There were five changes from Tuesday night’s line up. There was an early chance by both sides before the Synners began to boss the game. In 10 minutes, there was good link up play with Wright and Hoggins but the keeper dealt with the shot well. Five minutes later and Lawther was causing problems for the Stan but his shot was saved well by Rule. The heavy rain was making the conditions difficult for both teams. In 20 minutes, there was good work by Dodsworth but his shot was well gathered by the keeper. A minute later and the Stan gave away a free kick just outside the box which was taken by Clarke who hit a fierce shot to Rule's right giving him no chance.

In 23 minutes there was more hesitancy from the Stan which nearly let Hillerby in for a second. The rain was now coming down harder but the visitors were coping with the conditions better. There was then good work by Wright who was brought down just outside the box. Thereferee harshly deemed him to have dived and booked him.

In 33 minutes, there was a great tackle by Wear who ran into midfield with the ball and sent Wright clear but had to settle for a corner after good defending. In 38 minutes, great play by Synthonia carved the Stan defence open and Barton had his shot initially saved by Rule but the ball ran free and he easily slotted home to make it 0-2. It was no more than the Synners deserved.

Unlike the first half, the second started in pleasant warm Autumn sunshine. The Stan kicked off the second half and surely they couldn't play any worse? Watson the submade an immediate impact. In 56 minutes, a good ball in by Stoddart saw Wright show excellent control and he tried to lob the advancing keeper who tipped the ball over. In 63 minutes, there was a good ball byDeagle to Wright who won a corner. The resulting corner saw a header by Telford sail over the bar. In 73 minutes, a good ball through by the visitors saw their player pulled back by last man Wear. The referee had no option but to send him off. The resulting free kick rifled into the top right hand corner giving Rule no chance making it 0-3.

In 76 minutes Garton sent Lawther through, but luckily for the Stan it was rightly just off side. In 78 minutes Wright lost control of the ball in midfield and made a two footed tackle to try and win it back but caught the Billingham player. It looked worse than it was but being booked in the first half made the referee’s decision easy to send him to join Wear early. Credit should go to the Stan for plugging away and Telford hit a good long range shot but the keeper wasequal to it. In the last minute, Lawther again made a good chance but his shot just scraped the right post with Rule beaten.

With a first home league defeat since January, the Stan weren't at the races today. Their poor disciplinary problems continue to mount this season which is a cause for concern. There were no good points at all for the Stan. It was as poor as performance as I've seen for a long time.

Stan Team: Rule; Stoddart; Deagle; Axon; Wear; Imray; Burns (Telford); Dodsworth(Johnson, L); Wright; Hoggins; Quine (Watson).

Unused Subs: Rowntree; Scott.

Red Cards: Wear, Wright.

Attendance: 131

Report by Kev Carling and Harry the Dog