The Stan went into the match hoping to make it 3 out of 3 wins against Blyth this season & still have an outside chance of promotion if Billingham Synthonia didn’t win any of their last 3 games (As a Scotland fan Ive got to be optimistic). There were 3 changes from the last match including a rare start for Yates who replaced Wright who was missing for family reasons. Blyth included ex-Stan’s Jack Errington and Michael ‘1 game’ Riley (bench).

Both teams started positively on a sunny & very windy afternoon. With the Stan playing against the wind, which Blyth failed to take advantage of, after 5 minutes Deagle sent a free kick wide. Blyth then attacked but Smith caught and Robinson on the counter was blocked by Blyth keeper Hanson who than parried away the corner ball. Blyth then had a few minutes of pressure starting with Smith punching a corner ball clear. He caught again before a scramble in the box from a Blyth corner saw the ball eventually cleared. The ball was up and down the pitch as both teams attacked.

In 15 minutes, there was a great ball into the box by Holland but Robinson shot over. Blyth then had a number of attacks with Dixon clearing from in front of the goal in 22 minutes. Robinson then led a number of Stan attacks with the only clear effort though being when Holland shot over in 25 minutes.

The Stan got a goal, & it was goal of the season, in 26 minutes when Dixon sent a high ball over from the left to Yates, just inside the box on the right, who was unmarked and he hit a controlled volley 1st time into the back of the net. It was worthy of the admission price alone.

Things quietened down but in 35 minutes a penalty was harshly awarded to Blyth when the ball bounced up and hit Stoddart’s hand. Smith dived the correct way but Day put the ball into the corner of the net. Much of the action was then in the centre of the pitch although Smith came out to clear when the advancing Dean Robinson was 1 on 1 with him. After another 2 Stan clearances, the Stan had 2 attacks with Imray shooting just over.

The Stan started the 2nd half with the wind advantage. Sub Jones’s 1st effort was caught then Blyth had to clear twice before a 3rd attempt hit off Grey the wrong way and Hanson had to make a save. In 50 minutes, Yates was brought down in the box but nothing was given. A Jones long shot into the crowded box was cleared. Dixon then sent a long ball to Robinson who beat a defender but shot over. Miller then handled in the box but nothing was given.

The Stan and the wind kept the pressure on Blyth with Yates heading just wide in 65 minutes & then Robinson being blocked twice. It was mainly Stan on the ball and in 75 minutes a lovely trap, turn & run by Jones saw his shot put out by the keeper. Blyth then had a rare attack & corner. Jones then led another attack which eventually ended with him blasting through a crowded box for a corner which then saw Dixon pushed out of the way but no penalty was given. Holland kept the pressure on & in 84 minutes from 1 of his throw-ins the ball went back to Fulcher near half way who sent a high ball up to Yates on the left who sent a curving header into the net. Miller played him onside and it was comeuppance for him as all through the match he shoved Yates & Robinson in the back whenever he could.

It was a fantastic double from the legend, including goal of the season for the 1st, and proves, after lasting 90 minutes, that there’s life in the old dog yet & he didn’t fail a drug test (Weetabix isn’t a banned substance). The Stan kept attacking and Blyth’s heads went down although a rare home attack in injury time saw Stoddart make a good block.

The Stan won 2-1 but as Synthonia also won, the promotion dream is over but not until the 2nd last game. But the Stan got back to winning ways, have now won 6 away games in a row &, more importantly, were back to playing positively and (when some clubs only lure players through the offer of big money) with passion & for the club!

Stan Team: Smith; Stoddart; Deagle; Ray (Jones 46); Wear; Fulcher; Holland; Imray; Yates; Robinson; Dixon.

Unused Sub: Johnson

Goals: Yates 26, 84.

Attendance 122

Kevin Mochrie

Gary Yates Wonder Volley Video