It was an entertaining afternoon at Grounsell Park for the fans there as not only did they witness the Stan scoring 6 goals but they also saw planes from the Sunderland air show flying over including 4 spitfires. There was a first start for new French signing Bilak Nakhli. 

The Stan dominated most of this match and started on the attack with 3 up front. The early pressure paid off in 14 minutes when Nakhli got into the box and sent the ball to Salim who eventually shot to make it 1-0. 2 minutes later and Salim was caught by a defender in the box who didn’t see him but Wright put the ball from the penalty wide. Wright made up for it in 20 minutes when he rushed past 2 defenders and blasted the ball into the net. 

In 25 minutes Bailey headed just wide. Blyth had their first real effort a minute later when Brooks had to catch the ball. Nakhli made a good pass to Wright who sent the ball to Kerridge who headed just wide. Nakhli got into the box again, beat a player and sent a short pass to the advancing Salim who missed an open goal. Wright shot wide in 34 minutes as the Stan dominated. A minute later Bailey passed to Wright who broke through and the advancing keeper caught him down as he went to go around him.Wright took the penalty and this time scored. 

Spartans had their second effort of the match in 37 minutes when they headed wide. The half finished with a short period of pressure by Spartans as they made 5 more attacks making Brooks catch 3 times and shooting just wide.

There were mass substitutions at half time with one of them Middleton shooting wide in 48 minutes and another Lowes getting injured in 53 minutes. Wright had a shot blocked then a free kick and corner ball tipped over the bar by the Blyth keeper. From the second corner, in 57 minutes, taken by Wright, Hoggins headed in for 4-0. 2 minutes later he was blocked by the keeper. He was then blocked by the keeper again, from a Kerridge cross, and Wright then put the rebound over the bar. Brook then got his hand to a Spartans shot and a minute later they sent a free kick over both the Stan wall and bar. 

Wright shot over in 65 minutes before being subbed. In 71 minutes, Middleton shot just over. Hoggins was getting forward whenever he could and he finally got his second goal in 81 minutes when Holland’s close shot was blocked by the keeper and the advancing Ritchie scored with the rebound. Blyth then shot wide but in 83 minutes, although he got his hand to the ball, the Spartans keeper couldn’t stop Salim’s shot making it 6-0. 

Blyth had 2 more attacks but it was a comfortable victory for the Stan as they prepare for their first league match next Saturday at home against Birtley.

Heaton Stannington: Brook; Holland (Lowes 45, Deagle 53), Laidler (Parker 45), Miller (Wear 45), Hall (Middleton 45), Mason (Fulcher 45), Nakhli (Holland 65), Bailey (Imray 45), Wright (Salim 65), Salim (Hoggins 45), Kerridge. 

Kevin Mochrie