Although the match was played on a sunny and warm afternoon, today should have marked the end of the season but due to the recent bad weather, with even last Saturday’s match at Crook being postponed, the Stan still had 9 games to play in 16 days. Today saw the Stan hope to win 3 consecutive matches with the first only being played 5 days ago. There were no changes from the match on Wednesday.

The Stan started well and in the 4th min the goal machine that is Jon Jon Wright received a long ball over the top, held off a fullback, cut in past him and finished in style. A Salim and Wright attack 3 minutes later was followed by a Durham counter which resulted in a great save by Smith and Wear stopping the rebound shot. In 8 minutes, Salim’s shot was blocked and his second was blasted just over. Soon after he made a great run down the wing but no one was there. Smith then had to catch twice with a Wright attack blocked in between. 

In 14 minutes, Durham attacked followed by bad tackle on Wright. The free kick was sent to Wright who, although tackled to the ground, managed a shot. A long ball to a Durham player in 17 minutes, saw him tackled just inside the box by Sayer and he made the most of it. McWaters converted the resulting penalty to draw Durham level. It was a competitive match but not helped by the Durham players’ constant winging and shouting for every decision. 

Durham attacked again before a number of Stan attacks. The pressure paid off in the 23rd minute when Smith sent a free kick up to Wright who advanced down the wing and into the box where he confidently shot past a defender and the keeper to restore the Stan’s lead. Durham didn’t give up and, after a quieter period, they forced Smith to jump to tip a shot over the bar in 29 minutes. 

In 34 minutes, Wright twisted and turned into the box where he was brought down but nothing was given. 2 minutes later and Salim was hacked down. Parker got his head to Burn’s free kick but the keeper cleared. In 38 minutes, Wright under pressure shot from outside the box and the Stan attacked again soon after with Burns playing well. The last 5 minutes of the half saw the Stan preventing any Durham attacks and it finished with Burns shooting over.

The second half started with Wright attacking but the resulting corner was blocked. In 48 minutes Durham had a shot and a close range rebound shot with Smith blocking both. Durham then shot over. In 51 minutes, Wright was brought down in the box and, unlike last Monday, he blasted it into the net to get his hat-trick. 

Durham didn’t give up and 3 minutes later an effort was headed over the Stan bar. The next 5 minutes saw Wright shoot wide, Smith make a save and a clearance and Burns shoot over. Durham got back into the game on 61 minutes when their shot was blocked by a defender but Hennis put away the rebound. It was a nervous period for the Stan as after a curling long shot by the visitors went just wide in 65 minutes, 

Durham played the better football and the Stan went quiet for a while. In 70 minutes though Sayer made a run and shot over from distance. Although it was a hard-fought game, the Stan eventually get a cushion in 77 minutes after Salim was brought down just outside the box. Wright took the free kick and blasted the ball into the far corner with the keeper having no chance. Its 4 today and 6 in 3 matches for Jon Jon. The last 5 minutes saw a flurry of Durham pressure but Smith and his defence dealt well with it. 

The Stan had worked well for their victory and now face 2 of the teams in promotion places.

Heaton Stannington: Smith, Parker, Sayer, Wear, Hall, Fulcher, Holland (Laidler 74), Imray (Deagle 66), Wright, Salim (Tait 81), Burns. 

Goals: Wright 4, 23, 51, 77.

Referee: Asa McDonough.

Assistants: Daniel Taylor, John Strachen.

Attendance: 116.

Kevin Mochrie