Normality was suspended, and dreams became reality at Grounsell Park on this Wednesday night in October when even the weather was borrowed from a summer’s evening. An exceptional crowd of over 400 flocked into Grounsell Park to watch the Stan play Peter Beardsley’s Newcastle Reserves/ Under 21s to celebrate the recent ground improvements. And along with the attendance there were other unusual sites such as a queue down Newton Road to get in, Peter Beardsley on the pitch and a scaffolding tower for the NUFC cameraman. This all helped to make it a special night.

With the subject of Alan Pardew’s future as Newcastle manager avoided by the crowd, the only mention of the sack was Santa’s when kids pleaded with their parents to arrange for them to receive Stan merchandise at xmas. Although the skill and pace of the full time Newcastle youngsters was no match for the home side, the Stan put up a good fight and made it an entertaining match.

The early pressure came from Newcastle and a trip on Gillesphey led to a penalty scored by Heardman in ten minutes. Three minutes later and Olley made it 2-0 when he moved from left to right and sent a terrific shot into the top right hand corner. The Stan did though get stuck in and almost immediately got close when, from a Telford cross, Robertson headed towards the net but the Toon keeper did well to put the ball out for a corner.

But it was Newcastle again who scored in twenty two minutes when a run down the left by Gibson led to him crossing the ball to Roberts in front of goal who could not help but score. The visitors were soon after awarded a soft foul which, from the free kick, Roberts put just wide. The Stan then got three corners. This was followed by Dean Deagle putting a free kick just wide.

It was back to the Toon show though when Roberts made a solo run and shot into the right hand corner to make it 4-0 in the thirty second minute. A minute later Olley passed to Gibson who held off a Stan defender to turn and shoot past Backhouse to make it 5-0.

The Stan did not give up and a corner led to them heading just over. This was followed by Creswick shooting just wide. A Telford solo run was then blocked and led to a foul in the fortieth minute. There was a huge cheer when Dean Deagle took the free kick and expertly sent the ball over the wall and into the net to make it 5-1. Woolston, the Newcastle keeper, dived the right way but could not stop this spectacular free kick from going in.

The second half saw the Stan come out in their orange strips. I am not sure if this was a tactical move but they now blended in with the Toon goalie who was also in orange. The six Stan substitutes came on for the second half with Anthony Johnson also coming on later in the half. Daniel Rule replaced Shaun Backhouse in goals and, as predicted by this reporter, the start of the second half also saw the return of the Terminator (the Jonathan Wright version). He did not just say I’ll be back, he is back as Jon Jon had signed for the Stan the day before after previously leaving pre-season for Jarrow Roofing.

The prolific goal scorer’s appearance seemed to immediately help the Stan attack and he nearly scored after fifty five minutes. But even Jon Jon could not stop the flow of Toon goals as substitute Longstaff scored their sixth goal after previously breaking through and hitting just over. Two Stan defenders left the ball for each other and he got through to score.

The Stan kept battling and had two chances saved and a third, which went across the Newcastle goal, should have been put away by Carr who instead kicked the ball over the bar. The next goal though again came at the wrong end when a great collective magpies effort ended in Cameron scoring off the underside of the bar to make it 7-1.

To round things off, and demonstrate the skill and pace of these young lads, Quinn (who is also currently on loan at Blyth Spartans) ended the match by casually walking past the Stan defenders to make it 8-1.

As mentioned at the beginning, it was a dream night despite the score. But you cannot have everything. And on a positive note the fans do not often see the Stan losing, let alone by seven goals. It was a great experience for the team and was good for the crowd, which included Rolando Aarons and Gael Bigirimana from the Newcastle first team squad, to see hopefully the next generation of Newcastle stars.

For the Stan, their own stars now have a long journey to Lancashire on Saturday for a FA Vase tie and hopefully they will taste victory for themselves (especially if Andrew Robertson remembers his shooting boots!).

Stan Team: Backhouse, Telford, James, Stoddart, McGarrigal, Pearson, Creswick, Wear, Johnson L, Robertson, Deagle.

Subs (all used second half): Rule; Wright, Burns, Carr, Dodsworth, Dixon, I, Johnson, A.

Toon Team: Woolston (Robinson), Mbabu (Sterry), Gibson (Cameron), Gillesphey, McKinnon, Atkinson, Olley, Ward (Barlaser), Heardman, (Longstaff), Roberts (Laidler), Quinn.

Goal: Deagle 40.

Attendance:

Kevin Mochrie