The Stan were on the road for the second time in 3 days when they headed for the hills. The altitude had an impact as most of the crowd wore coats and the kit bags were carried by sherpas (they could have been transits though). Summer was definitely finished but it probably had never started at the picturesque Ironworks Road ground.There were two changes from Saturday’s vase line up including a debut for Kye Waters.

In the 3rd minute, a home attack saw Waters clear towards his own goal and the ball wasmissed by Rule but Scott managed to run backwards and get a foot to it just in front of goal. The Stan then shot over followed by a Tow Law free kick into the crowded Stan box which saw the ball headed towards goal but Rule stretched to put it out.

In the 6th minute, Rule picked up the ball from a pass back. Most Stan defenders formed a wall on the goal line and blocked the ball for another corner. The corner was cleared and the Stan counter-attacked with Wright picking up the ball on half way. He ran with a defender beside him but managed to turn him then he calmly shot past the keeper to make it 1-0.

The home defence then had to make three more clearances before Johnson headed just wide from a Telford cross. There was a dreadful tackle on Johnson in the 22nd minute which led to a home booking. The Stan continued to attack and shot over in the 26th minute,Wright shot just wide in the 30th and Hayton was blocked in the 32nd. Following a home counter attack there were four more Stan attacks followed by Tow Law shooting wide.

In the 38th minute, a Tow Law ball across the goal from the left was put away by the unmarked Hewitson on the right to make it 1-1. In the 41st minute, Burns beat two defenders and ran down the left only to see his shot saved by the keeper. Hayton shot wide and shortly after a home free kick was headed clear.

In the 47th minute, a handball by a home defender in his box saw nothing given. Hayton was working hard but there was little Stan end product except for a Telford shot over. Tow Law hit the bar in the 60th minute while Johnson shot over at the end of a counter attack. In the 62nd minute a free kick was sent down the left then crossed to the right where poor defending allowed Hewitson to volley the ball into the net off the cross bar to put Tow Law 2-1 up.

Tow Law then had two more efforts with the Stan relying on long balls rather than passing. Tow Law headed off the bar in 72 minutes and then wasted a ball across the box from a corner which everyone missed. Dodsworth was now alone in working hard until Rowntree replaced Telford in 79 minutes.

In the 87th minute, Axon got a ball forward to Wright who was fouled and awarded a free kick. Wright took it and the ball sped over the wall, before they knew what was happening, and went into the net off the underside of the bar for the equaliser. What a goal! Jon Jon had an opportunity to score the winner when he was brought down just inside the box. The linesman flagged for a foul but the referee booked Wright for diving and refused to talk to his assistant. The long period of frantic injury time eventually ended with a 2-2 draw.

The evening was spoilt by the home team, dug out and some supporters (including the old rude fan in novelty shorts and a false beard) constantly winging loudly, swearing and contesting every decision and tackle. It was so bad that the referee had to warn two home fans about their language and Wright actually celebrated his equaliser and looked happy.

Stan Team: Rule; Scott; Axon; Waters; Quine; Dodsworth; Telford (Rowntree); Johnson, L (Imray); Wright; Hayton; Burns (Hoggins).

Unused Sub: Stoddart.

Goals: Wright 6, 87

Yellow Cards: Quine, Wright.

Attendance: 65

Kevin Mochrie