As a thoroughly excellent game at the atmospheric, though somewhat breezy, Ironworks Road ground was moving towards injury time, it appeared as if Heaton Stannington were on the brink of their first away victory since the start of November. Having fallen behind to the impressive Daniel Wilson’s astute finish, when the imposing target man, who subsequent early departure with an injury caused the Stan back line to breathe a collective sigh of relief, turned cleverly in the box and fired a low effort into the corner, beyond the dive of Shaun Backhouse.

The Stan rolled up their sleeves and a Jonathan Wright double, the first a trademark explosive effort from outside the box on the half hour and the second a convincingly taken penalty, awarded when Paul Blakey was scythed down in the area, seemed to have ensured that the visitors would make the long journey back to Tyneside with maximum points. This appeared to become something of a formality when Tow Law keeper Stephen Robinson was sent from the field of play are disputing the award of a penalty at some length and in the most vociferous terms imaginable. Sadly, just as visiting fans began to dream that The Stan’s promotion bandwagon was back on the road, Lawyers substitute Anthony Lee collected a loose ball outside the area and, from a similar spot to where Wright had brought the game back on level terms an hour earlier, curled an exquisite effort far beyond the despairing leap of Stan custodian Shaun Backhouse.

Clearly the loss of two points so late in the game is a grievous blow to The Stan’s attempts at securing promotion during their first campaign back in the Northern League, especially as there were several other occasions on which Heaton could and indeed should have scored. Ben Telford, who had also fired agonising wide in the opening moments, was desperately unlucky to see a 25 yard thunderbolt strike the underside of the bar and bounce away. Despite the lack of goal line technology in the Northern League, it was clear with the naked eye that the ball hadn’t crossed the line. Darren Walsh, making his belated debut after signing for The Stan last summer but opting to play his football in the Northern Alliance, latterly with Walker Central, produced many fine runs down the channels and worked the Tow Law defence hard all night. Having been fed by a Wright through ball he advanced on the keeper, but fired his shot a fraction wide.

To be fair, Tow Law did have their chances; not least a fizzing 30 yard thunderbolt by Scott Thompson that crashed off the inside of the post with Backhouse well beaten, only to bounce clear. As a result, most neutrals in the woefully disappointing crowd of 43 were of the opinion that a draw was a fair result for both teams and that, perhaps most importantly from the disinterested perspective, that it had been a fabulous spectacle. Though the jury may be out as to whether The Lawyers deserved a share of the spoils, the case is closed on the quality of the game. While it is difficult to feel anything other than despair at the concession of 2 points so late in the game, it should be remembered that The Stan travelled with a skeleton squad of 12 and did play some quality, high-tempo football at times and were denied the spoils only by a top notch late strike.

Verdict; a great game at a great ground. If we don’t get promoted this season, I’m looking forward to coming back to Ironworks Road next season.

Stan Team:

Subs:

Goals: Wright 30, 73 (pen)

Yellow Cards: Hoggins, Chapman, Wright, Carr.

Attendance: 42

Kevin Mochrie