The rain was coming down dogs and dogs at Bedlington as the Stan achieved their first league win of the season when Heaton Stan Harry and the team tamed the Terriers.There were three changes from Wednesday’s team and there was a familiar face (apart from the Captain Haddock beard) in the Bedlington starting eleven in the shape of JonJon Wright.

Both teams started positively, despite the torrential rain, and the home keeper was tested in the second minute. Two minutes later and the Stan were in the lead when Dixon was brought down about 10 yards outside the box and Dan Robinson scored with a fantastic effort direct from the free kick. After Smith had caught a home effort, Robinson had another good chance to score in ten minutes when the Terriers failed to clear but their keeper Holgate blocked his shot. Walton then had a shot blocked for a corner.

Robinson was then unlucky when a Stan counter-attack saw Holgate get to the ball before him. A minute later and he got by a defender on the right and into the box but his shot was saved by a great full stretch by Holgate who then saw the ball hit of the bar. It was still mainly one way traffic and in 18 minutes Robinson sent a ball into the box for Bailey but his shot was blocked. Two minutes later and a Fulcher free kick was punched away by Holgate. The Stan attacked again before the Terriers first effort for a while went just wide.

Wright’s first chance came in the 30th minute when the Terriers won a free kick and his long range effort required a full stretch from Smith to save it. Both teams continued to try to attack but both defences were doing well including when Wilson won the ball off Wright. Robinson was working hard up front for the Stan but it was the home side who had more efforts in the last five minutes of the half including a long shot that was caught by Smith.

The Stan should have been at least three goals up at half time and they paid for their failure to do so when, after 51 minutes, the Terriers equalised with Kyle Oliver scoring direct from a free kick. Smith caught another free kick four minutes later and two minutes after that Wright did a dive in the Box that Tom Daley would have been proud of. In the 61st minute, good defending stopped a home attack although soon after they had another shot that skimmed the bar.

The Stan began to dominate again and in the 64th minute Robinson was blocked twice. In 67 minutes Bailey shot wide followed by another Robinson attack although Dixon could not get to his through ball in time. Walton then made a great move but it ended in him shooting over when he could have passed.After 70 minutes there was a lovely through ball by Dixon to Robinson who got into the box and passed to the incoming Dean Imray who slotted the ball into the net.

Two minutes later and a Stan counter attack required Holgate to head away outside the box. The Stan were working hard and their effort paid off in 74 minutes when an attack involving Scott saw the ball passed to Imray who shot to make it 3-1. A poor home clearance three minutes later allowed Walton to get the ball and attempt a curving shot which required Holgate to make a full stretch to save.

The Stan then had three further attacks before Bedlington shot over in 83 minutes. Dixon then had a shot saved with the follow up effort headed wide by substitute Bynoe. With two minutes to go Wright had a rare effort which, much to the delight of the Stan Army, went well over.

The Stan were pushing for a fourth goal but it was Wright, who had been very quiet with his feet but not his mouth, who had the last attack but he was blocked twice by Smith and the Stan defence.

Dan Robinson had a great game up front for the Stan but they also defended well and benefited from a great performance by Fulcher. Despite the miserable weather, the Stan Army were in good voice all afternoon (except for some poor impersonations of a Scottish accent) and they were delighted by the Stan’s performance as well as with the result.

Stan Team: Smith; McCabe; James; Scott; Williams; Fulcher; Bailey; Imray; Robinson (Bynoe); Walton (Anthony); Dixon.

Unused subs: Walker; Johnson.

Goals: Robinson 4, Imray 70, 74.

Attendance: 61.

Kevin Mochrie