It was a night of achievements as, on Durham’s 1st ever visit to Grounsell Park, the Stan achieved a 7th straight home league win and a 6th straight home clean sheet. There were 3 changes including for the injured Deagle.

On a blustery night, the Stan had the 1st attack in the 2nd minute when Holland passed to Robinson in the box whose shot was blocked by Caris in the Durham goal. The visitors then hit the side netting followed by a Holland long shot going wide. In the 6th minute, a Wright attack saw him blocked but nothing was given. It was mainly the Stan who were attacking including, in 13 minutes, a Jones attack on the left that saw him beat 2 defenders and cross to the advancing Robinson in the box who shot just wide.

Durham then had their 1st attack for 10 minutes and shot just wide. As the half went on, Durham got more of the ball and it was becoming a more even affair although the home side still had the majority of efforts on goal.

In 26 minutes, Durham shot wide and 2 minutes later a good interception by Dixon stopped another attack. The 30th minute saw Smith get down to save followed by a Stan attack where Robinson crossed to Imray in the box but was tackled before he could shoot. Johnson then headed wide from a Holland ball into the box. Durham then had an attack cleared then shot just wide. Soon after Wright got into the box and, when blocked, passed to Robinson who had a foul given against him even though both the defender and himself had went for the ball.

In 42 minutes, a 40 yard Robinson free kick was blocked with the ball eventually coming to Wright outside the box whose curving shot saw the keeper just get his hands to it to put it over. From the corner, an unmarked Wear headed over. A minute later and a Wright counter attack saw him hold off 2 defenders but the ball bounced and hit his hand. Durham then got a corner that was cleared.

Unlike the 1st half, when Durham competed well, the 2nd saw the Stan take control against an opposition who were now lacking ideas. In 48 minutes, Robinson broke free but was blocked by the keeper followed by a Durham corner which Smith punched clear. A Durham free kick was then blocked with the rebound shot caught by Smith. The most controversial moment of the match occurred in the 51st minute when Robinson ran into the box and was shoved of the ball by a defender using both hands. It was a blatant penalty but the referee waved play on.

Durham shot wide followed by 2 Stan attacks before Smith made a clearance. In 57 minutes, a Stan free kick saw Imray’s header cleared for a corner. In the 60th minute, a pass from Holland saw Robinson break free of the defence and run 20 yards into the box where he confidently slotted the ball past the keeper. 4 minutes later and a through ball from Jones to Holland, running unmarked into the box, saw him casually shoot past the keeper to make it 2-0.

The Stan then blocked most Durham efforts and broke forward themselves whenever they could especially through Holland. Durham did have a good effort in 76 minutes from a close shot in the box which Smith punched clear before the follow up shot was put way over. 5 minutes to go and a Jones cross to Wright in the box saw his shot blocked by the keeper. Wright advanced into the box again but was undeservedly booked when a defender and himself both went for a 50/50 ball. Surprisingly, this led to outbursts and clowning about from the away dugout.

The Stan were anything but dirty but the referee, who had a poor game, somehow saw fit to book 4 Stan players. Desperation set into the visitors play although a free kick in 88 minutes was headed clear by Imray. Jones countered with a cross to Johnson who crossed to no one when he should have shot. Both teams tried to advance as the game got nigglier. Deep into injury time, Smith, who along with his defence had a good match, made a great save and then punched a corner away.

The win was a great achievement against a strong Durham side that quickly retreated back over the Tyne with the Stan now only 1 place and point behind them in the league but with 5 games in hand.

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

Yellow Cards: Dixon, Ray, Imray, Wright.

Subs Not Used: O’Brien; Yates.

Goals: Robinson 60, Holland 64.

Attendance: 101

Kevin Mochrie