An impressive crowd of 82, including several late arrivals who had hotfooted it on the 38 from St. James’ Park, gathered to see Heaton Stannington remain on top of Northern League Division 2 after seeing off the challenge of the Cumbrian visitors. Those who arrived late missed very little as a fairly mundane scoreless first period was played out by two teams who struggled to find their rhythm. This was particularly surprising for The Stan, as they’d been in superb form away to Seaham Red Star on the Tuesday previous.

In the opening period, The Stan exercised a degree of control and fashioned several chances, including a Lee Johnson header that flashed wide of goal, but could have been almost an exact replica of his winning effort at Seaham.

Seconds after the interval the visitors took the lead, with a superb long-range effort from Matthew Tymen, whose shot flew in off the post with Shaun Backhouse well beaten. For a time, The Stan looked ragged and uncoordinated, until that man Jonathan Wright intervened and the game changed decisively in a six minute period, during which time he’d scored his third hat trick of the season here at Grounsell Park. His first came from the penalty spot after Phil Smith had been floored. Driving the ball into the roof of the net with brute aggression, he pulled the game back level. Wright's second goal was more artful and was surprisingly executed with a deft flick of his less-favoured right boot, collecting an astute ball from Smith and delightfully gliding it past the advancing Stuart Pettitt.

Moments later, he completed his hat trick; Wright’s game is helped by his unerring ability to find space. He did that in the Whitehaven box and drove in a finish, via a slight nick off a defender, to seemingly make the game safe for the home side. However, the spirited Cumbrians would not lie down and with 10 minutes remaining, Matthew Tymen made the game more interesting with an utterly unstoppable long range effort that beat Backhouse all ends up and flew into the net. It was a goal worthy of winning any game; for Whitehaven it would have to be a consolation. That said; they have scored the two best goals we have conceded all season.

Perhaps the scruffiest goal of the season finally made the points safe in the last minute of normal time. Jonathan Wright’s mishit corner trundled apologetically along the six yard line, evading all attempts at a touch, before it arrived unhindered at the back post, where substitute Ben Wood was able to prod the ball home from close range. Ironic that such a mundane goal would ultimately make the result a positive one for the home side after the quality efforts previously. Consequently, Heaton Stannington began the day where they started it; proudly on top of Northern League Division 2.

Stan Team:

Subs:

Yellow Cards: Blakey, Smith, Holliday.

Goals: Wright 59(pen), 62, 65, Wood 90

Attendance: 82