The Stan were up for the visit of 2nd place Thornaby and demonstrated that they are a top of the table team but not enough to get points from the game. There was 1 change from Wednesday with Sakellaropoulos replacing Middleton. By kick off, the sun had disappeared and the match was played in miserable cold and wet conditions.

Thornaby had the better of the early action shooting wide after 4 minutes. They then attacked again and Howe’s cross went across the box and it was sent back in to the 6 yard box where it was tapped in by Clark for 0-1 as poor defending had made this too easy. The Stan were not going to give up though and almost immediately Anderson broke clear into the visitor’s box and shot but the keeper came out to block. The ball rebounded to Holland whose effort went wide. 

Thornaby kept attacking after this although the Stan were not phased and had an attack on 14 minutes that was eventually blocked. In 17 minutes, Regan blocked a shot and luckily the rebound shot from a player with plenty of room was sliced. 3 minutes later and a Thornaby free kick went over the wall but was parried by Regan for a corner. After a quieter period, the Stan attacked again in 26 minutes but 2 minutes after that Regan, who did not appear to be his usual loud commanding self, punched away the ball from a free kick. Anderson then made a great counter-attacking run but was pulled down just outside the box which earned Poole a yellow card. Kerridge took the free kick which hit the wall and although there was a hand ball by one of the Thornaby players nothing was given. 

In 31 minutes Sayer hit the side netting before the Stan attacked again. The Stan were getting more in their stride and soon after a great joined up attack saw a Sayer cross come shot go wide. Regan had to catch in 34 minutes before an Anderson counter saw him collide with the keeper but nothing was given. The last 6 minutes saw mainly attacks by the Stan and the half ended with a Kerridge free kick going just over.

The Stan had the 1st attack of the 2nd half in 48 minutes which was blocked. 2 minutes later and a Thornaby free kick into the box was put over by a visiting player. Kerridge then took a free kick at the other end which went wide. In 53 minutes, Thornaby had a corner which resulted in a header from 6 yards out by Ward which was deflected off another Thornaby player and into the net for 0-2. The Stan responded immediately and Kerridge forced a catch from the visiting keeper.

 In 61 minutes, Thornaby had a counter attack which saw Regan out to stop. He missed but a defender managed to block the visitor’s effort. The Stan were trying to play but were missing a bite against a strong and physical team. In 66 minutes, Thornaby had an attack cleared and 3 minutes later Anderson fell over in the visitor’s box under pressure. In 70 minutes, Kerridge shimmied past a defender but the ball deflected away off another defender. 2 minutes later and Thornaby had 2 shots blocked. 

A joined up attack in 75 minutes saw Robinson, who had newly come on for Sayer, shoot just over. The ball was then sent into the crowded Thornaby box with Charmey heading just wide. In 80 minutes, Thornaby were blocked for a corner then Regan fumbled but Miller cleared off the line. The Stan blocked another Thornaby shot. In 87 minutes Holland, who had moved to right back, tripped Howe in the box and he awarded a penalty. Howe calmly shot to his right with Regan diving the wrong way. Soon after, Sayer shot over from the edge of a crowded box. The match finished with the Stan counter-attacking which resulted in Kerridge shooting straight at the Thornaby keeper.

The Stan’s promotion hopes were probably finally ended by today’s defeat. They should have got more out of this game and were not helped by one of the worst and one-sided (pro-visitors) refereeing performances at Grounsell Park this season. Although they battled and matched Thornaby on overall performance, they were at fault for at least 2 of Thornaby’s goals who were the more clinical team. Another omen was that the Stan always get beat when they are the featured match in the Sunday Sun.

Heaton Stannington: Regan, Sakellaropoulos, Sayer (Robinson 72), Miller (C), Hall, Fulcher (Mason 78), Holland, Charmey, Campbell, Anderson (Hoggins 78), Kerridge. 

Subs Not Used: Imray, Burns.

Attendance 158.

Kevin Mochrie