In front of a bumper crowd of 204 on wet and windy non-league day, the Stan went into this match on the back of 6 competitive wins in a row. There were 2 changes from last Saturday with Wear and Kerridge in for Hall and Middleton with Sayer moving back into the defence.

On their first competitive visit to Grounsell Park, Redcar started on the attack with 2 efforts in the first 5 minutes including a header over the bar from close range. The early pressure paid off for the visitors in 7 minutes when Calvert shot through the crowded box with his effort going in off the left post. 

After a quieter period, the Stan attacked in 13 minutes before Redcar also attacked with Regan, who again was a Stan hero, parrying a shot away for a corner. The Stan were starting to get back into the game and forced a save from Lawrence in 18 minutes before Burns was flagged for off-side. 

There was collective disgust in 21 minutes when Burns ran down the right wing, turned and flicked the ball past a defender with the back of his foot and ran into the box where he had his feet taken away from him. Instead of giving a penalty, the referee booked him for diving. Definitely a specsavers moment for the referee but fantastic football by Burns. 

5 minutes later and Regan made a save. The Stan countered and Lawrence just got to the ball before Campbell. Soon after Kerridge sent a free kick into the box which was headed wide. 

There was then another quieter period before Regan came out and blocked for a corner. In 38 minutes, Burns blasted a shot which hit the post. In 41 minutes. Imray was floored in the centre circle and the culprit was sent off for elbowing. One of Redcar’s 2 motormouths was also booked.

A minute later and Burns was brought down from behind. Kerridge took the free kick and sent the ball into the box where Robertson’s head missed it but Joe Wear’s foot didn’t and he tapped it into the net for 1-1.

 Redcar didn’t seem to realise that they were a man short and they started the second half on the attack quickly forcing a punch and a catch from Regan. The Stan were also trying to attack though and in 49 minutes Kerridge advanced down the wing forcing the keeper to come out and put the ball out for a corner from which Campbell blasted a shot which was only stopped by a full stretching save by Lawrence. From the resulting 2nd corner he punched the ball away before Imray shot wide. 

In 53 minutes, it was Regan who had to make a save before Redcar shot well over. Regan then made another save before, in 56 minutes, the Stan attacked and although they were initially blocked Campbell blasted into the net for 2-1. 

The Stan attacked again but Regan was called on again in 59 minutes when he got down in a crowded box to stop a Redcar effort from a free kick. The Stan then sent a ball into the Redcar box where Lawrence got up but the ball slipped through his hands. The ball came back in but Robertson headed over. 

In 65 minutes, Redcar had a sustained attack but the Stan countered. The Stan then had 3 corners in a row with each being blocked. As Redcar still posed a threat, Regan had to make 2 blocks in 72 minutes.

 After that it was mainly the Stan although Redcar could prove dangerous on the break which is why the pacey Holland was added to the defence. In 82 minutes, they nearly equalised but Miller made a great block. He then also headed the ball away before Regan had to catch twice.

 The Stan could relax a bit after 86 minutes when a joined-up attack saw Bennett pass to Campbell who passed to the unmarked Kerridge who made it 3-1. In 89 minutes, a Redcar free kick went just wide and Regan soon after had to make a catch. Hoggins nearly scored in injury time when he lobbed the keeper but the ball went just wide.

This was a hard-won victory and the team did well to come back from behind against determined opposition, even with 10 men. The consistently inconsistent referee didn’t help either team. The Stan have now won 7 competitive games in a row and the team can have a well earned rest until Whitley Bay visit Grounsell Park in the Senior Cup on Wednesday 24th.

Heaton Stannington: Regan, Bennett, Sayer, Miller, Wear (C) (Holland 74), Fulcher, Burns (Fox 79), Imray, Campbell, Robertson (Hoggins 67), Kerridge.

Subs Not Used: Martin, Cooper. 

Goals: Wear 42,Campbell 56, Kerridge 86.

Yellow Cards: Miller, Burns, Kerridge.

Attendance: 204.

Kevin Mochrie