On a sunny but cold afternoon, the Stan just edged it in a competitive match. There were 2 changes from last Saturday with Hoggins and flu-free Holland replacing Hall and the injured Robertson. Esh had new signing and ex-Stan Dan Quine on the bench.

The Stan started on the attack and in 2 minutes Middleton sent the ball into Charmey in the box who was knocked down and winded but nothing was given. 2 minutes later and a Kerridge cross into the box was headed out for a corner from which saw Kerridge himself shoot wide. A Stan attack was then headed clear before Regan easily caught in 6 minutes. After 8 minutes Kerridge, who was on fire earlier on, shot just over and 3 minutes later Campbell crossed to him but his shot was blocked and soon Holland passed to him but he shot just wide. It had been all mainly Stan until 22 minutes when an Esh free kick into the Stan box saw Marley given lots of room and he was able to turn and shoot into the net for 0-1. 

Fox replaced Hoggins and in 24 minutes he was brought down just outside the box but Orton in the Esh goal easily saved Kerridge’s free kick. In 29 minutes Campbell put the ball over the bar before Bennett also had to be replaced due to injury by Sakellaropoulos who soon headed an effort wide. After not putting much together for a while, the ball was sent into Holland in the box who was under pressure from 2 defenders. The referee surprisingly awarded a penalty for hand ball but Campbell sent the penalty kick wide. 

This seemed to wake up the Stan and they ended in the half on the offensive. In 40 minutes, a Miller shot from a corner was cleared off the line. 2 minutes later a Fox cross to Kerridge on the wing saw him send the ball into the box which was deflected to Holland who tapped in the equaliser. In 44 minutes, Esh had a now rare attack but then Middleton headed just over from a corner. A joined up Stan attack saw Holland and Charmey efforts blocked by Orton.

A scrappy Esh effort was in the net on 47 minutes but offside. In the 5th minute of injury time, a great ball by Fox to Campbell on the edge of the box saw him hold off 2 defenders and shoot to make it 2-1. When the half ended soon after, a number of Esh players who have still to get their first watch, challenged the referee over the additional time which was justified due to the 2 stoppages. 

The Stan had turned things round in the last 10 minutes of the first half, but the first 10 minutes of the second were very quiet in comparison. The first notable action came with a deflected Sayer shot in 57 minutes, which was put out for a corner, followed 2 minutes later by an Esh effort from a corner which went just wide. Regan had to catch after 61 minutes and 4 minutes later Fox was clear in front of goal but sliced his effort which was the Stan’s first clear chance of the half. 

In 66 minutes, Esh had a shot blocked for a corner followed by another long shot by Mole into the crowded Stan box from the wing which caught the wind and went into the far corner of the net for 2-2. Kerridge then shot wide before Orton caught a cross from him. In 72 minutes, from a corner, a great header by Middleton was saved by Orton. 3 minutes later and Fox was brought down but his 30 yard free kick went wide. An Esh forward then broke free but he stood on the ball and fell over. 

The match was fizzling out but there were occasional attacks at both ends. In 85 minutes, Fox on the wing passed to Kerridge who jinked into the box and supplied Charmey who blasted the ball into the net. With 3 minutes to go Kerridge put the ball into the box for Fox but he was blocked. 

The Stan hung on though until the final whistle. It was a hard fought but deserved win. The atmosphere though was partly spoiled by the constant winging from the Esh players. The Stan are now up to 4th, unbeaten in 7 league games, and closing in on 3rd place.

Heaton Stannington: Regan, Middleton, Sayer, Miller (C), Bennett (Sakellaropoulos 30), Fulcher, Holland, Charmey, Campbell, Hoggins (Fox 21), Kerridge (Mason 87).

Subs Not Used: Oliver, Imray.

Goals: Holland 40, Campbell 45 (+4), Charmey 85.

Attendance 193.

Kevin Mochrie