The preceding Tuesday had seen The Stan prevail in an astonishing 9 goal thriller away to Thornaby; like that game, the destination of the 3 points was a happy one for followers of The Stan, though goal action was in much scarcer supply. Indeed, there was only one goal required to decide the outcome, but what a strike it was. Jonathan Wright has been on fire since the start of the season, with most of his goals being at least eye catching, though none of them could hold a candle to the frankly sublime 84th minute exocet, from almost out on the touchline that flashed past Joseph Lancaster, the Tow Law keeper, and nestled in the top corner before he could move. The spontaneous roars of approval and delight from the crowd of almost 70 would have done justice to a throng many times that size.

Not only did the goal decide the match and maintain both The Stan’s place at the top of Northern League Division 2 and 100% home record, as well as keeping up Wright’s sublime hot streak in front of goal, it happened barely a minute after the home side had been reduced to 10 men following the deserved dismissal of captain Joe Wear, who took one for the team by hauling down Dean Thexton on the very edge of the box. The cries for a penalty by the Tow Law faithful were perhaps muted by the knowledge that just after the half hour, Thexton had spurned a chance from the spot, following the awarding of a penalty against William James for a handling offence. Thexton had sent Shaun Backhouse the wrong way but his chipped penalty, in the style of Thierry Henry landed against the bar and was quickly ushered away by alert Stan defenders and so the game remained scoreless.

Indeed, such was the tight nature of the game, a blank scoresheet seemed to be the most likely outcome, though the dangerous away side were always able to cause The Stan problems at the back. Obviously Jonathan Wright was a thorn in Tow Law’s flesh and after 5 minutes he almost flicked a low Lee Johnson cross home and then on 10 minutes, he saw Lancaster tip over a long range effort. However, this was a very different prospect to trhe previous games The Stan had been involved in and goal chances dried up at both ends until Thexton’s casual miss from 12 yards.

In the second period, Gary Dixon and Paul Chapman were both unable to convert a Wright cross; firstly Dixon missed his kick, apparently because of a bobble and then Chapman’s decision to opt for power over placement saw the ball sail over the bar. On the hour, Brain Dodsworth curled a cross shot on to the bar with Lancaster well beaten. Tow Law’s best effort saw Thexton sidefoot a Scott Thompson cross wide from the edge of the box. Thexton’s next involvement was to be hauled down by Wear for the red card offence and after Shaun Backhouse had competently dealt with the subsequent free kick, the play switched to allow Wright to bring the house down with his stunning goal.

It could have been 2 minutes later, when Lancaster dropped a cross and the predatory Wright’s goalbound effort was somehow blocked near the line, but in the end The Stan were happy to settle for a single goal and another three points. Tow Law were tough, doughty opponents and perhaps showed us that guile and graft are as important as flamboyance and flicks in this league.

Stan Team:

Subs:

Goals: Wright 83

Red Card: Joe Wear

Attendance: 68

Kevin Mochrie