In their first league match of the season, the Stan hosted Birtley Town who returned to the Northern League after a two-year absence. There was a crowd of 134 plus dogs Harry and Dexter with their own season tickets. This was the 2^nd highest attendance in division 2 which was only bettered by a derby between Thornaby and Billingham Synthonia which attracted 148. There were competitive debuts for Joe Brooks, Josh Miller, Joe Kerridge and, from the bench Jonathan Wilson.

Straight from the kick off Birtley went straight on the attack and headed just wide under pressure. With 7 minutes on the clock, a nothing ball forward from the Stan defence saw Birtley's centre half Whybrow go down clutching his shoulder and it was clear very early on that he was in quite a bit of pain. He was replaced by Soulsby before being taken to the RVI to get checked out. Luckily he works there so has Doctor privileges. The outcome was ruptured shoulder ligaments.

Robertson pulled a shot wide of the goal from the edge of the box in the 24th minute which was the Stan’s 1^st real attempt. 2 minutes later though and Birtley had opened the scoring through Pattison with a move he started himself by playing a cross-field ball over to Hill on the right who beat a defender and played the ball across the 6-yard box where it was miskicked by Miller and deflected off McEwen into the path of Pattison who duly obliged by nodding home from a few yards out. A further 2 minutes later and Wright flashed a fierce strike across the face of goal which went out for a goal kick.

With 8 minutes on the clock in the second period, the Stan drew level. Robertson worked well with the ball on the edge of the box and passed it across to Kerridge who blasted the ball into the far corner of the net for a well taken goal. After a neat 1-2, Birtley somehow smashed an effort over the bar in the 6-yard box when they should have scored. At the other end, a ball into the box from the left by Wright saw Birtley's Soulsby excruciatingly head into the side netting for a Stan corner. There were a few in the crowd who thought he'd put it into his own net.

In the 77th minute, a Birtley attack was broken down before the ball was played out from defence. The bounce near the half way line deceiving the Birtley defender which allowed Wright through on goal. With sub Hoggins bombing forward to join the attack, Wright cut inside the diving Soulsby but somehow smashed his chance high and wide from the edge of the box which was a big let off for Birtley.

Minutes later, Birtley had a great opportunity to go back in front when a quick 1-2 resulted in a strike by Honour which took a deflection off Hall and struck the upright with Brook at full stretch. Luckily for the Stan, the ball was cleared.

Not a great game for the spectators but both saw their teams get a point.

Stan: Brook; Parker; Sayer; Miller (C); Hall; Imray (Wilson 72); Burns (Holland 83); Bailey; Wright; Robertson (Hoggins 72); Kerridge.

Unused subs: Salim; Deagle.

Cards: None

Attendance: 134

Thanks to Birtley Town for most of report.