After four straight wins ( three league, 1 cup) it was a bouyant Stan squad that arrived at Esh's picturesque ground at Waterhouses, competition for places in the starting line up was increased with the re-signing of Dan Robinson and he took his place on a strong bench with fellow new boys Bennett and Martin alongside Josh Holland and Richie Hoggins. The starting line up had one change from Wednesday's thrashing of Ryton in the Brooks Mileson Cup with Dan Regan replacing Joe Brook in goal.

The hosts who started the game in sixteenth place in the table had won only one of their ten league games so far but were proving hard to beat as they had drawn a further six. They included ex Tow Law keeper Tom Orton and were skippered by Max Stoker who had scored a fine equaliser in the corresponding fixture last year.

It was the Stan who got the game underway kicking down the slope in the first half on a decent looking pitch with the sun taking the chill off the travelling Stan Army's backs.

Esh had the better of the first five minutes with the linesmans flag twice coming to the Stan's rescue but Orton was the first keeper called into action on 7 minutes when he fumbled Robertson's low cross but no one was able to pounce on the loose ball. Kerridge was next to test him and he made a comfortable diving save. Campbell almost got Burns in on 13 minutes and it took a great saving tackle to deny him as he broke into the box.

The Stan had to make an early change on 19 when Kerridge succumbed to a back injury and was replaced by Holland. Danny Sayer then won a tackle in the centre circle and drove on but his 30 yarder was straight at Orton before Robertson got away down the left and his cross was hacked away at the near post. The Stan pressure continued but Holland's cross drifted behind, Burns shot high and wide and Sayers cross after a lovely flick from Robertson was too close to the keeper.

The Stan were in need of inspiration to break down the resoulute Esh back four and it came from an assist from an unlikely source on 40 minutes when Regan's long clearance got a touch on by Campbell and Lewis Burns was able to lift a volley over the stranded Orton's head to give the Stan a deserved lead.

The Stan kept up the pressure and a deep cross from Holland was headed down at the back post by Campbell for Robertson who was denied by a suberb tackle on the edge of the 6 yard box as he was about to finish.

HT: Esh 0 - 1 Stan

The early exchanges in the second half were scrappy with the Stan not as dominant although they did force a couple of corners and Orton had to be sharp off his line to deny Burns.

The hosts were seeing more of the ball without troubling the Stan backline and although in Marley they had a willing worker upfront they lacked the quality to create anything.

With the Stan themselves running out of ideas Decka rang the changes upfront with Hoggins replacing Campbell and Robinson replacing Robertson. It was Dan Robinson who finally got the Stan going and Orton had to block his shot at the near post at the expense of a corner but Sayer's delivery was too deep. Esh finally had their first shot at goal on 68 minutes when Reece Brown brought a save out of Regan and it was Brown again on 71 with a better chance at the back post but he shot over the top when well placed.

Holland and Robinson then combined to force another corner which was cleared but it was the hosts who were doing most of the pressing now and they gave up a glorious chance of an equaliser on 80 minutes when a flick on was missed by Wear and Luke Wilson was left one on one with Regan, but the substitute never looked comfortable and sliced his shot wide as the keeper advanced.

The miss was to prove costly 4 minutes later when Burns broke into the box and the trailing defender tumbled and handled the ball giving Hoggins the chance to double the Stan's lead from the spot. Richie cooly sent Orton the wrong way, despite the Stan's management team not daring to look!, for his third goal of the season.

Esh heads didn't drop and they should have pulled a goal back on 87 when Swift had a free header from a corner but he headed over the top from 6 yards out. Another cross into the Stan box caused problem's but this time an unmarked Halpin headed wide at the back post when it looked easier to score. Hoggins wasn't to be outdone in the missing of sitters either and he poked wide of an open goal after Robinson's pace had seen him burst past two defenders and roll a pass across the face of goal.

FT: Esh 0 - 2 Stan

Another deserved win for the Stan but they were made to work hard for the points by a physical Esh who made up for a lack of quality with plenty of effort. The Stan to their credit matched them for effort and got their rewards with a fine finish from Lewis Burns and Richie Hoggins' penalty.

It was the type of game that we would have lost earlier in the season but the new look Stan is made of sterner stuff and the result was never really in doubt once we went ahead although things might have been different had Wilson not sliced wide on 80 minuites.

The win moved us up to ninth place in the table and on a good run of form as we prepare for the visit of seventh placed Northallerton at Grounsell Park next week.

Team 4-4-2 : Regan; Middleton, Wear (C), Hall, Sayer; Fulcher, Imray, Burns, Kerridge; (Holland 19 min), Robertson (Robinson 63 min), Campbell (Hoggins 60 min)

Sub: (not used) Martin, Bennett.

Goals: Burns 40, Hoggins (Pen) 85.

Attendance: 64.

Simon Lansley