With many of the team having played Sunday league football yesterday, there was no rest as the Stan travelled to Brandon for the 1^st of 5 games in a week. There were 3 changes to the knackered team including the injured Deagle who had to replace Sayer who was injured in the warm up. The squad was so thin that Legend Yates came out of retirement but was an unused sub. Brandon also struggled to put out a team and as a result had ex-South Shields forward Wayne Byrne in goals.

The small crowd mainly consisted of the Stan Army on a beautiful but very cold night. The Stan started with an attack that the Brandon defence easily dealt with and on 5 minutes Jones shot wide. The Stan had a free kick into the box cleared twice before Brandon countered for their 1^st attack resulting in 2 clearances. In 9 minutes Smith caught and the Stan countered. The resulting corner was cleared but the ball went back out to Wright who ran in and chipped the keeper who stretched backwards and put the ball over the bar.

The Stan kept attacking and pressurising the home defence and Byrne. In 18 minutes, a Burn’s cross saw Salim’s shot blocked and Fulcher’s blasted rebound was caught by the keeper. There was more action as Salim won the ball and advanced but was blocked for a corner. A Wright cross saw Salim blocked again. Laidler then passed to Salim who broke free and blasted the ball which went out for a corner.

All the Stan pressure proved wasted when against the run of play in 24 minutes Brandon’s No9 broke free and, when 1 on 1 with Smith, he shot from a tight angle and somehow scored. Things got worse in 30 minutes when limping Deagle had to be replaced by Hoggins and the Stan changed to 3 at the back.

Hoggins attacked immediately then Salim created a chance for Wright who was blocked. In 35 minutes Hall passed to Hoggins and when the keeper ran out on the right towards him he passed into the box but no one was there until eventually Wright was blocked. Brandon countered before the Stan got the ball back up. Holland was working great at right back running up and down the wing.

In 39 minutes the Stan had 2 free kicks near the home box with the 2^nd by Wright being caught by the keeper after 1^st dropping the ball. A Brandon player countered but shot just wide under pressure from Fulcher. Brandon advanced again but luckily a ball across goal missed everyone. Laidler then crossed to Wright whose shot was blocked then caught by the keeper. Byrne caught twice again before the half finished.

Earplugs were need at halftime as the Stan’s manager could be heard giving the team the hair dryer treatment and introducing them to some new words. It appeared to work as in 49 minutes a through ball to Wright saw him break free on the right beating a defender and lobbing the ball over the keeper for 1-1. It was Jon Jon’s 100^th competitive goal for the Stan in the 5 seasons of the Northern League era although Jon won't have been here for more than 3 of the 5 seasons. What a goal and what a record.

After a quiet few minutes, the Stan were back attacking and they could smell victory (or Dekka’s breath) with Wright breaking free whenever he could and forcing Brandon to make a few clearances. In 59 minutes Smith had to make 2 catches then a Brandon corner was cleared. It was then back to Stan pressure and in 63 minutes a Stan corner ball was headed wide by Hoggins.

A sustained Stan attack in 65 minutes saw the ball blocked twice before a fantastic 30-yard strike by Jones went past everyone and into the top of the net and the Stan were in the lead. Byrne had not even moved.

3 minutes later a Wright free kick was headed clear before a Brandon attack was blocked. In 71 minutes Wright went down the wing and sent a great ball into the box but it was to fast. He then took a 40-yard shot which Byrne parried. It was all mainly Stan with the one Brandon attack being dealt with.

In 76 minutes Hoggins was caught when through on goal and the defender was booked. Jones’s free kick hit off the keeper. In 79 minutes a Brandon attack was blocked then another shot was deflected just over the Stan bar for a corner. Smith then had to punch clear as Brandon now had a period of pressure and in 81 minutes their long shot through the crowd went just wide. Hall was working well with Wear to clear the Brandon attacks.

In 84 minutes it was all over when a Stan attack was blocked but not properly cleared and the ball fell to Burns on the edge of the box who blasted it into the net for 3-1. In 88 minutes there was a great ball from Wright to Burns who shot over. Wright shot twice before Brandon shot over the bar. Brandon attacked twice again with Smith catching from close range but the final whistle blew and the Stan’s walking dead could relax while the Stan Army celebrated.

On a historic night for Jon Jon the Stan came from behind to move up to 5^th and remain in the promotion chase. Hopefully its plenty of rest for the squad before the last home match in 2 days time.

Team: Smith; Holland; Deagle (Hoggins 30); Wear (C), Hall; Fulcher; Burns; Jones (Y); Wright; Salim, Laidler.

Subs Not Used: Sayer; Yates.

Goals: Wright 49, Jones 65, Burns 84.

Yellow Cards: Jones.

Attendance: 35.

Kevin Mochrie