Coincidence has resulted in the Stan and the Toon preparing for Wednesday’s big match with games against Stokesley and Stoke respectively. The Stan hoped to continue their unbeaten home run and follow on from their solid win at South Shields last week. They did so but with a below par (for those fans also watching the golf in the bar- and before you ask we don’t have an indoor golf range, it was the Ryder Cup on the TV) and scrappy performance. They did though get three points which Alan Pardew would have been grateful for in the Toon’s build up fixture.

There was only one change from last week’s starting eleven and for the first time in ages Dekka and Stan could name a full set of subs. One of them was Anthony Johnson who has just returned to the club and was known as the Stan’s super sub although today he was a super-unused sub.

An early shot by Creswick was followed by a blow (literally) for the team when McGarrigal was caught in the mouth and suffered tooth damage. He was replaced by Doc Pearson much to the delight of his medical student entourage in the crowd (that’s groupies for those who don’t speak French).

The Stan had most of the ball in the opening period though Stokesley had a chance after twenty three minutes. In the thirty sixth minute, from a Stan corner, Stokesly defender Alexs McDougall headed back low to his keeper. The keeper pounced on the ball but it was over the line for an own goal and a 1-0 lead for the Stan.

Soon after the goal, during a Stan attack, the Stokesley defenders should have got the ball but it bobbled and Gary Dixon got onto it and was through although his shot was straight at the keeper. With three minutes to go until half time, a Stokesley defender misheaded the ball and Robertson was clear on goal but hit wide. Although the Stan had failed to take a firm hold of the game, the half ended with them leading 1-0.

The Stan started the second half attacking and a Gary Dixon free kick was hit wide by Lee Johnson. In the fifty sixth minute, a Stokesley defender went down in the box between two Stan players. Peel delivered a great penalty to the left corner of the goal but Daniel Rule dived to his right to put the ball out for a corner. What a save!!

The game was scrappy after this although Burns made a difference for the Stan attack when he came on for Johnson. In the seventy fifth minute it was Stokesley though who nearly scored. A free kick was headed off the goal line by Gary Dixon with the follow up shot going wide. Stokesley were getting back into the game and applying pressure although there were efforts at either end. Immediately after coming on, Deagle shot over although in the counter attack Rule had to punch the ball away.

In the eighty second minute Deagle ran past a couple of Stokesley defenders and crossed the ball in for Robertson who headed in to make it 2-0 although that was the end of his goal credit for the afternoon.

The Stan were comfortable after this and there were four good attempts in the last five minutes starting when Burns ran down the right and passed across goal to Roberston who passed back across to Wear whose shot was saved by the keepr. This was followed by a Stan corner which was put across the goal to Burns who put it back to Wear who hit the ball too high.

Both sides kept battling and a Stokesley attack was followed by a Roberston run down the right. He beat the goalie but hit into the side of the net. Robertson again broke free and with an open goal he again hit wide.

The right result was achieved though as the Stan won 2-0.

Stan Team: Rule; Telford; James; Dixon, I; McGarrigal (Pearson); Stoddart; Creswick; Johnson, L (Burns); Robertson; Wear; Dixon, G.(Deagle).

Unused Subs: Blakey; Johnson, A.

Goals: Own Goal 36, Roberston 82.

Attendance: 97.

Kevin Mochrie