A large section of the Stan Army travelled to Crawcrook on a Friday night to watch the Stan’s first match as league leaders. The team was unchanged from Saturday’s 6-0 win over Chester although anyone who had watched both games would not have thought it the case given the difference in performance.

After some floodlight problems, the match started with the Stan having the majority of the possession but without really threatening and this was a theme for much of the game. In 7 minutes though Robinson flicked the ball over the home bar and 2 minutes later a great solo attack by Salim into the box saw him eventually blocked.

Ryton attacked for the 1^st time in 11 minutes but good defending prevented them getting into the box. In 13 minutes Robinson shot straight at the keeper. Laidler then won the ball but shot over. Bailey had to replace the injured Jones after only 18 minutes. Ryton’s 1^st effort on goal in 20 minutes saw them go 1-0 up when a free kick sent into the right of the crowded Stan box found the advancing unmarked Hodges who headed in at the back post.

In 25 minutes, a free kick was headed wide by Petrache followed by Holland clearing a Ryton attack although they then had a shot go wide. The Stan attacked through Turnbull and Salim but they were looking increasingly disjointed. In 31 minutes, Petrache made a solo run into the crowded box which resulted in a corner from which Salim hit the side netting. After a Robinson attack, Ryton shot straight at Smith before the Stan attacked again. Ryton then attacked twice again including Smith having to clear a long shot. In 40 minutes, Salim was well challenged after running into the box. It was now end to end and remained so until the half time whistle blew after 2 minutes of injury time.

After failing to take advantage of their 1^st half possession, the Stan were again punished 3 minutes into the 2^nd half. A Ryton break saw Smith block a shot for a corner. From the corner, Hodges blasted the ball from the edge of a crowded box and into the net.

The Stan’s 1^st corner of the half in 51 minutes saw Robinson shoot just wide in a crowded box. 3 minutes later and another Stan corner saw the home keeper catch easily. In 57 minutes, Ryton’s Harbottle stood in front of the ball to stop play resuming and was sent off for his 2^ndyellow card. Salim got involved in the incident and was also booked.

In 61 minutes, a Ryton free kick from just outside the box saw them shoot over the bar. The Stan were still trying to attack and Turnbull’s deflected shot was caught by the keeper in 65 minutes followed by Salim shooting wide. A minute later and the sides were even again when Salim received a 2^nd yellow after a home player made the most of his tackle on him. After the match, it became apparent that a disgraceful but isolated incident had occurred as Salim had received verbal racial abuse from a home fan while leaving the field and the club has now taken action to identify the culprit and ensure that it does not reoccur.

The Stan continued to try to attack but were wasting balls. In 75 minutes, a Ryton attack beat the defence but Smith made a great save which allowed the Stan to counter only to be blocked. 8 minutes later and Smith stopped another shot, glancing it over the bar for a corner which eventually saw Ryton shoot wide. With 5 minutes to go, Robinson hit the side netting and 2 minutes later a Ryton long shot saw Smith make a great stretching save. From the resulting corner, Ryton shot just wide. The Stan kept attacking but with no end product partly due to being disjointed but also due to good Ryton defending. The last effort though was by Ryton when 1 of their players broke through but was stopped by Deagle.

So, the unbeaten run of league matches had stopped at unlucky 13 but the Stan remained top (well at least until the next day). It was a poor performance, which was not helped by a poor playing surface although this is no excuse. The Stan had the majority of possession but failed in the final 3^rd while Ryton converted 2 of their few chances.

Team: Smith, Holland, Deagle (C) , Ray, Petrache (Tait 61), Jones (Bailey 18), Turnbull, Dixon (Hoggins 73), Robinson, Salim, Laidler.

Sub Unused: McKenna.

Yellow Cards: Deagle, Tait, Bailey.

Red Card: Salim (2 Yellows)

Attendance: 136.

Kevin Mochrie