A scrappy, but vital win for The Stan in their first game following the installation of the new stand at Grounsell Park was achieved when Dean Deagle’s astute 14th minute free kick beat the impressive Esh Winning keeper Tom Orton at his near post. This was, incredibly, Stan’s first home win of 2014 and it keeps the flickering flame of Heaton’s promotion hopes still smouldering, if not burning brightly. There are still 14 games to go this season and with The Stan trailing third placed West Allotment Celtic by 9 points, with 2 games in hand, going in to Wednesday 5th March’s crucial local derby between the two sides at Whitley Park, there was absolutely no room for error in this contest, after the agonising loss of 2 late points in the previous game following Tow Law Town’s injury time leveller at Ironworks Road.

Things could have been more comfortable for the home side if Kevin Carr’s thunderous long range drive in the third minute had gone in, instead of smacking against the bar and bouncing away. On the back of Ben Telford’s similarly powerful effort also hitting the bar and not going in, it seems as if The Stan could do with a bit of good fortune from the woodwork in the next few games, perhaps to prove the truth of the cliché that luck evens itself out over the course of the season. Soon after Deagle’s debut goal, Brian Dodsworth broke through, but was denied by Orton, who spread himself well. The visiting keeper’s best save was in the last minute of the first half when he dived bravely at an unmarked Phil Smith’s feet, only six yards out, to deny what seemed a certain second goal, giving Esh winning the belief to carry on in the second half and try to forge an equaliser.

Twice during the second period, Esh Winning threatened to rain on The Stan’s parade, when the lively Luke Wilson broke through the Heaton defence. On both occasions Shaun Backhouse produced excellent saves, keeping a clean sheet and ensuring The Stan moved up to 5th place in the table with the 3 point haul. In between times, Dodsworth was again denied by a superb Orton save and substitute Jonathan Wright whistled a long range effort inches over the angle of bar and post. However, in the end, Deagle’s single goal was enough to decide the game in The Stan’s favour, causing a collective sigh of relief in the NE7 area when the referee brought the contest to a close.

Considering how well they played, it seems incredible that Esh Winning are struggling at the foot of the table, but that illustrates the essentially competitive nature of the Northern League; there are no joke clubs in the Second division. No gangs of lads simply kicking a ball around with their mates; this is a serious competition, replete with proper clubs playing the game the way it should be played. As a result, being near the top is no consolation when your team is only a single goal up in the closing stages against a side struggling at the other end; nervous moments are a fact of life if you can’t get a comfortable lead.

Stan Team:

Subs:

Goals: Deagle 14

Yellow Cards: Dodsworth.

Attendance: 91

Kevin Mochrie