Gordon’s arms. The half ended with a Pontefract attack & still goalless.

The 2nd half began with Pontefract coming close from a corner as the ball was scrambled away from just in front of the goal line when it had looked like it was going into the net. In 52 minutes, a Pontefract attack was cleared twice followed by a bad tackle on Burn which resulted in a booking for Pontefract’s Middleton. Burn took the resulting free kick from halfway, but it went straight to keeper Christy. Pontefract then attacked but Milburn cleared. The resulting throw in was cleared allowing Pearson to counter under pressure but Christy got to the ball 1st. In 59 minutes, a Pontefract player ran forward & crossed into the 6-yard box, but the intended player missed the ball. In the 60th minute a Stan attack ending with Pearson getting into the box, but the ball was cleared followed by 2 Pontefract attacks being cleared. In 64 minutes, there was more Pontefract pressure when an unmarked advancing player shot from the side of the box, but Gordon got down to save just before Evans & another advancing Pontefract player skid into the 6-yard box. The visitors did get a goal in 67 minutes when a failed pass back to Gordon saw Lumsden break on the left & his diagonal shot went into the right-hand corner of the Stan net. 2 minutes later & the Stan had a ball from a corner punched clear. There was a quieter period until Gordon had to catch after 80 minutes followed by a Pontefract free kick being cleared in the Stan box.  The final minutes of the half, as a result of 4 late subs, saw mainly pressure from the Stan but few shots. In 83 minutes, Hopper sent a ball into the Pontefract box, but sub Deverdics shot well over from the edge of it. 3 minutes later & advancing sub Lamb slipped in the box, In the 1st of 5 added minutes, Hopper sent a long ball to Lamb who was blocked although he sent the ball out to Deverdics on the edge of the box who shot well over the bar. The Stan attacked again twice with the 2nd resulting in Pearson shooting wide. The final minute saw the Stan get a free kick on halfway which Gordon went up for. The ball was cleared from the corner & although Pontefract countered while Gordon was still up, man of the match Burn managed to get back to clear the ball. 

Pontefract’s narrow win sees them swapping places with the Stan & they move up to 6th in the league. Despite a number of late opportunities, the Stan could not get a goal to retrieve at least a point. The Stan are at home again on Saturday when Blyth Spartans visit High Heaton in league duty for the 1st time ever. 

Stan Team: Gordon; Milburn (Y) (Johnson 67 (Y)); Beattie (Walker 22); Evans (Y) (Storey 83); Capewell; Shepherd; Payne (Deverdics 77); Burn; Pearson (Y); Hopper; Errington (Lamb 76). All subs used. Attendance 375. Man of the Match: Andy Burn.                       

Kevin Mochrie

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