When the Stan limped into North Drive at Hebburn on Saturday afternoon with seven regulars missing, three players carrrying knocks and with their only substitute not 100% fit you'd think that they'd be happy with the hard earned point that they took home, but  you'd be wrong because  they deserved a lot more than the point and were only denied all three by a poor penalty decision.

A mixture of injuries, illness and holiday meant that James, Chapman and McCarthy returned to the side with McKenna named as a lone sub. The hosts, who have come into a few quid since we last met, have made some impressive signings over the summer with Chow, Wightman and Kanda the three most eyecatching. On a day when the Stan were down to the bare bones it was very kind of Hebburn's Centre Forward Channon North to book his wedding to clash with the game, and even better that he invited half of his teammates to the happy event. 

The Stan lined up in 4-4-2 formation and kicked off attacking the Cemetery End on a perfect pitch in glorious sunshine, and won the first corner of the game on 4 minutes although Deagle's kick came to nothing. The first chance of the game fell to Hebburn's Shaw after 8 minutes but he scuffed his shot wide as Smith narrowed the angle.

A minute later and Hoggins broke clear for the Stan but was hauled down by Bramley who was only shown a yellow card despite being the last man, from the resulting free kick Deagle blazed over the wall, over the bar, over the fence, over the road and into the cemetery.

Smith had to make a smart save to keep out a James deflection and Kanda should have done better for Hebburn when his free header was too high, but the Stan were more than holding their own winning their second and third corners and Lee Johnson first shooting wide and then into the wall from a Free Kick.

The Stan continued to press and McCarthy shot over the top from 30 yards and Johnson headed Hollands cross too high also, but the half ended with Hebburn forcing a couple of corners of their own.

HT: Hebburn Town 0 - 0 The Stan

The Stan were out sharp for the second half with some players back on the pitch a good 5 minutes before Hebburn and the early approach paid immediate dividends when a long throw from Holland found Imray steaming into space on the edge of the box and the skipper made no mistake as he slid his shot wide of Hubery to put the Stan ahead on 48 mins.

Hebburn hit back and hit the post twice in two minutes, the first came after Smith fumbled and he was fortunate to see the ball come back off his far post but he then redeemed himself to bravely block Chow's follow up on the line. A minute later he was beaten by a curling effort that bounced off the inside of the post and seemed surely to be going into the net until Smith arched himself back and scooped the ball off the line to make a tremendous save.

The Stan hit back and won a fourth corner and after Imray had a shot blocked Chapman then shot over. Chapman who had been booked earlier then scuffled with Hebburn's 4 before he was replaced by McKenna on 73. A minute later and there seemed to be no danger as Hebburn attacked into the left side of the Stan's box but Mr Scott angered every player  in orange by pointing to the penalty spot after Johnson tangled with the Hebburn attacker.

Chow took the resulting spot kick and Smith was unlucky not to get something on his effort as he dived to his right. Under the circumstances it would have been easy for the Stan to fold but they regrouped and after great skill by Johnson almost got Hoggins in, McKenna cut in from the left and brought a fine save out of Hubery with a 20 yard shot. From the corner Holland's shot was always rising over the bar but a minute later his cross caused panic in the Hebburn box with the Centre Half slicing past his own keeper but hitting the post. Hoggins was next to have a go and his shot was deflected for the Stan's 6th corner from which McCarthy volleyed over.

Hebburn were still dangerous on the break and Chow had a glorious chance to win it in the 88th minute but, taking Deagle's lead, he was also closer to the cemetery than the net.

There was just enough time left for Imray to volley wide for the Stan before Mr Scott ended the game which had been hard fought throughout. 

FT: Hebburn Town 1 - 1 The Stan

The Stan had put in a massive shift, with players playing through the pain barrier, but the Ref's decision had cost them their first league win of the season and meant that we stay in our temporary position at the bottom of the table, although after a committed performance like that it is obvious to all that we'll soon be climbing up it.

 A final word on Hebburn, who last year let it be known that they were struggling financially, they are now debt free, are paying decent money to players, and have refurbished the downstairs bar whilst upstairs is a work in progress. It's hard not to be pleased for a canny little club that is heading in the right direction.

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

Goals: Imray 48.

Yellow Cards: Deagle, Chapman.

Attendance: 110.

Simon Lansley (with guest analysis from Peter Rowntree!)