After last week’s defeat at Birtley it was a much changed Stan line up that made the trip to Brandon, with no fit recognised Central Midfielders available Danny Lowes was recalled to play the holding role and he was joined by Burns, Fox, Hall and Bennett with Wear, Sayer, Fulcher, Charmey and Campbell missing out.

The hosts who are struggling in the bottom three fielded an inexperienced line up but did include Craig Hindmarch who has spent most of his career in the first division with Durham City, West Allotment and Synners.

Conditions were terrible with the players having to contend with a freezing wind and a boggy pitch and it was Brandon who got the game started kicking down the slope, the Stan were soon settled and Robertson had a drive deflected for a corner before Kerridge's volley dipped just over the top.

Nicholson grazed the Stan bar with a cross shot but the action was straight back to the other end and Middleton was denied a penalty after a trip in the box, the Stan wouldn't be denied for long however and when Burns fed Robertson in the 14th minute the striker allowed it to run across his body before firing a smart left foot finish past Robinson to give the Stan an early lead.

Burns went close soon after when he flashed an effort across the face of goal but the Stan were a little fortunate on 21 minutes when Fingleton hit the outside of the post with Regan beaten.

Jonny Fox had a great chance on the half hour but his tame volley was straight at Robinson, the keeper then made a good save from Burns with Robertson seeing the rebound blocked twice. Regan then came to the Stan’s rescue with a smart save at his near post as his defenders waited for a flag that never came. 

The hosts kept up the pressure and after Holland was booked for a foul Carr volleyed over from 6 yards after Regan could only punch the free kick to him. A minute later another free kick was flicked on and Regan gathered with 3 forwards closing in. The half time whistle sounded with the Stan a goal to the good but with Brandon a little unlucky not to be level 

HT Brandon 0 – 1  Stan

The second half got off to a sluggish start as the players struggled in the cold and gloom but Lewis Burns warmed up the travelling Stan Army with a second goal on 56 minutes, Fox and Robertson linked to tee him up but his shot needed a big deflection to deceive Robinson and give the Stan a two goal cushion.

Martin and Wear replaced Holland and Lowes on 63 and Brandon responded with Spence hitting a speculative effort from distance that drifted wide of the far post before Fingleton put a free header wide from a corner. The ref then angered the Stan when he booked Wear for what was the cleanest tackle of the day but the veteran had the last laugh two minutes later when he buried the Stan’s third with a fine strike from 20 yards. The goal came after Robertson had cut in from the left and curled a great shot past the keeper but against the far post, it was recycled to Middleton who's shot was blocked but it fell nicely for Wear to pick his spot and put the game to bed.

The Stan saw out the remaining 12 minutes without any alarm although never looked like adding to their tally despite Brandon looking increasingly ragged.

FT Brandon 0 -3 Stan

It had been a workmanlike, rather than spectacular, win but well deserved all the same and the lads were cheered off by the 20 or so Stan Army who made up roughly half the crowd. 

The gulf between the two clubs wasn’t just evident on the pitch and the attendance, as prior to kick off Brandon only had two volunteers available, one worked in the bar and the other on the turnstile which meant they had no one to open the snack bar which denied them the chance to make a few quid and denied every fan a hot drink and food on a freezing afternoon. It also highlights how lucky we are at the Stan to have 30 odd volunteers carrying out various tasks at the club every week.

A free week before we entertain Jarrow on Sat 5th Jan, until then thanks for your outstanding support throughout 2018 and here’s to a successful 2019 for the Stan and all our followers.

Heaton Stannington (4-4-2): Regan, Middleton, Hall, Bennet, Miller, Lowes (Wear 63), Kerridge, Holland (Martin 63), Burns, Robertson, Fox.

Goals: Robertson 14, Burns 56, Wear 78.

Yellow Cards: Holland, Wear.

Referee: Adam Donaldson (Wallsend).

Assistants: Cameron Atkins (Holystone), Ian Frostwick (Carrville).

Attendance: 45.

Match Photos: Flickr.

Simon Lansley