After a bye in the 1st round, and in new strips, the Stan took on local rivals Celtic who had a number of recent foreign signings. The Stan made 4 changes including new signings from Whitley Bay Michael Hall and Andrew Robertson. Andrew played briefly for the Stan in 14-15. There was also a return on the bench for injured Jon Jon Wright and Shane Jones.

A WAC attack was cleared in 2 minutes before Johnson, who was lively throughout, crossed the ball to Turnbull but Bennett in the visitor’s goal got to it first. The opening period was end to end and in 8 minutes Robinson made a run and passed to Robertson but his shot was caught by Bennett. Turnbull then twisted and turned into the box but shot over. He then got forward again and his shot was deflected for a corner. Dixon’s corner ball went across the goal but was missed by everyone. The Stan then got a free kick which resulted in Turnbull shooting wide.

Celtic’s first clear chance came in 17 minutes when they headed wide. 3 minutes later and Johnson also headed wide under pressure. In 22 minutes, the visitors were ahead from a corner when poor defending allowed the ball to be flicked into the net in the crowded box. The Stan responded positively and attacked the visitors including in 30 minutes when Turnbull headed just wide. Johnson had the ball in the net 2 minutes later but was wrongly flagged offside. 

In 35 minutes, a WAC attack saw the ball only half cleared and Smith had to make a fantastic point blank save. There was then a period of Stan dominance that eventually saw Turnbull, with 3 defenders on him, blast the ball which Bennett put over. The resulting corner, in the 41st minute, saw the ball sent into a crowded box and was headed into the net by Johnson. A minute later and WAC were back in the lead when a ball from a corner was headed in from the edge of a crowded box. Both sides continued to attack but it was Celtic who surprisingly finished the half 2-1 up.

The Stan restarted lively with Johnson shooting just over but it was WAC who scored in 51 minutes and it was again from a corner with the ball headed into the net over Smith in a crowded box. WAC then shot just wide before a great Stan advance saw Robertson shoot just wide. In 55 minutes there was a great turn and run by Robinson with the ball put out for a corner which then saw Turnbull shoot wide. He then made a great run and crossed to Robinson who shot wide. 

In 61 minutes WAC shot just wide. The Stan were not giving up but WAC were well organised and Wright replaced Robinson in an attempt to break them down. Almost immediately he sent a ball into Robertson who was blocked. The Stan were increasingly putting pressure on WAC and in 67 minutes the ball was sent into the visitor’s box but Wright couldn’t connect. 

WAC then had a period of attacking with Smith making 2 clearances and a catch although the visitors were also increasingly time wasting especially vocal Bennett. Turnbull stopped a fourth attack which allowed Wright to advance and shoot just wide in 76 minutes. Bennett had to punch clear 2 minutes later before an incident which could have changed the course of the match. As he ran in, Wright was floored in the box by 2 WAC players but amazingly a penalty was not given. 

It was mainly Stan pressure for the remainder of the match although, as the Stan were guilty of giving the ball away, WAC were able to counter attack at times. The WAC defence were finding it difficult to cope with Turnbull and he forced a catch from Bennett followed by a headed clearance by a defender.

In 84 minutes, a Stan corner was initially cleared, a Johnson effort was then blocked and the ball finally went out to Turnbull (who was calling for it) on the edge of the crowded box and he blasted it into the net. The pressure was on the visitors and they began to panic as the Stan sought an equaliser which would take the game to penalties as this is the second season where Northern League cups don’t have extra time.

The Stan battered the WAC defence which had to make a number of clearances. A minute to go and Bennett just got his hand to a Stan long shot. The ball from the resulting corner went over the crowd but was also too high for Johnson at the back post. Wright then shot just wide from outside the box. Into injury time and a Stan equaliser was still looking very possible as Bennett and his defence were kept busy. In the 94th minute a Stan corner saw Bennett flick the ball behind him to Robertson at the back post who headed back across goal to Bailey who headed just wide and allowed WAC to hang on for a 2-3 win.

It was a great late flurry from the Stan but poor defending and giving the ball away had caused them dearly. Celtic scored from 3 set pieces (although the Stan scored from 2) and 5 of the last 7 goals conceded by the Stan were from set pieces. The Stan are still in 1 cup and then of course there is also the promotion race!

Heaton Stannington: Smith, Holland, Dixon (Jones 69), Ray, Hall, Johnson, Turnbull, Imray (Bailey 86), Robinson (Wright 61), Robertson, Laidler. 

Subs Not Used: Hoggins, McKenna. 

Goals: Johnson 41, Turnbull 84.

Attendance: 144.

Kevin Mochrie