The Stan went into their 2^nd last game of the season at sunny and warm Chester Moor with a mathematical chance of still getting promoted if Northallerton and Hebburn both lost this afternoon and the Stan won. Amazingly, given the amount of recent games including 3 since Monday, the Stan were unchanged from Thursday. Striker Andy Robertson was back from injury on the bench.

Chester kicked off downhill and in 2 minutes they won a corner which was eventually cleared but the ball came back in high and was caught by Smith. The 1^st 8 minutes saw the Stan get little of the ball but then a good block by Hall allowed the Stan to counter but the keeper got to the ball before Wright. 4 minutes later and Burns’s cross was blocked along with his 2^nd to Salim.

The next 15 minutes saw Chester get more attacks than the Stan and Smith had to head to clear in 25 minutes. 2 minutes later Burns broke down the wing but his cross was blocked. Salim then lost control of the ball which was a common theme for him during the match.

Wright took things into his own hands in 31 minutes with a speculative 40 yard shot through a crowd of players and his effort went just wide. A great run by Sayer saw him pass to Burns whose shot was blocked followed by a shot by Wright.

A ball from a Chester corner in 34 minutes went across goal but was missed by everyone and then the home keeper had to clear. 4 minutes later and the Chester keeper had to clear again. Salim then won the ball on half way but the keeper was faster and got to the advancing ball before him allowing Chester to counter and Smith then caught a long shot. The Stan were losing lots of balls although the half finished with 2 Stan attacks being blocked.

Hoggins came on for Holland at half time and the Stan had the downhill advantage. A Wright free kick in 48 minutes was deflected out for a corner which the keeper got up for and caught. The Stan had most of the early ball with the 1^st Chester attack not until 51 minutes. The Stan had 2 more attacks before Chester had 2 attacks blocked.

In 59 minutes the Stan lost the ball and a ball was sent into the Stan’s box to Chester’s no7 who shot into the net to put them in the lead. 3 minutes later and the Stan had to clear from a corner. Salim then lost the ball again and Smith had to parry clear shot before a Stan counter attack was eventually cleared.

Smith had to catch before Wright attacked and in 67 minutes a Parker free kick then saw Wear’s header blocked and then Hoggin’s shot was blocked for a corner.

There was now a period of Stan pressure and it was helped in 69 minutes when Robertson replaced Salim. The Stan were battling for an equaliser although Chester had a couple of counter attacks. The pressure paid off in 72 minutes when a Stan ball up the pitch was only half cleared which allowed Wright to run in between 2 defenders and score past the keeper.

Wright was soon twisting and turning just outside the box and although under pressure was able to shoot just over. He was trying to get into the Chester box whenever he could although in 77 minutes a Chester free kick required Smith to catch a resulting header. The Stan countered but Smith soon had to punch clear then catch. In 80 minutes a Stan counter saw Imray fouled in the box when he was about to head the ball into the net but nothing was given. Hoggins then had a shot blocked followed by Chester shooting wide.

The Stan knew the game was still winnable and Wright was twice blocked in the box before a great shot by Hoggins forced a great save by the home keeper. Chester then headed wide from a corner and soon after Smith had to clear under pressure. With a minute to go a Wright free kick missed everyone and went out and then Smith had to catch.

In the 1^st minute of injury time the Stan Army were jubilant when Wright won the ball and his shot was deflected just wide for a corner. He sent the curling corner ball into the box and Captain Wear headed it into the net for the winner and his 2^nd goal in 2 games. On fire Wright broke again but his shot was blocked followed by the final whistle.

The promotion dream was over though with only 1 game remaining as both Hebburn and Northallerton won. The Stan can hold their heads high but cannot rest yet as they visit Whickham, who could still be promoted, on Monday.

Team: Smith; Parker; Sayer; Wear (C), Hall; Fulcher; Holland (Hoggins 46); Jones (Imray 66); Wright; Salim (Robertson 70); Burns.

Goals: Wright 72, Wear 90 (+1).

Attendance: 101

Kevin Mochrie