At an excited Grounsell Park, there were 3 changes including for Wright who had an insect bite. The Stan were hoping not to get stung themselves as they aimed to make it 12 wins in a row and keep up the promotion push.

The Stan started positively and after 5 minutes the hard-working Holland got the ball to Stoddart who sent it into the box where it was eventually put out for a corner. Deagle’s free kick was then blocked. 3 minutes later and a great ball from Holland saw Robinson blocked. A Johnson free kick was then parried away by Whickham keeper John Mordey who was lucky not to be sent off for his constant verbals.

Whickham didn’t have their 1st attack to the 11th minute which was blocked by Smith. 3 minutes later and Ray headed just wide from a free kick. 3 minutes later, Whickham had a weak header then a shot wide. Mordey fumbled a back-pass but 2 Stan players were blocked in their efforts to get a shot in. The last 20 minutes of the half saw Whickham dominate starting with Smith having to make a full stretch save to stop a shot by the number 9. In 28 minutes, a Whickham shot was blocked followed by Smith punching the ball over the bar from a corner and then partially punching away again from the 2nd corner before Ray cleared off the goal line.

A long ball to Number 7 saw Smith confidently come out to block him. The Whickham pressure continued and Smith had to catch a long effort. The Stan eventually attacked again in 37 minutes 1st through a Jones shot and then through a Holland and Robinson 1-2 in the box with the former shooting wide. 2 minutes later and a Whickham 30-yard free kick went over the wall and just over the bar. Whickham kept attacking but the Stan held on for 0-0 at half time.

The second half saw both teams trying to score, especially through counter attacks. The Stan had the majority of the attacks but could not break down the solid Whickham defence. The 51st minute saw the Stan’s best chance of the game to score as Robinson beat 2 players with the keeper managing to just push his shot wide. 3 minutes later and Mordey caught Johnson’s free kick followed by the 1st attack by the visitors for a while. The Stan then had a period where they put intense pressure on the Whickham defence involving a number of penalty box clearances.

In the 60th minute, a long ball sent in front of Robinson saw him and Mordey both go for it but a foul was given against Dan. 3 minutes later and Whickham shot wide followed by a Smith clearance then a shot just over the Stan bar. The match could have gone either way as both teams pressed and both defences had to work hard.

In 74 minutes, 2 long balls saw Johnson shoot just wide followed by Robinson spoiling a good move. Deagle then shot just wide before Robinson was shoved over in the box but nothing was given. Whickham then countered but Smith blocked the resulting effort. The Stan were putting pressure on Whickham, attacking almost continuously, but lacked that final decisive ball as the Whickham defence blocked their efforts.

With 2 minutes to go, the Whickham manager was sent off for dissent. Robinson then manged to beat the defence but shot just wide under pressure. He continued to press but the match ended early after only 1 added on minute.

The record winning run is now over but the promotion race continues with 4 matches to go.

Stan Team: Smith; Stoddart; Dixon; Ray; Wear; Johnson; Holland; Imray; Robinson; Jones (Yates-67); Deagle.

Subs Not Used: Fulcher; Doyle; O’Brien; Wright.

Attendance: 108

Kevin Mochrie