Even though it was a bank holiday, nearly half the squad were missing due to work commitments or injury. This resulted in three changes to the starting line up and only two players, both defenders, being available on the subs bench. This is where the effort and commitment of the players available and the tactical genius of the management team came into play to make things right. On the day before the 75th anniversary of the Stan’s first Northern League match, the team’s performance helped put the ghosts of players past to rest when they came right back to win after being 1-0 down.

Both teams tried to attack and it was Alnwick who came close first when in eight minutes the ball was cleared off the line by a Stan defender. It looked like the home side were going to be right out of luck again when in sixteen minutes a long shot by Douglas into the Stan box was missed by everyone and it was 1-0 to Alnwick. Heaton got straight back into the game and were unlucky when a shot hit the post and then somehow the Alnwick goalie managed to save the rebound shot.

There were attempts at either end and there was particularly good work between Wear and Telford. The last fifteen minutes of the first half was mainly Stan pressure including good efforts by Robertson and Telford. The attacking home side had been right in there for most of the first half and were unlucky to go into the interval a goal behind.

From the start of the second half, the Stan continued to attack but again failed to score when the ball hit the underside of the Alnwick bar in fifty minutes. The game was beginning to lose its momentum when the turning point came in the sixty second minute. Rob Pearson replaced Gary Yates and, although a defender, took on the forward role. Seven minutes later the tactical substitution paid off when Pearson equalised with a rocket right into the back of the net after the Stan’s first shot had been blocked.

Heaton Stannington continued to pile the pressure on although there were two good saves by Rule in the sixty sixth minute. In the eighty fourth minute Stevens got by three defenders but shot just wide. Less than a minute later, Robertson also got through the middle of the Alnwick defenders and confidently shot to make it 2-1. He should have scored again two minutes later but the away keeper got his hand to the ball.

With five minutes to go Stevens headed in from a corner to make it 3-1. Although the fight back was complete the buzzing confidence of both the team and the cheering fans led to more shots on goal. For the last few minutes the Stan kept battering the Alnwick goal and should have added to their tally. It was the right result though with the 3-1 win resulting in three crucial points for Heaton Stannington.

Manager Derek Thompson was delighted with the result and especially the substitution. As well as crediting the work of the team, assistant manager Geoff Walker with his trumpet in hand put the victory down to good management decisions. This was the right result for the anniversary weekend and has the whole of Grounsell Park looking forward to Saturday’s visit by Birtley Town

Stan Team: Rule; Telford; Deagle; Dixon, I; Stoddart; Wear; Blakey; Dixon, G; Stevens; Robertson; Yates (Pearson).

Unused sub: ????

Yellow Cards: Telford, Blakey, Pearson.

Attendance: 90

Goals: Pearson 69, Robertson 84, Stevens 85

Kevin Mochrie