It was more like July weather for our visit to Millfield, the home of Crook Town, rather than late March to see if the Stan could continue their amazing run and make it 9 wins in a row. The Stan made 2 changes from the fine win at Billingham Town during the week with Ray replacing O’Brien and Robinson replacing Deagle. Crook were looking to do the double over the Stan after their win at Grounsell Park earlier in the season.

The Stan kicked off with a good turnout of the Stan Army and good work by Wright almost saw him create a chance in the opening 5 minutes but he could not keep his balance. The lively Jones sent Wright through on 19 minutes but he was rightly flagged for offside. The opening 30 minutes saw very few chances for either team with the game looking like a pre-season friendly in the sunshine. Johnson played Jones in on 33 minutes who somewhat scuffed his shot which was dealt with by the Crook keeper.

Crook created the first real chance of the game when Stan glove man Smith made a fine one handed save which gave Crook a corner on 38 minutes. From the resulting corner a fine header saw Smith beaten but the ball hammered off the crossbar to keep it goalless. In injury time of the first half, Stan’s Robinson was through on goal but a fine tackle by a Crook defender stopped him from getting his shot off.

The 2nd half got under way with very little difference in the 2 teams, but Wright was busy as ever and sent in a left foot screamer on 54 minutes that rattled the cross-bar with the Crook keeper rooted to the spot. Crook immediately countered with numbers and fired a shot goalwards which was blocked but Crook’s Emms fired the ball home to give Crook the lead. This seemed to wake the Stan up and they drew level on 60 minutes when Johnson curled a beautiful right foot shot into the corner giving the Crook keeper no chance.

This gave the Stan some momentum and they were straight in the attack with Josh Holland latching onto a poor clearance by the Crook keeper but his shot was well saved on 62 minutes. But the Stan meant business and on 63 minutes Johnson lifted the ball over the static Crook defence and Holland produced a sublime finish to give the Stan the lead. The Stan were dominant now and suddenly looked like a team that had won 8 on the bounce. Playing with confidence it was no surprise on 67 minutes when they increased their lead. A corner was whipped into the box, the ball broke for Imray which ricocheted and Robinson turned and swivelled a lovely shot into the roof of the net.

On 70 minutes the excellent Jones broke in the box and was brought down giving the referee an easy decision and a penalty to the Stan. Wright, usually clinical, went for a gentle chip over the keeper but got too much on it and it sailed over the bar. This is one penalty kick Jon Jon will want to forget. Luckily the only damage done was to Jon Jon's pride and with the game and the points won the Stan comfortably saw it through to full time. With Billingham Town losing and Syhthonia drawing against Esh, the Stan are now 4th and also 8 points off 3rd place with 2 games in hand.

Team 4-4-2: Smith; Stoddart; Dixon (James 77); Ray; Wear (Deagle 72); Johnson; Imray; Holland; Wright; Robinson; Jones.

Goals: Johnson 60, Holland 63, Robinson 67.

Attendance:110.

Kev Carling