Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way, oh what fan it is to see the Stan get a late winner in the pouring rain! You could tell it was getting near Christmas as home kit black socks have been going missing, presumably for members of the Stan Army to hang up for Santa’s visit. It was the team themselves though that provided the fans with an early Christmas present just when they thought that they had forgotten to get them anything. There were three changes from the last game including a first appearance of the season for Mark Davison, a first start for Italian Paulo Compania and a return from suspension (well for 30 minutes) for Lee Johnson. Celso Anjos and Derek Lowson had their first starts from the bench.

The Stan started well with Dodsworth chances in the third and eighth minutes. Telford, who had a good match, and Stoddart also made chances. The early Stan pressure continued although the referee awarded them nothing when two Stan players in a row were brought down in the box. In the twentieth minute, a move and cross by Telford resulted in Burns hitting the post.

Billingham’s first proper chance did not come until the twenty fourth minute but it was blocked by a Stan defender. There were moves forward by both Wear and Telford before, in the thirty first minute, Billingham’s Taylor took out Lee Johnson from behind and then shoved him as he got up. This resulted in a bit of handbags but the referee over-reacted and sent them both off when yellow cards would have been more appropriate.

The sending off led to a tactical substitution when midfielder Campania, who had been very quiet, was replaced by forward Waugh. The Stan kept the pressure up and Dodsworth hit the side netting in the thirty sixth minute. Five minutes later Dixon received a knock and was replaced by Anjos. Billingham had only their second attack just before half time.

For the whole of the second half there was torrential rain. Although the match had originally been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch it held up well. The atmosphere also improved as everyone crowded into the enclosure. It was only spoilt by a member of the cast of the Sweeney shouting out occasional cockney-on-Tees insults to the referee.

Through the monsoon like rain, sub Anjos (no pun intended) made some skilful moves and looked a good prospect. There was much debate in the crowd about where Celso, whose look and style appeared Mediterranean, was signed from. The most popular rumour was that he had been signed from Greece but it turned out that he was more local than the rest of the team having attended Heaton Manor School, where the Stan train. The crowd should have guessed this as he dealt with the downpour better than most of the other players on the pitch especially those more use to smog than rain.

Little happened for much of the second half and both teams began to look toothless up front. As the rain got heavier for the last twenty minutes, it coincided with Stan stepping up the pressure as they started to do most of the attacking. It was the away side though that had the best chance when the number nine was clear but sliced the ball wide.

The last ten minutes was more end to end but, apart for one good save from Backhouse, the Stan looked the more dangerous. It looked though as if the game would end 0-0 when, in the eighty ninth minute Lawson crossed to Waugh who was in front of goal but sliced the ball and fell. Two minutes into injury time a ball in from Wear was blocked but then Dodsworth put it away to make it 1-0. This dramatic final twist was followed by a gymnastic celebration by Dodsie and then less than a minute later by the final whistle.

Santa Dekka’s little helper, assistant manager Geoff Walker, was delighted with the result and felt that the team deserved it but restrained himself from doing a Dodsworth flip.

Stan Team: Backhouse; Stoddart; Dixon, G (Anjos); Davison; Ray; Wear; Telford; Campania (Waugh); Johnson, L; Dodsworth; Burns (Lowson).

Goals: Dodsworth 90 (+2)

Red Card: Johnson 31.

Attendance: 81.

Kevin Mochrie