A bitterly cold but calm and bright day set the scene for the Stan’s first home game of 2015 against second placed Norton & Stockton. There were four changes from Seaham including a start for all three of last week’s substitutes.

The game kicked off and the Stan were immediately on the attack with the sharp looking Blackett, starting a match for the first time, having a shot that narrowly went past the post. After this, the Stan were not really committing men forward due to the visitors being well organised. They did though have slightly the better of the early exchanges but it was the visitors who took the lead in the twelfth minute when the Heaton defence failed to clear their lines. The ball was played out to Davies who, from twenty yards scored a goal through a crowded box into the bottom right hand corner.

Hoggins very nearly levelled just eight minutes later but his shot was well saved by Knight in the visitor’s goal. Norton continued to be well organised though and very hard to break down. With five minutes in the first half, it looked like the score could get worse for the Stan when a penalty was awarded after Dodsworth was adjudged to have fouled O’Brien as he raced into the penalty area. Up stepped Andrews and he hammered the ball against the cross bar.

Was this the luck that the Stan needed and could they step up a gear in the second half and recover the deficit? The crowd were wondering this as they went into the bar to catch up on the half time scores as well as enjoying some very dark beer offered at half price, £1.18 per pint. A strange cost we all wondered

The second half kicked off with optimism and also renewed fervour from the relatively large crowd. Within two minutes, a good chance fell to Dodsworth who screwed his shot wide of the goal. This was followed by an equally good effort when Wear was played through but the skipper was tackled as he was about to shoot.

Five minutes into the half and a speculative shot from the Stan’s Telford did not trouble the visitor’s keeper. Then came the changing point of the game or so the Stan supporters thought. Hoggins was running clear and into the box when he was brought down in the same place as penalty award in the first half.

The crowd immediately shouted penalty but the referee thought differently and waved the play on. Following these early skirmishes the game was played out with both sides creating some chances but none that troubled either keeper. With five minutes to go the Stan beat the Norton keeper for the first time but the goal was clearly offside This was certainly a game of few chances.

The Stan lads put a lot of effort in but for little reward. Credit should be given to Stockton who did some good defensive work, were well organised and hard to break down. The Stan did not have the final piece of quality or composure to create the chance that would produce the goal. They were not helped by the referee though who gave some interesting decisions, not all of which were enjoyed by the crowd.

Stan secretary Ken Rodger, reputed to be the oldest and wisest secretary in the league, described the Stan as ‘putting in a committed performance …and should consider themselves very unfortunate not to have gained at least a point.’

Stan Team: Backhouse; Telford; Deagle; Ray; McGarrigal; Wear (Yates); Burns (Campania); Dodsworth; Hoggins (Lowson); Blackett; Carr

Sub unused: Johnson, A.

Yellow Cards: Campania.

Attendance: 95.

Darren Critchlow (with additions by Ken Rodger and Kevin Mochrie)