After a good run in the league, the Stan suffered their second defeat in a row and their first at home since August 20th. There were four changes including Shaun Backhouse, who replaced suspended Dan Rule in goals, and a first start for new signing Graeme Cairns who came on a substitute last week.

The home side had the better of the early exchanges and their first chance was halted by the Hebburn’s Smith, who handled the ball some twenty five yards from goal. Wright took the resultant free kick and opted to shoot for goal but his effort was far too high. I

t was soon after this that indiscipline crept into the Heaton play and skipper for the day, Lee Johnson, was fortunate not to be shown a red card when he kicked out at a visiting defender with the referee showing some restraint and issuing a yellow card only. Following the free kick, which was crossed in from the left, the Stan failed to get the ball clear and during the ensuing skirmish Pearson was adjudged to pull down visiting midfielder Downey and the referee pointed to the spot. Hebburn’s North, stepped up to take the kick and although Backhouse got down to the ball well he was unable to stop the shot going in.

Hebburn should have increased their lead ten minutes later when Smith fired over the bar from close range with keeper Backhouse stranded. They were made to pay for the miss a few minutes later when Heaton’s recent signing, Lee Waugh, controlled the ball well on the left and his solo run took him through to the bye line where he fired home from an acute angle to make it 1-1.

The visitors continued to create the better chances and could well have restored their lead when North was played through again but a very timely tackle from Pearson robbed the striker of a goal scoring opportunity. Just two minutes later the same player missed a golden chance when he struck the ball firmly from two yards out but somehow Backhouse got down to beat the ball out.

Although it was considered that Hebburn had shaded the first half they were stung just before the interval when a good run and shot from Wright was well saved by Holgate but the keeper could only palm the ball out to Burns who struck home to give the Stan a 2-1 half time lead.

It took only two minutes of the second period for the Hebburn team to restore parity when Toward’s low cross from the right was not dealt with and Costello was allowed to touch home from close range. Worse was to follow for the Stan ten minutes later when a fierce shot from Reay was stopped by Backhouse but the ball rebounded to North who shot home to put his side ahead for the second time in the game.

The visitors were now well on top and further chances fell to Reay again, who fired over the bar, and to McMahon whose shot went wide of the goal. Hebburn were reduced to ten men seven minutes from the end however when North spoilt an otherwise impressive personal display when he was sent off for fighting.

The Stan pressed to make the numerical advantage count and had a good chance to equalise when Wright picked out unmarked Lee Johnson from a corner kick but the skipper wasted his chance by firing high. The last chance of the game fell to the normally reliable Wright but his effort was also wide of the mark. Had either of the chances gone in, it might have been unfair to the visitors who were the much better side in the second half.

Stan Team: Backhouse; Telford; Hoggins; Stoddart; Pearson; Cairns (Wear); Burns (Johnson, A); Johnson, L; Wright; Waugh; Dixon, G (Creswick).

Unused sub: Ray.

Goals: Waugh*, Burns 44

Yellow Cards: Lee Johnson, Wright.

Attendance: 88

Ken Rodger