The Stan roared back to the top of Ebac Northern League Division 2 with a comfortable and thoroughly merited win over a hard-working Northallerton Town side. The Stan’s fourth success on the road this campaign ought to have been by a considerably wider margin, were it not for some profligate finishing, though in mitigation it ought to be remembered that Heaton travelled with a depleted squad, shorn of broken-leg victim Gary Dixon, the unwell Andrew Weeks, the unavailable Joseph Fulcher and Brian Dodsworth, who had been granted paternity leave having recently became a father; everyone at The Stan would wish to send him and his family congratulations on this happy event.

The game at Northallerton’s impressive RGPS Stadium got underway with someone excellent atmosphere being created by the crowd of almost 100, which included many home supporters who sang in support of their team throughout, using air horns to create the best atmosphere The Stan have encountered this season. This approximation of the Maracana inspired The Stan, who were immediately on the attack, with Jonathan Wright having his customary early range finder, supplied by a good break down the right by Ben Telford, brilliant tipped round the post by home custodian Alex Kell. From the resulting corner, Richie Hoggins saw a header scrambled off the line. However the home side were unable to ride their luck when the next corner was again headed goalwards by Hoggins. This time Jason Bazauskas was only able to prevent a goal by use of his hand. Despite lengthy protests, the referee ordered a penalty, converted with predictable aplomb by Wright, and sent Bazauskas from the field of play.

Northallerton did not give up and good work by Anderson set up Jamie Clarke, but he dragged his shot wide. For The Stan, the impressive Dean Deagle set up Lee Johnson, also impressive in an unfamiliar midfield role, whose measured chip was inches too high. From being unlucky in their attempts to double the lead, The Stan found themselves back level, when a free kick given for a trip by Paul Chapman near the touchline resulted in a yellow card and the equaliser courtesy of a powerful Grant Hickman header after 27 minutes, following Northallerton’s first effort on target.

Six minutes later, The Stan scored what turned out to be the winning goal, when Darryl Leach broke away, then fed the predatory Wright, who went round the keeper and finished from a tight angle, despite the best efforts of Smurthwaite on the line. Northallerton almost equalised with the last kick of the half, but a melee in the area was ended with a desperate clearance form deep inside the 6 yard box and the solace provided by the referee’s whistle.

The second half was a comfortable period for The Stan; early efforts by Leach and Wright flew wide, with Lee Johnson’s astute free kick being tipped over by Kell. It was a tight game where the craft and guile of Heaton contrasted with the more robust style of the home side, who failed to meaningfully test Shaun Backhouse in the entire second half, other than a single, brave block with his legs. In contrast, Leach almost added a third when profiting from Kell’s miscontrol on the edge of the area, lofting a dainty chip over the angle of bar and post. Paul Blakey, impressively restored to the side in midfield, fired a great effort just wide of the far post and Wright fired two efforts into the side netting on either side of the goal. In the end, The Stan easily held out and won a fully merited 3 points to return to the top of the table.

Stan Team:

Subs:

Yellow Cards: Chapman.

Attendance: 96

Goals: Wright 12(pen), 37

Kevin Mochrie