On a night more suited to watching football on the telly, the Stan played their second friendly in a fortnight against opposition from the Northern Alliance Premier Division. Given Saturday’s match at Northallerton had already been postponed,  it was a chance to keep players match fit and to try out some trialists as well as giving a debut to new forward Adrian Watson. There were also starts for Backhouse, Pearson, Ray, Wear, Blakey, Cairns, Dodsworth, Burns and Lowson.

In very windy and chilly conditions, the visitors took a surprise early double lead with two simple goals. A Seaton forward put away a through ball after five minutes and ten minutes later they scored again when a ball from a corner was headed in to make it 2-0. On twenty minutes, the Stan got a goal back when Dodsworth used his pace to run in on the keeper and make it 2-1. Both teams then lacked a killer touch until a Seaton player shot into a crowed Stan penalty box in thirty eight minutes and made it 3-1 to the visitors. Lowson then had two good chances but first, when he was through, he failed to shoot and he then headed wide. Backhouse then put the ball out from a corner. He then came to the Stan’s rescue again when he ran out to stop an incoming Seaton player getting the ball. Immediately after, Backhouse was again on call to palm a shot wide. Dodsworth had a chance on the stroke of half time but shot high under pressure.

The Stan dominated the second half but their finishing let them down and Seaton had chances to make them suffer for this on the counter attack. Yates came on for Watson at half time and the second half saw appearances by a number of trialists including assistant manager Geoff Walker’s son Billy. For much of the half the ground was battered by sleet and strong winds although it seemed to impact more on the fans rather than the players. The Stan did most of the attacking for the first thirty minutes of this half. Lowson should have scored in the twenty fifth minute when first he shot wide and then hit over when he had an open goal. A Seaton attack was then cleared off the line. Billy Walker was having a good game but was embarrassed by his grannie’s shouts of encouragement and the fans singing ‘score for your grannie’ which were far more acceptable than the ‘you scored with a grannie’ chant aimed at Wayne Rooney on the following night at the Newcastle versus Man United match.

On the seventy fifth minute, Seaton missed a good chance when the ball went across the Stan goal line and was missed by everyone. Lowson then had another chance for the Stan but, under pressure, shot straight at the keeper. A Seaton player then had a free run and Backhouse hesitated about coming out. Luckily the Seaton player shot over. The Stan then had a few chances but still could not score and nearly suffered from another two Seaton counter attack which should have been finished more clinically. The match though finished 3-1 to Seaton although most fans were more interestd in getting a heat in the club house.

Stan Team:

Goal: Dodsworth 20.

Attendance: Unknown.

Kevin Mochrie