Well it was always going to be after the Lord Mayor’s Show wasn’t it? After the blood and thunder of Wednesday night’s game against Blyth, the Stan managed to continue their amazing run of wins to make it 11 on the bounce against lowly Ryton & Crawcrook with a somewhat flattering 4-0 victory. The Stan made 3 changes to Wednesdays line up, with James, Fulcher & Jones in for Dixon, Imray & Johnson.

In overcast conditions the Stan kicked off and immediately were on the attack on 4 minutes when Robinson was put through and he pulled the ball back for Jones to curl it home and put the Stan ahead. The vast majority of the crowd were from north of the Tyne and they expected to see Stan dominate but R&C belied their lowly status and came back with a corner with Smith making a fine save to turn it over the bar.

On 19 minutes there was a quick free kick to Wright but he blazed his shot wide. Smith in the Stan goal was again called into action when a R&C free kick was tipped round the post on 35 minutes. On a difficult pitch both teams were trying to play football and it was a fairly even first half when the referee blew for half time with the Stan slightly edging it 1-0.

The second half kicked off with the Stan just looking to protect their lead and invite R&C to break them down. On the hour there was a cheeky back heel from Robinson to Wright but his shot went just goes over the bar. There was another long range effort from Wright on 62 minutes but his shot was gathered up by R&C keeper Patterson. With R&C pressing for an equaliser they were increasingly leaving gaps at the back and on the hour ex R&C man Robinson turned his defender and beat Patterson on the near post to make it 2-0 to the Stan.

The confidence seemed to fade from R&C and the Stan went in search of more goals to help our goal difference and they were duly rewarded on 88 minutes when a looped cross found Robinson unmarked and he stooped low to head the ball home to make it 3-0. By now, with the game won and R&C out on their feet, it was no surprise that the Stan made it number 4 with a lobbed ball forward which Robinson once again headed over the advancing Patterson to make it 3 for him and Stan’s 4th in injury time.

The ref put R&C out of their misery and the Stan’s winning run continues while R&C slip to the bottom of Division 2. Defeat for R&C wasn’t a surprise but the 4-0 result somewhat flattered the Stan and it was a competitive match for long periods. It just goes to show how much we’ve improved this year that we won comfortably without getting out of second gear.

The Stan have now won 11 games in a row. They remain in 4th place 5 points behind 3rd placed Billingham Synthonia but with a game in hand as they came from behind to beat Tow Law. Next up is the game in hand on Wednesday at Grounsell against Whickham. It is an absolute must win match the Stan if they want to keep the pressure on Synthonia.

Team 4-4-2: Smith; Stoddart; James; Ray; Wear; Jones (Imray 73); Holland; Fulcher (Johnson 77); Wright (Yates 74); Robinson; Deagle.

Subs not used: Dixon

Goals: Jones 4, Robinson 60, 88, 90 (+2)

Attendance: 53.

Kev Carling