Another crowd of nearly 170 witnessed this match which coincided with the 80th anniversary this week of the first match played at Grounsell Park. Guest of honour was Jack Earnshaw who captained the Stan in the Northern League in 1946-47. He was impressed with how the ground had changed and enjoyed the match and the hospitality. He did though resist manager Derek Thompson’s attempts to resign him. The threat of his stick though seemed to encourage Jon Jon to play a more passing game than usual.

There were five changes from last Saturday, partly due to the suspension of Dodsworth and Scott. New signings Peter Scott and Mark Waite started and there was a debut from the bench for Christian Carrasquillo from the USA. The first effort came for the visitors when they shot just over from a free kick in 4 minutes. A Wright run down the left 2 minutes later saw him pass to Burns who slid in to make it 1-0. Wright then shot just wide and in the 9th minute he dribbled the ball from a Mark Waite free kick into the box and shot with the rebound being put away by Burns to make it 2-0.

Hebburn then went on the offensive and in 18 minutes a freekick on the left went over to the right of the crowded box and was put in by Talbot to make it 2-1. Three minutes later the visitors got two corners with the second being headed just wide. In 25 minutes Watson tribbled the ball into the box but no one picked up his pass. The resulting counter-attack saw Reay’s shot deflected into the net to make it 2-2. Coincidently, the ground was opened by the Stan president in 1935 who was also called Reay.

A minute later and a Johnson free kick was headed into the side netting, when it looked like it was in the net, by Scott who had sprinted into the box. Rowntree and Wright then both had attempts blocked. In 33 minutes Hebburn scored but it was off-side. Hebburn continued to attack and shot just over in 41 minutes. A minute before half time and Wright shot straight at the Hebburn keeper. After a lively first half of the first half, the second ended relatively lacklustrely.

In the 50th minute, Burns shot was blocked. A Hebburn effort from a corner was then caught by Martin with Wright counter-attacking and having his effort also caught. In 55 minutes, the visiting keeper caught the ball from a Waite free kick. The best chance of the match came in 60 minutes when North ran in on goal. Martin came out to successfully block him so he passed to another Hebburn forward who somehow missed from 6 yards.

For the remaining half hour, most of the remaining chances fell to the Stan. A few minutes later and Wright shot over twice and had a good chance blocked by the keeper. Waite’s long range effort went over in the 70th minute.

Five minutes later and Wright, in the middle, sent a ball to Hoggins on the left who curled it in but it went just by the right post. Wright then had a shot blocked. In 78 minutes, Wear headed a ball from a corner just wide. A Wright cross was then missed but the ball went back into the box only for Hoggins to shoot over. Hebburn then had two attacks. In 86 minutes, a run by Wright saw him cross but it was missed by Hoggins.

In the last minute, Hebburn nearly spoiled the party when North, running in on goal, got round the diving Martin but was blocked by 2 defenders. Just before the final whistle, a Hoggins effort was blocked by the visiting keeper and Carrasquillo sent the rebound into the trees.

So unlike 80 years ago there was not a win for the Stan but they do go marching on!

Stan Team: Martin; Scott, P; Stoddart; Ray; Wear; Waite; Burns (Telford); Johnson, L; Wright; Rowntree (Hoggins); Watson (Carrasquillo).

Unused Subs: Hayton; Yates.

Goals: Burns 6, 9

Yellow Cards:

Attendance: 173

Kevin Mochrie