Even though it was St Georges Day, it was the Stan who hoped to be the battling heroes after travelling to North Yorkshire on a Monday night. It was always going to be a big challenge against 3^rd place Northallerton and with a lot of the Stan Army missing although a number made the long trip including a French contingent. The team was unchanged for the 3^rd match in a row.

The Stan shocked the home team in 3 minutes when North conceded a free kick on the left and it was taken by Burns who fired in a shot which squirmed out of the hands of keeper Dawson and into the net. It was all Stan early on with Northallerton looking nervous and a misdirected pass gave the Stan a chance to break out at speed through Wright but Dawson raced from goal to pick the ball off his toes.

The home side then had a few chances and were starting to play football with Smith having to save a header. The Stan were also trying to attack and had a couple of free kicks near the home box before North hit the bar with a 25-yard strike that beat Smith in the 28th minute. From a corner, North’s Knox shot wide when it seemed easier to score.

There was then a bad foul on Smith but no card was shown. Soon after Wright had a free kick which he shot over the bar. North then had a corner which went straight to Smith. In the 40th minute, Wright’s shot was blocked by a defender and it fell nicely for Salim who calmly chose his spot and shot past Dawson into the corner of the net for 2-0. North were still in the game and there was everything to play for in the 2nd half.

Northallerton started the 2^nd half better and Smith had to save followed by the Stan clearing for a corner which was then headed wide. The game was getting a bit scrappy and tempers frayed when a high tackle on Burns ended with pushing and shoving and a booking for the home’s no2. Salim was brought down as he knocked the ball past North’s no5 who was also booked.

There was more pushing in the box as Smith got a high ball and was challenged late. The pressure was still mainly all from the home side. A speculative shot from distance and then a driven shot saw Smith easily save. The Stan had a rare move up field when Holland had a good chance but was offside although it was North who looked comfortable.

There was panic in the Stan defence with just under 15 minutes to go when Smith had to save with his foot and Deagle sliced the clearance. North shot wide and in the last minute they miscued a shot which Smith smothered. North were putting the pressure on but the Stan held firm. Both teams got corners before Ramsbottom was sent off for a mistimed and shocking tackle on Sayer.

So the Stan got their 4^th victory in a week and proved they were a match for the teams seen as promotion candidates. There are still 7 games to go as the Stan next take on leaders Whickham but no one is mentioning the P word (yet).

Stan Team: Smith; Parker (Tait 83); Sayer; Wear; Hall; Fulcher; Holland; Imray; Wright; Salim (Deagle 76); Burns.

Yellow Cards: Parker.

Goals: Burns 3, Salim 40.

Attendance: 97.

Edwin Hargrieves (Northallerton) / Geoff Walker (Stan)