After the cancellation of the Shildon friendly due to the lack of player availability, the Stan had just eleven of their twenty five registered players available for the last friendly against a youthful Northern Alliance outfit.

The visitors had slightly better of the early exchanges but it was the home side that went ahead after fifteen minutes when, following good work down the left, the ball was played into Mark Davison who fired home from twenty yards out.

The lead was short lived however as directly from the re-start the Stan defence were caught out as Perez, the visitors striker, was allowed to lay the ball off to fellow forward Bailey to slot home the equaliser. Apart from a long range shot, again from Davison, which rattled the post, further chances in the first period were limited.

Half Time 1 – 1.

With the introduction after the break of their only substitute, Lewis Burns on for full back Richard Hoggins, the home side looked much more dangerous going forward. Clear cut chances to score though at either end remained minimal, except for Shaun Backhouse in the home goal being called upon several times to deal with long range efforts.

With no other substitutes to call on Heaton were reduced to ten men for the last twenty minutes when Lee Johnson pulled up with a leg injury. The last fifteen minutes were played out in torrential rain and it was during this spell, with six minutes to go, that 'the Stan' got the winner.

Substitute Lewis Burns did well down the right and, after beating two defenders, his cross into the box was met by Damien Stevens, who was transferred in from South Shields yesterday, to fire home from close range.

Full Time 2-1.

Stan Team:

Subs:

Goals: Davison 15, Stevens 84.

Attendance:

Ken Rodger