It was definitely a game of 2 halves and fans could be excused for thinking that they had attended 2 different matches although all the goals were scored shooting up the slope. There were 3 changes from Saturday with Burns, Bailey and Kerridge replacing Imray, Deagle and Robertson. 

Autumn was in the air as the match started with the Stan winning a corner after a poor clearance from the home keeper. In 8 minutes, a long clearance by Regan sees Burns shoot across the goals. Soon after a Stan counterattack sees Wright and the home keeper both go for the ball and Wright is fouled in the box but nothing is given. In 10 minutes though the Stan are a goal down when a Willington attack is blocked by Miller but Plews gets the ball and rounds Regan as the Stan defence hesitates.  

The goal encourages Willington and they soon have another 2 shots cleared. Wright then leads a Stan attack but he eventually shoots over. Willington are 2-0 up after 25 minutes when their free kick into the box goes to Shields who makes no mistake in putting the ball in the net. 2 minutes later Willington shoot wide. After a Stan attack, Willington’s Moffat breaks free on the left from a long ball and with only Regan to beat puts the ball wide when he should have scored.  

Willington are well organised and deal with Wright effectively. In 33 minutes, the Stan Army are considering what the club’s heaviest defeat is after Willington go 3-0 up. They attack down their right and Winter blasts the ball into the net through a crowded box giving Regan no chance. 3 minutes later the Stan have their best chance so far when Jones, who has been pushed further up after Willington’s third, shoots just wide. The Stan got a corner but it resulted in Wright and Hall crashing into each other and the Stan overall had crashed going into the break 3-0 down with the Stan Army worrying about more goals being conceded.

Half time sees Holland replace Burns as the Stan attack uphill. Willington counter and Moffat beats the defence but shoots over. They attack again before the Stan get a 51st minute corner which is punched away for another which results in a shot just wide. A good move by them sees a shot go well wide. The Stan then attack with Holland blocked but the ball goes back to Wright who twists into the box and is tackled for a corner which the keeper catches. 

 In 57 minutes, Wright is brought down just outside the box. Jones takes the free kick in 58 minutes on the left and his powerful shot goes straight into the left corner of the net giving the keeper no chance. The Stan are more positive now and Willington are rattled as the usual winging by the players and coaches, which was absent in the first half, reassures the fans that they are definitely at Hall Lane. 

 The home keeper gets to the ball before Wright and then another Stan attack sees him shoot under pressure but win a corner. The Stan get another corner before Willington have a corner blocked then cleared in 66 minutes. In 68 minutes, Holland, whose runs up the wing in the second half have made a difference, crosses to Kerridge who is blocked. 

 In 68 minutes, the Stan countered and a long ball to Wright sees him brought down in the box and the home culprit booked. Wright took the 69-minute penalty himself and blasted the ball into the net. A minute later and Jones breaks but his shot is deflected out. The corner ball is cleared but comes back in high and is headed out for another corner. In 71 minutes, a Jones corner is headed down by Miller but blocked. It comes back out but Wright shoots well wide.  

Although the Stan are a threat going forward their defence is also now working hard. The Stan continue to pressurise with Holland, Jones and Wright heavily involved, Wright wins a free kick in 78 minutes and Wright sends the resulting ball out to Kerridge who shoots wide. In 82 minutes, the home keeper has to get down to catch a Wright effort and then Jones advances down the wing beating a defender but shooting just wide. Wright sends a free kick well over the bar. In 89 minutes, Jones has plenty of time and his long slow shot tricks the keeper who has to stretch down to save. 

 The Stan continue to look for an equaliser and are helped by nearly 7 minutes of additional time. In the 90th minute, Wright shoots just wide before a home attack is blocked. Possession for most of the 6 minutes of additional time is with the Stan and although they come close, including a last-minute Wright shot being blocked, the home side hold on for a 3-2 win.

Heaton Stannington: Regan, Parker (Hoggins 86), Sayer, Miller (C), Hall, Fulcher (Mason 51), Burns (Holland 46), Bailey, Wright, Jones, Kerridge. 

Subs Not Used: Robertson, Deagle.

Goals: Jones 58, Wright 69 (pen).

Yellow Cards: Sayer.

Referee: M. Carroll.

Assistants: L. Hardy, C. Donnelly.

Attendance: 103.

Kevin Mochrie