As the joint in-form team with Seaham in division two, although the Radio Newcastle Northern league round up forgot to mention this, the Stan went looking for their sixth consecutive league win and aimed to continue not to have been beaten at home since the second week of the season. Brandon, on the other hand were looking for their first win of the season. There was one change from last week and Creswick and Lee Johnson were back on the bench after being suspended for the last match. 

The Stan showed the healthy crowd of about 120 that they meant business from the start and in the fifth minute Taggart headed just over from a Wear cross. The expected goal came in the eighth minute when Wright was through and, keeping off a defender on either side of him, confidently shot past the keeper to make it 1-0. The Stan continued to attack and Wear had two consecutive chances which were easily dealt with by the Brandon keeper. 

The first Brandon attack came in the twelve minute although three minutes later a Wright cross across the goal was just missed by Burns, who did some great running today. It was the other way around on twenty five minutes when Burns supplied Wright who hit the side netting. Three minutes later came Brandon’s second and third attacks. 

But it was back to the Stan when Wear won the ball and crossed to Burns who missed the target. In the thirty third minute Wright tried to chip the Brandon keeper but he caught the ball. Wright was getting forward whenever he could although despite this it was only 1-0 at half time. 

The Stan strengthened their control on the match immediately after kick off when a poor shot by Taggart was parried by the keeper and Wear scored with the rebound. An awkward bounce stopped Wright scoring two minutes later although in fifty five minutes Dodsworth, from the left side of the box, saw his shot hit off the keeper and go into the back of the net to make it 3-0.

 A long ball from Wright was headed off the line and a second shot by him, from a Dodsworth cross, was blocked by the Brandon keeper. The Stan pressure continued with Brandon clearing off the line and the keeper parrying the rebound in the sixty fifth minute. 

Rule made his first save soon after although it was quickly back to the other end when McGarrigal hit just over. Wright got into a few good positions but seemed reluctant to pass. He should though have scored after a goal mouth stramash in the seventy ninth minute. He made another good move in the eighty first minute although the keeper saved his shot. Wright's perseverance paid off three minutes after when a ball from the left saw him send a powerful shot into the back of the net which the keeper had no chance of saving. 

The Stan, at 4-0 up, looked like they would keep a clean sheet but the visitors got a goal back thanks to the referee. Rule caught a through ball with both hands and appeared to be fouled by a Brandon player. With the ball falling to the ground, David Rush hit it into the net and the man in black whistled for a goal.

 In the quest for a hat-trick, Wright had two good attempts along with one each from Dodsworth and Johnson. The four goal lead was restored with the last touch of the ball when McGarrigal headed in at the far post from a corner. 

Like Oscar Pistorius earlier in the week, they should have got more than five but assistant manager Geoff Walker was delighted with the win which takes the team up to fifth place and four points off a promotion place. 

Heaton Stannington: Rule, Telford, Deagle (James), Stoddart, McGarrigal, Wear (Creswick), Burns, Dodsworth, Wright, Taggart (L. Johnson), G. Dixon. 

Sub Not Used: Hoggins.

Goals: Wright 8, 84, Wear 46, Dodsworth 55, McGarrigal 90.

Attendance: 116.

Kevin Mochrie