After three successive draws where the Stan had conceded a late equaliser in each game it was a determined Heaton team that arrived at St James' Park to take on a struggling Alnwick Town.

The 6 points dropped over the past three games meant we went into the game in 6th position but with an 8 point gap between us and the promotion places. Decka Thompson made three changes from the game v Brandon with Gary Dixon replacing Dean Deagle, Shane Jones replacing Ethan Tait and, after an amazing run spanning 74 consecutive games since his debut at Thornaby in December 2015, the unavailable Matty Smith was replaced in goal by debutant Dan Mullen. Other new signing Sam Brown took his place on the bench alongside Tait and Salim.

The hosts who started the day second bottom of the table had lost their previous seven games and fielded a team missing the likes of Brown, Straughan and McPherson but were able to include veteran striker Steven Young.

It was Alnwick who got the game under way kicking down the slope in glorious sunshine and after a quiet start it was them who had the first shot on target in the 8th minute but Mullen was equal to Young's effort. The hosts should have taken the lead on 12 minutes when a free kick wasn't cleared and the second ball found Hay at the back post but he headed wide. A minute later a 20 yard drive just cleared the Stan bar but at the other end, after forcing two corners, Jones drove over from the second.

The Stan took the lead on 24 minutes when Dan Robinson worked his way into the right hand side of the box and found Adam Laidler at the far post, there was still a bit for Adam to do as he beat his man and shot across the keeper and in at the far post for a fine finish.

It was Robinson again involved with the Stan's next attack but the keeper was out quickly to smother as he broke through, Robinson wasn't to be denied for long though and he was in the right place as the keeper fumbled Jones corner in the 34th minute to give the Stan a 2 0 lead.

The Stan finished the half with first Petrache shooting over the bar, and then after a Laidler cross Turnbull shot over when he should have done better from 8 yards out. Turnbull was then again involved breaking into the box and taking a tumble but he was giving a yellow card by Referee Mr Chatten for diving.

HT: Alnwick Town 0 - 2 The Stan

Alnwick were first to show in the second half and Mullen pushed a shot around the post from Thompson for a corner which was eventually cleared, Johnson then had a half chance for the Stan but he scuffed his shot and then after good work by Petrache and Jones, Robinson couldn't finish at the near post. Once again though Robinson didn't have to wait long for a goal and 3 minutes later he tapped in from a couple of yards after the keeper had made a fine save from Johnson's diving header. The original chance coming after Laidler had beat the Right Back once again and delivered a perfect cross for Johnson to attack.

The Stan were rampant now and Turnbull turned his fullback inside out but couldn't find Robinson in the 6 yard box for another tap in. Ethan Tait was then introduced as a replacement for Shane Jones in the 58th minute before the Stan had an amazing let off a minute later when Douglas headed over the bar fom a yard out when it looked like the cross was going in anyway.

It wasn't long before the Stan made it four and this time Robinson turned provider when he raced onto Johnsons through ball, rounded the keeper and unselfishly cut the ball back for Ethan Tait to finish from 6 yards.

Alnwick did get a goal back a couple of minutes later when Thompson was unmarked at the backpost to finish Bright's cross but any thought of a comeback was quickly banished when Jake Turnbull cut in from the right and capped a fine display with a shot that the keeper could only push into the far corner to give the Stan a 5 -1 lead.

The Stan took the opportunity to rest Robinson and Ray with Abu Salim and debutant Sam Brown replacing them but it made no difference to the shape of the game with Lee Johnson thumping a 25 yard daisycutter across the keeper for a sixth goal in the 77th minute.

The Stan then took their foot of the gas a little and Young should have scored from close range but shot over, and then Alnwick did get a second goal on 88 minutes when a mistake at the back allowed Bright to race through and finish in style. There was still time however for Salim to beat three men in the box but he shot against the post with the keeper stranded.

FT: Alnwick Town 2 - 6 The Stan

It was good to get back to winning ways and the 6 goals were a bonus but it was probably the poorest Alnwick side that we have played for a long time, and in reality we should have scored ten. The back four will be disappointed to give away two soft goals at the end but its another 3 points that lift us up to 5th in table with a game in hand on leaders Tow Law and 2 games in hand on Hebburn & Northallerton who are second and third.

Team 4-4-2 : Mullen; Trodd, Ray (Brown) , Petrache, Dixon; Johnson, Imray (C) , Turnbull, Laidler; Jones (Tait) , Robinson(Salim).

Goals: Laidler 24, Robinson 34, 50, Tait 60, Turnbull 65, Johnson 77.

Yellow Cards: Turnbull.

Attendance: 95.

Simon Lansley