The Stan, obviously still suffering from last weeks players xmas party put in their most abject performance of the season, when they were well beaten off an impressive Birtley Town at the Robinson Heating & Plumbing Stadium. Goals from Birtley’s Barwick (2) & Davidson gave the boys in green the points, with Campbell scoring for the Stan. Manager made three changes from the last game with Chester le Street, with Wear, Sayer & Campbell replacing Hall, Bennett & Hoggins.

The Stan got us underway and forced a corner in the first 20 seconds, but it was easily cleared by the hosts, which would prove to be a familiar pattern to the first half. Stan keeper Regan was soon called into action by the hosts, when Davidson had his shot blocked. Regan was called into action again on 7 mins, this time Broadhead was denied. Birtley were constantly exposing the Stan down the left.

A rare foray into the visitors territory, when Kerridge put Campbell in but he couldn’t control the ball. Confusion with Miller and Wear made Regan work once again on 17mins. Inevitably the hosts pressure would tell and on 20mins Birtley, deservedly took the lead, with a well taken goal. The lead was doubled on 28mins, when Barwick was left unmarked on the back post and easily slotted the ball home, to make it 2-0 to the hosts.

The Stan best chance came on the half hour, when a great cross form Holland found Kerridge but he headed over from 6 yards. Easily the Stan’s best chance of the half. Stan could’ve easily been three down as poor defending once again and Birtley rattle the bar. Thankfully the ref blew for half time with the Stan only two down but it could’ve easily been more.

The second half was restarted by the hosts, much the same as the first with the Stan on the back foot. The Stan were given a life line on 56mins, with Sayer doing great work at the back, finds Holland and onto Fox who puts Campbell in and he finishes it in style to half the deficit. But it was all in vain, as Birtley obviously annoyed with themselves restored their two goal lead, this time Davidson made the Stan pay for more sloppy defending.

Birtley should have had a forth on the hour, with the Stan once again guilty of schoolboy errors. Birtley were in a festive mood however and Campbell had a great chance to pull one back but the Birtley keeper recovered well. Birtley once again, when Kai Elliot was sent for an early bath when he received a second yellow. But I think Birtley could’ve had a few more sent off and it wouldn’t have made any difference. Birtley saw the game out and the ref put us out of our misery.

A poor performance from us, but credit to Birtley and to the 30 odd Stan Army who turned out.

Stan Team: Regan, Middleton Sayer, Miller, Wear, Fulcher, Holland, Charmey, Campbell, Robertson, Kerridge.

Goals: Campbell 56.

Subs Not Used: Hoggins, Martin.

Yellow Cards: Regan, Charmey.

Attendance: 87.

Kev Carling