The Stan made it two away wins in a week, when a late Connor Campbell penalty gave us the points at previously unbeaten Chester le Street. There were two forced changes to the side who beat Jarrow on Wednesday, with Brook replacing Regan in goal and Deagle replacing Kerridge.

The Stan kicked off attacking downhill and were nearly rewarded immediately when Burns beat his man, but the Chester keeper made a fine save. Chester then went straight up the other end and Brook was called into action making a fine save. Burns rounded off an exciting opening few minutes again testing the Chester keeper.

After 13mins a corner from the Stan to Miller but he just couldn’t get on the end of it. On 22mins a quick break by CLS but Megran couldn’t control his shot and it sails over the bar. Nichol for the hosts was given far too much space but his shot was hit straight at Brook.

Brook was far the busier of the glovemen and a superb save on 27mins kept the score goalless. On 32mins a thumping shot from CLS Walker looked like a certain goal, but Brook tipped it wide. A fantastic save to keep the Stan on level terms. The visitors were dominating the game and the Stan’s Campbell found space in the box just before half time but his touch deserted him. That proved to be the final action from a entertaining first half.

The second half started like the first and two more good saves by Brook kept it goalless. On 52mins the Stan made the first change with Shane Jones replacing John Fox. The Stan’s Miller & CLS Megran both ended up in the refs book for squaring up to each other after the ref had missed the earlier foul on Miller.

The best chance of the match so far for the Stan fell for Campbell on 65mins when a great ball by Burns was put into the box but Campbell scuffed it from 5 yards. Another good chance for the Stan this time from Deagle but he fires over from his weaker foot & that proved to be the last action for Deagle as he was replaced by Sayer.

In and increasingly open game the Stan had another good chance but Burns hit his shot straight at the CLS keeper. On 79mins the impressive Campbell brought a great save from the CLS keeper at the near post. The Stan were increasingly creating the better chances while the host argued first with themselves then the ref.

On 86mins Campbell was brought down in the box with a needless foul, the ref who was in a great position pointed immediately at the spot and waved away the hosts protests. Just about as clear a penalty as you will ever see and Campbell duly stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way to the delight of the travelling Stan Army.

After that it was a case of just seeing the game out and the ref blew the final whistle to give the Stan a second win in a week.

An impressive win by the Stan...

Stan Team: Brook, Middleton, Hall, Miller (c), Bennett, Fulcher, Burns, Imray, Fox (Jones 52), Campbell, Deagle (Sayer 76).

Yellow Cards: Miller.

Goals: Campbell 86 (pen).

Attendance: 129.

Kev Carling