The Stan got out of the pound and back to winning ways in this cup tie at first division Bedlington Terriers. Although six of the floodlights bulbs were out at Dr Pit (no relation to Stan chairman Bill) Welfare Park, the Stan managed to light up the evening along with the full moon which luckily was not barked at by the travelling Stan Army who were concentrating on the action on the pitch. There were four changes from last Friday’s defeat at Ryton. The Terriers team included ex-Stan Celso Anjos.

Martin had to make a save in the 1st minute and there were two subsequent corners as the Terriers put early pressure on the Stan. The home side attacked again in the 5th and 9th minutes with a Stan attack in between. Both teams continued to try to attack but it was the Stan who took the lead (sorry another dog reference) in 17 minutes when Hayton intercepted the ball from a Terriers defender on the left and passed to Rowntree who chipped the ball in the air and blasted it into the net.

From the kick off, Bedlington shot from 18 yards and Martin made a save. From the resulting corner, Ray counter attacked but was stopped by a tackle. The Terriers then had another corner which the Stan failed to clear but the subsequent shot was blocked well by Martin who had a better game than he did on Friday.

In the 24th minute, Wear put a good ball to Burns who passed to Hayton but the home keeper made a double block. Johnson was then brought down in the box but nothing was given by the referee. A defensive error then saw Waite pass the ball to Hayton who rounded the keeper to make it 2-0. In 27 minutes a Stan counter attack was blocked then a second one saw Rowntree hit the crossbar. Hayton then hit the post with a rebound shot. In 33 minutes, the ball was put into Burns on the edge of the box who blasted the ball past the keeper to make it 3-0.

A minute later a home attack was headed away in the box. The ball came back in and was blocked by a Stan defender. Burns then made one of increasingly many Stan counter attacks. There were undeserved home calls for a penalty in 36 minutes when a home attacker was tackled in the box. The Terriers ended the half trying to unsuccessfully get a goal back and it ended 3-0 to the Stan.

The first attack of the second half was by the home side in 47 minutes and then seven minutes later Johnson blasted a shot wide. Three minutes later Hayton won the ball, attacked and tried to pass to Rowntree but the ball was blocked. The Stan then attacked again but the home keeper got to the ball. It was then end to end. The Stan had a good chance in 63 minutes when a ball to Burns, who was running in, saw him head towards goal but the ball was blocked by the keeper. A minute later, a pass to a home player in space on the left saw him blast the ball wide.

The Stan cleared off the their goal line in 70 minutes and a minute later another home forward found himself with only the keeper to beat but shot straight at him which allowed Johnson to counterattack but his pass was then intercepted. There were then attacks at either end. The Terriers squandered their best chance of the match when their number 11 counter attacked and with only Martin to beat he shot wide.

The last few minutes saw the Stan search for a fourth goal but they were denied by the home defence’s efforts. The final attack of the match was by the home side although it was not enough to get them out of the doghouse.

The Stan are now only one game away, although against either Blyth Spartans or Northern League first division opposition, from a cup final at St. James’ Park. Although not forgetting the importance of performances in the league, everyone at the Stan would love a bite at the Northumberland Senior Cup.

Stan Team: Martin; Scott, P; Wear; Ray (Waters); Davison; Waite; Stoddart; Johnson, L; Hayton;Rowntree (Imray); Burns.

Unused Subs: Ward; Walker, G.

Goals: Rowntree 17, Hayton 25, Burns 33

Attendance:

Kevin Mochrie