When a 95th minute deflected goal broke the Stan's hearts at Team North in January anyone who thought we'd be genuine promotion candidates as we enter April would have been described as mad, wildly optimistic or that Bill Pitt had served them too many in the club, fast forward ten games and you'd now be thought of as a visionary, a prophet or maybe just sober.

The lads went into the game on a run of 9 straight wins and high on confidence but games against our old Alliance foes are never easy, and Blyth have been a decent run of their own starting the game just one place below the Stan in sixth. Bosses Thompson and Walker made one change from the win at Crook with Deagle replacing Shane Jones on the left, with Rocky Fulcher and Gary Yates returning to the bench.

Blyth named a strong line up which included former Stan Centre Half Jack Errington but were dealt a blow when Keeper Matt Crooks was ruled out and replaced by Hanson. The visitors got the game under way attacking the Church End and from a free kick they immediatley forced a corner which wasn't cleared, with the ball falling nicely to Errington in the box and he managed to steer a looping shot into the top corner to give Blyth the lead in the 2nd minute.

It could have been worse for the Stan a minute later when Atkinson got free but Matty Smith blocked his drive with his chest, the Stan were still under pressure and after Blyth had a goal disallowed they forced a second corner which was eventually cleared. It took until the 11th minute for the Stan to create an opening when a great run and shot by Robinson brought a fine save out of Hanson and Deagle's follow up was blocked, Johnson was next to threaten for the Stan but his overhead effort was partially blocked and Hanson saved easily.

Blyth should have doubled their lead soon after when a good move and cross from the left found Atkinson at the far post but he could'nt get enough on his header which went wide of the open goal. The Stan responded with Johnson heading wide, Wright having a free kick saved and Stoddart driving wide; but it was again the visitors with the best chance when a free kick was (harshly)awarded for a back pass but the Stan defensive wall on our own goal line stood firm.

The Stan got going again and a cross from Holland just eluded Deagle at the back post before forcing their second and third corners which were cleared, Blyth were under pressure and both Errington and Atkinson were booked for kicking the ball away before the Stan ended the half with Robinson having two shots blocked and Dixon driving wide.

Half Time: Stan 0 - 1 Blyth Town

The Stan forced another two corners in the first ten minutes of the second half but both were cleared and Day had a half chance for Blyth which was wide as both teams 4-4- 2 formations cancelled each other out. A cross from Holland tested the keeper and another corner kept the pressure on but the Stan were struggling to create a clear cut chance, and after Walker replaced Sayer for Blyth the Stan made a change with Jones replacing Robinson.

Within a couple of minutes a suberb Jones free kick was met by Wear but the keeper turned his header onto the bar and the resulting corner was wasted. Blyth were always dangerous on the break and Walker shot over the top before the Stan finally equalised on 74 minutes. There didn't seem to be too much on when Jon Jon Wright received the ball from Stoddart, and his shot across the keeper lacked pace but Hanson was slow getting down to it and the ball found its way into the far corner for 1 - 1.

Blyth were rattled and MacRoberts was booked for shoving Stoddart before they replaced Day with Dormand, they responded though and Atkinson flashed a shot across the face of goal but this would be his last of the action as he received a second yellow a minute later and was dismissed.

The Stan sensed their opportunity had arrived and only a suberb goal line save fom Errrington on 80 minutes denied the Stan the lead, however they wouldn't be denied for long and after Holland won the ball back, Deagle found Wright who flashed a shot past Hanson to the delight of the crowd.

The Stan were flying now and Jones had a shot saved before a suberb break left Wright and Jones 2 on 1, but Wright went himself when Jones was screaming for a square ball to roll home. Wright then went down in the box but was shown yellow for diving as the Stan looked to see the game out, but disaster struck in the 90th minute when the Stan gave the ball away in midfield and Walker raced onto a through ball, lobbed Smith and was able to get to the loose ball before Ray to force an equaliser.

The Blyth players celebrated long and hard as the devastated Stan players could see their efforts going to waste as a point, however hard earned, wouldn't be enought to keep the promation push on track.

The Stan held it together as we entered the 3 minutes of stoppage time, regrouped and found the energy for a final push that forced a corner as the 93rd minute approached. Blyth, keen to protect their point, had all 10 players back in their own box but somehow left Dixon all alone at the back post and Dicka rose like a salmon to head home Deagle's corner to raise the roof at Grounsell Park. This time it was the Stan's turn to celebrate, both then and 30 seconds later, when the Referee Milburn blew the final whistle to signal the end of a pulsating game with Stan winning for the tenth consecutive time.

The Stan took the points, and the plaudits for having the spirit to win it at the death, but Blyth had played their part in a fantastic advert for the Northern League. We meet them again at South Newsham on 15th April and i'd urge anybody and everybody to get along to support the Stan as the promotion race enters the final straight. The Stan had never reached the heights that they are capable of, and at times had struggled to contain Blyth. But when push came to shove to keep the promotion push going, they dug deep and got there on spirit and guts alone. No wonder Decka Thompson had only one word after the game, proud.

The Stan are at Ryton and Crawcrook Albion on Saturday but the last word must be left to the match winner Dicka, who claimed after the game that he'd never felt such a rush as when he scored the winning goal, imagine that coming from a man who is so used to sharing the spotlight with Pierre- Emerick Aubameyang.

Team 4-4-2: Smith; Stoddart, Dixon, Wear (C), Ray; Imray ,Holland, Johnson, Deagle; Wright, Robinson (Jones 67).

Subs not used: Fulcher, Yates

Goals: Wright 74, 82, Dixon 90 (+3)

Yellow Cards: Wright.

Attendance: 192

Simon Lansley