An official crowd of 77 watched this game on a bitterly cold night at Woodhorn Lane, home of Ashington. There were 3 changes including a debut for Matthew Parker while Jonathan Wright was suspended. Dean Deagle returned from injury and there was also a start after a long absence for Joe Fulcher.

The first 20 minutes went by without either side managing a shot on target and both were guilty of giving the ball away. On 25 minutes an appeal for offside was ignored by the officials and Blyth’s Robinson, who was clearly offside, raced through and drove the ball low past Smith to give Blyth the lead. A mix up on the Stan 6-yard line on 28 minutes saw Chiltern stroke the ball home. Again, observers claimed he was offside. Blyth were having the better of the exchanges and their No.4 sent a low drive wide on 32 minutes.

At half time the score remained 2-0 to Blyth.

The Stan improved in the 2^nd half with Robertson firing wide then at the other end Blyth’s Roberts shaved the post and crossbar angle. A Blyth corner was headed wide on 55 minutes to be followed by Richie Hoggins replacing Joe Fulcher for the Stan. A good run by Hoggins ended with Robertson skewing wide from 7 yards. Smith palmed a shot over the bar followed by a low drive cannoning back off the Stan upright on 68 minutes.

Blyth made a change at this point, taking off Lancaster and bringing on Paul Antony, a player Stan supporters may remember. Time for another change as Josh Holland was replaced by Abu Salim.

Robertson rounded the keeper on 81 minutes to make the score 2-1 after good work from new signing Danny Sayer. A minute later and the Stan were down to 10 men as the 2^nd sub of the night, this time McKenna, got injured and had to go off after all subs had been used. Even so, things were getting heated as Blyth battled to maintain their lead and the Stan pressed to equalise.

Salim was booked for a bad challenge followed by a red for Blyth No.10 Robinson for a bad challenge on Robertson in the 89^th minute. In the 90^th minute Salim made a great run but his shot was saved by the Blyth keeper. The referee brought proceedings to an end shortly after with Blyth holding on for a 2-1 win.

So, the Stan lost away but to now league leaders and cash rich Blyth while it was also the 1^st away league defeat since 3 November and only the 2^nd in nearly 7 months. Even more positively, Lewis Burns was in attendance at the match, having just landed back from Australia to sign for the Stan. He definitely noticed the change in temperature from 30 degrees to -1 degrees.

Stan Team: Smith, Parker, Laidler, Deagle, Hall, Fulcher (Hoggins(McKenna)), Holland (Salim), Imray, Robertson, Wotherspoon, Sayer

Goals: Robertson 81.

Yellow Cards: Salim.

Attendance: 77.

Gordon Wilson