The Stan arrived at Teesdale Park as one of only 3 unbeaten teams in the League, they left bottom of the table.....work that one out!

Once again injuries, holidays and work commitments decimated the squad but Decka was still able to name a strong starting 11 against a side who are rapidly replacing Team North as our bogie team, with Ray, Jones and Hoggins coming into the side that started at Consett.

With Dan Robinson joining Jon Wright on the injured list we went into the game without both of our main strikers and with the Legend Yates recently hanging up his boots it was a welcome sight to see Richie back in the team after serious injury.

The hosts, who had won 2 of their opening 5 league games, included a fair few ex Billingham Synthonia players in their line up (amazingly they have 54 players signed, which at this atage of the season must be a record) and it was them who got the game under way on a good looking playing surface.

The game started slowly, with a half hearted penalty shout for the hosts the only note of mention in the first 15 minutes, before Smith made a suberb reaction stop when Murphy deflected a Hillerby shot from 6 yards out and last seasons player of the year somehow got down to save.

The Stan came into the game and won a couple of corners and then on 21 McKenna headed over a good cross from Deagle, before Holland had a shot blocked after good work by Laidler. Thornaby had a chance of their own when Murphy beat Smith from a tight angle but Ray was able clear from inside the 6 yard box. 

The Stan were then inches away from opening the scoring when Hoggins, Laidler and McKenna set up Jones who flashed a shot just wide of the far post with Craggs beaten. It was the hosts however who did break the deadlock a minute later when Morrison was afforded a lot of space down the Stan's left and he finished with a fine shot across Smith into the far corner.

The Stan looked to hit back and firstly the keeper could only punch a Jones free kick to Imray who volleyed wide, and then good work by Jones and Laidler set up Hoggins who's left foot volley also drifted wide.

On 43 minutes Thornaby increased their lead with a goal similar to the first with Morrison breaking from right back and having time and space to pull the ball back to Jackson who finished from 10 yards. So the Stan went in at the break knowing that poor defending had given them an enormous task in the second half.

HT: Thornaby 2 - 0 Stan

The Stan were quick out of the blocks after the break and McKenna shot wide on 47 minutes before he spurned the best chance of the game on 50 when he could only hit the keeper with a point blank header after Stoddart had supplied a superb cross. The Stan kept up the pressure and, after the keeper had struggled to clear a fourth corner, Jones had a shot blocked before Hoggins headed over from another good cross, this time from Deagle.

The Stan stayed on the attack and Jones took down a cross at the back post and slipped it past the keeper but the ball was hacked clear before a black and white shirt could turn it in.

It was by no means one way traffic, Smith had to make 2 smart saves and a free kick from 20 yards hit the wall, but the best chances were falling to the Stan and another excellent cross from Stoddart was headed at the keeper by Hoggins and this was followed by McKenna heading a Laidler cross over the bar, before he was replaced by Chapman.

The Stan forced another couple of corners and from the latter on 82 mins Ray couldn't direct a header home, Thornaby responded and should have killed the game off as they took adavantage of the gaps the Stan were leaving as the chased the game but Smith stood up to all they could throw at him. With time running out a long throw from Holland was flicked on by Hoggins but the keeper made a fine save before Laidler had a shot blocked from the Stan's 7th corner.

Murphy then broke clear for Thornaby but never looked like beating Smith and the game ended with one last cross into the Thornaby box and another header, this time from Imray, going wide.

FT:   Thornaby 2 - 0 Stan

The Stan couldn't be faulted for effort, especially in the second half when they created numerous chances, but ultimately they were beaten by a team that won't finish anywhere near the top 6 because of the two sloppy goals they gave away and inability to convert a chance of their own. It was generally accepted by all who were there that if we'd got one goal back then we'd have got something out of the game as Thornaby's back five looked increasingly nervous as the night wore on.

Its not all doom and gloom however as we were beaten here 6 - 0 last season and finished 12 places higher than Thornaby, and our temporary place at the bottom of the table is only due to us having played 3 games as opposed to 6 by some of the rest. Having said that we need to get players back quickly and pick up that elusive first league win before starting to climb the table in a manner known all too well by the Stan Army.

One other thing to work out, honorary Stan Army member Anders Johansen was at the game visiting his 431st English ground .........how has he managed that when he lives in Norway?

Heaton Stannington (3-5-2) : Smith, Stoddart, Ray, Deagle, Holland, Johnson, Imray (C), Jones, Laidler, McKenna (Chapman 81), Hoggins .

Sub Not Used: McCarthy.

Attendance: 59.

Simon Lansley