The Stan welcomed Darlington RA to Grounsell Park for the last game before Christmas with the home side looking to bounce back from the disapppointment of exiting the Ernie Armstrong Cup at the hands of Bedlington Terriers. Manager Derek Thompson reverted to 4-4-2 with James, Fulcher and Holland replacing Williams, Johnson and Robinson. The loss of leading scorer Robinson was a massive blow as strike partner Blackett was also still missing meaning Thompson relied on Yates and Jones as a new look forward line. Right Back Ali Stoddart was making his 100th Northern League Appearance for the club.

The visitors arrived deep in relegation trouble but bouyant from a 2 0 win at Crook last week and included Dan Pigg and Chris Tarn who have 21 league goals between them this season.

The Stan were first to get going and forced the game's first corner on 5 minutes and the veteran Yates was soon in the thick of the action when heading straight at the keeper on 10 mins and then hitting the keepers legs a minute later when through one on one. He was involved again 2 minutes later when he released Shane Jones in the box and he calmly sidefooted across keeper and in at the far post to open the scoring.

The Stan's tremendous start continued when the roles were reversed a minute later with Yates finishing neatly from close range after being set up by Jones, the blistering start fully deserving the two goal advantage.

The Stan were rampant now and both forwards had other chances before Holland raced through but lifted his shot over the keeper and crossbar. Darlington almost punished this miss on 33 when Pigg flicked a suberb header off the inside angle of post and bar and Matty Smith was quick to divert the rebound off the line. The Stan finished the half on the offensive with Deagle having a free kick saved, Jones having a shot blocked by the keeper with a defender getting back to clear off the line as the backspin from the save threatened the goal and Jones shooting wide after being set up by a determined Imray.

HT: Heaton Stannington 2 0 Darlington RA

The Stan replaced Errington with Doyle at half time and were quickly back on the attack with Deagle breaking from half way and flashing an effort across the face of goal, the middle four of Fulcher, Imray, Deagle and Holland were totally dominant and a third goal finally arrived on 58 mins when a great cross from Holland found Yates and although he was crowded out Deagle kept the move going and Jones finished from close range.

The skipper, Joe Wear, was next to have a good chance but his effort from a corner was wide; the Stan then replaced Fulcher and James with O'Brien and Johnson and it was the latter who made it 4 - 0 on 70 minute when he volleyed home a rebound after the keeper had saved from Jones.

It was now one way traffic as the RA defence tired and Yates got his second and the Stan's fifth on 78 minutes when he headed home a Jones corner unchallenged. Another corner saw Wear head just wide, but the goals continued on 82 mins when Shane Jones completed his first Stan hat-trick when he tapped home after a good build up down the left ended with a fine run and cross from Lee Johnson.

There was more misery for RA as firstly they had a consolation goal ruled out for offside and then Deagle took advantage of the space afforded to him down the left as ran through unchallenged and finished from inside the box for goal number seven in he 87th minute.

There was only one last wish on the Stan Army's Christmas list and the Legend Gary Yates didn't disappoint as bulleted home a header from Jones' superb free kick to round off the scoring with Stan's eighth and his own hat-trick as the game entered stoppage time.

The Legend still had time hook an easier chance over the top before the referee finally put RA out of their misery, the crowd of 117 had been given a festive treat as the Stan hit 8 goals for the first time since their return to the Northern League.

FT: Heaton Stannington 8 0 Darlington RA

Next game is the Boxing Day visit of Alnwick Town with an 11 am Kick Off when the players and staff will be celebrating Dean Deagle's birthday after the game with all fan's invited.

Stan Team: Smith, Stoddart, James (O'Brien 67), Wear (C), Errington (Doyle 45), Fulcher (Johnson 64) ,Holland, Imray, Deagle, Yates, Jones.

Goals: Jones 13, 58, 82, Yates 14, 78, 90(+2), Johnson 70, Deagle 87.

Attendance: 117

Simon Lansley