In a Stan context, eight three usually only refers to one of the assistant groundsmen’s lunchtime pie in-take (ate three- get it?) but today this was the actual score. The travelling Stan Army, despite the cold and wind, were in confident mood after Tuesday’s fight back. There was only one change to the starting line up.

Although there was an almost perfect pitch, playing into the strong wind made it difficult for the Stan in the first half. Seaham had a corner in the first minute but it was then pretty even with much of the action in the middle of the park until Backhouse had to make a save in the eighth minute.

There was then a series of alternate attacks although the Stan went no where near getting having a shot. A Seaham long shot was caught by the wind and went slightly wide in the thirteenth minute. Three minutes later and the Stan got the ball into the home box for the first time.

Backhouse made a good save in the eighteenth minute. The wind continued to be a problem for the Stan but they had an attack in the twenty third minute followed by Carr having their first shot. Two minutes later, Seaham put the ball across the goal but it was missed by everyone including an incoming home forward. The resulting corner was hit high and wide.

The Seaham pressure continued and was aided by one of many dodgy decisions by the referee who gave a debateable free kick just outside the box in the thirty fourth minute. The ball by Byrne went though the wall and hit off the post to go in. Backhouse was unlucky not to get the ball but it was the beginning of ten minutes of madness which effectively ended the game for the Stan.

A shot wide by Seaham was followed in the thirty seventh minute by an attack where the ball came along the bye line and was shot in by Byrne to make it 2-0. Four minutes later and a ball in from the right was cleared off the line by McGarrigal. The ball came back in and was saved by Backhouse but Nicholson, who was just in front of him, scored with the rebound.

In the forty fourth minute, it was 4-0 when the ball came across to Shaw who only had the keeper to beat. A minute into injury time and a long shot by Wing went past all the other players in front of him to make it 5-0 at half time.

The Stan made two substitutions at half time with Hoggins and Blackett coming on up front. Things got worse though in the forty ninth minute when a run and shot by Byrne resulted in another goal for Seaham. Two minutes later and the fight back did start when Deagle scored a great goal direct from a free kick.

The Stan kept the pressure on and this was partly due to the skill shown by sixteen year old Blackett in only his second match. In the forty ninth minute he turned a defender and calmly shot from outside the box although the ball went slightly wide.

Burns then had two shots on goal but Seaham did get an attack in the fifty fourth minute which resulted in clearances from both Backhouse and Pearson. Despite the wind picking up, a Seaham forward running in had a shout and although Backhouse saved Pennal scored with the rebound to make it 7-1 after sixty eight minutes.

There were then attacks at either end including a ball by Seaham that ended up in a tree. The Stan began to take control again with Deagle having a shot in the seventy fourth minute and two minutes later Blackett headed against the bar, although an offside was given anyway. The Stan attack continued with shots by Wear and Dodsworth both blocked.

In the seventy ninth minute Hoggins was brought down in the box and, although it was a clear penalty, the referee failed to award it. He then also failed to give a free kick to the Stan just outside the home box for a blatant hand ball. Blackett continued to look dangerous and Deagle had a wind assisted shot that was just over.

A rare attack by Seaham in the eighty fourth minute saw them get their first corner of the second half. Dodsworth then had a great effort from outside the box which went slightly wide.

There was another moment of madness though when the Stan failed clear an attack and Penman held onto the ball in front of goal to score. The Stan did not give up though and in the ninetieth minute a twenty five yard shot by Dodsworth made it 8-2.

The goal difference was helped slightly in injury time when Hoggins ran into the edge of the box and blasted the ball into the left hand side of the goal. After four away games the Stan now return to Grounsell Park where they take on another promotion contender, Norton.

Stan Team: Backhouse; Stoddart; Pearson; Deagle; McGarrigal; Wear; Burns (Telford); Dodsworth; Yates (Blackett); Lowson (Hoggins); Carr.

Sub unused: Johnson, A.

Goals: Deagle 51, Dodsworth 90, Hoggins 90 (+2).

Attendance: 64.

Kevin Mochrie