When an unmarked Stephen Moody hooked home the equaliser for Brandon United on 55 minutes, an audible air of deflation permeated Grounsell Park as it appeared that The Stan would be forced to rue the earlier chances that had gone away and should have been enough to have the game won by half time. However, thankfully Brian Dodsworth was there to slide home a Jonathan Wright cross for the winner on 65 minutes, scoring a goal that was the identical twin of Anthony Johnson’s opener on 32 minutes. Wright himself scored a late hat trick, the last of which coming from the penalty spot with the very final kick of the game, to add an emphatic, if deserved, gloss to the full time score.

While the league table makes for extremely pleasant reading, with The Stan sitting proudly in second place, it must be acknowledged that the visitors from west Durham played a full part in proceedings and for much of the game, until Dodsworth’s goal in point of fact, Brandon were in genuine contention for at least a share of the spoils. However, it must be said this did not appear to be the case in the early exchanges.

Straight from kick off, The Stan came forward, with Wright’s surging run being illegally halted on the edge of the box. From the resulting free kick, The Stan number 9 crashed the ball against the post, with keeper Daniel Petersen motionless on his line. In front of an appreciably smaller crowd than Wednesday’s derby against West Allotment, Wright was again thwarted by a saving tackle moments later when advancing on goal. On 10 minutes Richie Hoggins fed Andrew Weeks, whose dangerous low cross flashed across the face of goal, eluding everyone.

Brandon’s first effort was from a free kick after Shaun Backhouse had been harshly adjudged to have impeded Moody. Full back Owen Lancaster’s powerful effort was straight at The Stan keeper though. It was a sign of the visitors coming back into the game, though their momentum was checked when Anthony Johnson became the first player other than Wright to notch for The Stan, when tapping in the dangerous striker’s astute cross just after the half hour. At the other end Moody missed a presentable headed opportunity just before the break, putting his effort beyond the back post.

Straight from the restart, Wright was denied when a sprawling Petersen turned his piledriver wide of the post, though the Brandon keeper was less impressive from the resulting corner, almost punching the ball into his own net. Better fortune favoured the visitors when an unmarked Moody tapped home on 57 minutes, for what was a terribly sloppy goal to concede. For a while, Brandon were clearly in the ascendancy and exercised a measure of control over proceedings, until Wright’s burst down the left wing resulted in a perfect cross for Dodsworth to turn the ball home to restore the lead.

From this point on, there was no doubt as to the eventual destination of the points. Wright’s first goal came after The Stan had introduced two substitutes; firstly Dean Deagle replaced Lee Johnson and then Ben Wood came on for Andrew Weeks. Meanwhile, Wright eluded the offside trap, advanced on goal and fired home under the advancing Petersen. The Brandon keeper will feel he ought to have done better with Wright’s next effort, when he allowed the ball to bounce in front and over him, though he had no chance with the final goal. A harshly awarded penalty was despatched with supreme power and minimum fuss, giving Wright his second successive home hat trick in the space of 4 days.

Stan Team:

Subs:

Yellow Cards: Wright.

Attendance: 63

Goals: A Johnson 32, Dodsworth 67, Wright 82, 83, 90 (Pen)

Kevin Mochrie