In front of a healthy crowd of 154, the Stan were aiming to increase their undefeated run to 8 games but at the same time get back to winning ways after 2 draws. There were 3 changes from last Saturday including a competitive debut for new Rumanian defender Iulian Petrache and a first competitive start for Jake Turnbull. On a miserable afternoon of torrential rain Grounsell Park was brightened up by the singing from Matt Smith’s fan club, a mini bus of drunken lads from Halifax, and they did their best to create a party atmosphere.

In 3 minutes Smith had to make a catch and 2 minutes later Turnbull was brought down off the ball. It resulted in a great free kick by Johnson which was headed over by Turnbull. Soon after, efforts by Tait and Petrache were blocked before Johnson shot over. A ball into the busy box by Tait was then cleared.

It was mainly one way traffic as the Stan continued to attack the Brandon goal and in 9 minutes keeper Carr put the ball over his own bar. Brandon’s no 7 was booked for clattering Turnbull soon after he had also fouled Trodd. Smith made a good save on the ground in 12 minutes and after 2 Brandon corners it was back to Stan attacks with the Brandon defence struggling to deal with Turnbull on the right wing.

In 15 minutes, a Tait corner ball was side footed by Petrache but his effort was not powerful enough to worry Carr. Tait then crossed into the box but both Turnbull and Robinson missed the ball when they should have tapped it in. There were then a few attacks at either end with Petrache defending well for the Stan. There was good joined up play by the Stan, which was a feature of much of the 1^st half, which led to Robinson getting the ball in the box, turning and beating a player but then shooting wide. Turnbull was brought down by No 7 again and Johnson’s free kick was put out for a corner.

The Stan were blocked another 4 times before, against the run of play in 25 minutes, a Brandon attack saw a cross into the box which was tapped in by Gash to make it 0-1. The Stan immediately got a corner which was blocked but the ball came back in and was cleared again. It was back in again as Laidler crossed to Tait but the Brandon clearance went out to Deagle who shot and scored from 35 yards in 28 minutes. What a goal. Both sides then tried to attack and had shots. In 33 minutes, Laidler shot just wide through a crowded box from outside it and then 2 minutes later Petrache blasted the ball just wide.

Even though it was all mainly Stan again, in 37 minutes a Brandon player was given freedom to run into the box but his shot was put out by Smith. The resulting corner led to Trodd heading of his own line but a penalty was eventually given for a pull by Petrache and Smith was booked for kicking the ball away. Smith made a great full stretch to save the penalty. Trod then counter attacked but Carr saved.

After another foul, Brandon’s No7 was substituted before he could be sent off. Johnson took the resulting free kick in 41 minutes which was headed just wide by Deagle. Turnbull then blasted the ball at the keeper who caught it at the 2^nd attempt just before Robinson could head it. A Brandon player then beat the Stan defence but Smith made himself large to save.

In the 45^th minute, the Brandon defence failed to clear a high ball which Turnbull was able to head across goal but the keeper caught it. Brandon countered but were stopped by Petrache who was booked for his effort. The resulting free kick went into the Stan side netting but Smith had it covered. 2 minutes into injury time and Jake was blocked for a corner which was cleared.

The 1^st half had ended with lots of activity but the 2^nd started more quietly until Petrache made a strong tackle in the box to stop a Brandon attack. The ball came back in but Smith caught it. Petrache was then involved again but at the other end when he blasted the ball wide. In 56 minutes, a Stan long high ball led to both Tait and a Brandon defender chasing it and when the defender headed it over the advancing keeper it allowed Tait to tap it in for 2-1.

In 59 minutes, Deagle and Laidler combined but Robinson’s resulting effort was blocked. The Stan attacked again but the keeper cleared in a packed box. The rain was now torrential as 1 Brandon player was booked for a tackle and another for dissent. The free kick was cleared and was followed by a joined-up Stan attack with Tait’s header being caught by the keeper. Brandon then countered.

In 66 minutes, a long free kick into a crowded Stan box was caught by Smith. Turnbull was then booked for a tackle but even though he was the 3^rd Stan player to be booked they remain top of the division 2 fair play table. The Stan countered involving Laidler, Tait and Salim whose curling shot went just over. With even heavier rain now, a Brandon cross into the box in the 69^th minute missed everyone and went just wide. Brandon had a free kick that went wide followed by a good Stan attack that was cleared. Tait then had a shot blocked.

Both teams were trying to attack although the Stan had more opportunities. In 73 minutes, Tait was blocked and Brandon counter attacked but Trodd made a good tackle to stop it. In 75 minutes, just after he could have got booked again, Turnbull was replaced with Holland. Brandon were then blocked by the Stan defence followed by brave Smith. In 70 minutes, a Brandon defender gave the ball away to Tait who passed to Salim who then hit the post. Trodd won the ball to stop a Brandon counter and then a joined up Stan attack saw Salim shoot wide.

The Stan kept attacking although Smith had to make a save in the 82^nd minute. Salim then got through 2 players and the ball bounced off the keeper towards the net but it was s cleared by a defender. A Brandon corner was then headed just wide. The Stan had 2 more Jones attacks with Smith having to get up to save in-between. The Stan attacked again but Brandon remained a threat and even though a double rainbow appeared over the ground, there was to be no pot of gold as in 89 minutes Brandon attacked and Gash blasted the ball into the net in a crowded box.

In injury time, a Stan attack saw the keeper drop the ball on the line but it was cleared. Petrache had a shot blocked before Smith had to come out to save. He then parried the ball from the resulting corner before the Stan countered but Carr got to it before the disinterested Salim. The match finished as Laidler countered, passed to Holland who passed to Salim who fell over. So, for the 3^rd match in a row the Stan threw away victory and ended up drawing although remarkably they are 6^th.

Stan: Smith; Trodd, Deagle, Ray, Petrache, Imray, Turnbull (Holland 75), Johnson, Robinson (Salim 65), Tait (Jones 80), Laidler.

Subs not used: Dixon, Chapman.

Goals: Deagle 28, Tait 56.

Yellow Cards: Smith, Petrache, Turnbull.

Attendance: 154.

Kevin Mochrie