The match was a great advert for the Northern League and was the Stan’s 1^st of 2019 and in August it will be the 80th anniversary of them 1^st joining it. Although Jarrow, who are only in the their 2^nd season in the league, competed throughout the Stan would have won this match if it had not been for a man of the match performance by Jarrow keeper Jay Wells and a disgracefully wrong decision by the officials in the 2^nd half.

There were 3 changes to the Stan team from last Saturday watched by a very healthy crowd of 177 including a good following of Jarrow fans who had marched over from South Tyneside. It would have been criminal to miss this match even given other match options nearby.

The 1^st 10 minutes were relatively quiet although Jarrow had more of the ball and a shot and free kick saved by Regan. In the 10^th minute, Jarrow shot wide followed by Robertson heading over at the other end. In 13 minutes Regan had to catch but there was then a sustained period of Stan pressure and great work by Jarrow’s Wells in goal. In 14 minutes Wells and a defender did not clear and Campbell got in but under pressure the defender tried to clear but put the ball just wide for a corner. Wells punched clear the corner ball and it came back in and out for a corner from which Robertson shot over.

In 18 minutes a Stan attack was initially blocked but Robertson blasted a rebound shot which Wells expertly put out and from the corner a Stan shot was blocked. Wells then saved a Kerridge shot and 2 minutes later he shot over. Jarrow had a rare attack in 23 minutes but 2 minutes later they were saved again by Wells when he made a double save. The Stan pressure finally paid off in 29 minutes when the ball went out to Middleton advancing down the right and sent a long cross into the box for Campbell to rise majestically to head into the net.

In 30 minutes the Stan had to clear then Jarrow shot wide but it was soon the Stan again as Burns passed to Campbell but Wells caught. In 36 minutes a Jarrow free kick was easily caught by Regan and after some Stan attacks again Jarrow shot over in 41 minutes. From a Kerridge cross, Campbell worried the away defence again but couldn’t get his shot in after some good work. Just before half time, Kerridge tried a long shot which Wells caught well. The Stan should have been well clear at half time but the rest of the Jarrow team had keeper Wells to thank for keeping it to 1-0.

After a quiet start to the 2^nd half, Campbell broke free and took on 2 defenders and the keeper but he couldn’t get a clear shot as Wells blocked. The Stan attacked again and again but the failure to convert more opportunities came back to haunt the Stan in the 54^th minute. Jarrow attacked into the Stan box and there was a claim of hand ball which the referee gave. Regan was on the right side but went the wrong way and Allen made it 1-1 in 55 minutes.

A minute later and the Stan were 2-1 up again when Hall sent the ball to Campbell advancing in the box and he twisted and turned free of the defenders and blasted his shot into the net. The crowd erupted. What a goal! Jarrow were immediately on the go and shot just wide before the Stan attacked again and the rest of the half was a series of attacks and counters by both sides.

Jarrow had 2 efforts in 61 minutes while 3 minutes later Wells caught a Burns header. Uncharacteristically, a short Hall pass back then forced Regan out to make a great clearance followed by Middleton losing the ball but the Stan recovered and Charmey went up and had a shot but both that and Robertson’s rebound shot were blocked by Wells. In 68 minutes, from a corner, a poor Stan clearance forced Regan to block. 3 minutes later Jarrow attacked again but was followed by a great counter run by Campbell although no one was there in time to meet his eventual cross. Kerridge then tried a long shot which was caught by Wells and Burns then advanced and crossed to Campbell who shot just wide.

The Stan were looking for the 3^rd goal but Jarrow remained a threat especially on the counter attack. Jarrow had a shot blocked in 73 minutes and a great joined up Stan attack ended with Kerridge hitting the post at close range but he was booked for kicking the ball away in disgust. Jarrow then attacked and Robertson countered but was blocked. In 77 minutes Burns beat the defence, jumping over a tackle, but his shot was blocked by Wells. Jarrow countered but the attack was eventually cleared. In 79 minutes Burns countered and crossed to Campbell who was blocked followed soon after by sub Sayer shooting just over.

The moment of controversy, which impacted greatly on the game, came in 80 minutes when Robertson advanced into the Jarrow box with the ball and was pushed and shouldered off the ball and down with nothing given even though both the referee and linesman had clear views. The home bench and fans were furious although Robertson was back on the attack and was clipped just outside the box but the resulting free kick was sent just over the bar by Sayer.

In 84 minutes, Jarrow’s Wightman had a speculative shot which bounced awkwardly and past both a defender and Regan to bring the visitors level. 3 minutes later the Jarrow fans informed the referee that Regan had kicked the ball just outside his box. The resulting free kick was blocked and Robertson broke free but was hacked down. A minute to go and new sub Fox took a free kick which rebounded to Mason but his blasted shot went over. Jarrow then shot wide.

Both sides continued to try to attack into injury time and Mason was booked for a tackle. Just before the final whistle, a Jarrow player broke free, beat 2 defenders but shot over. Although Jarrow were challenging opponents all the Stan team played well enough to win this and especially through the efforts of Campbell and Robertson but as the man of the match was Jarrow’s keeper Wells the match didn’t end as well for the Stan as it should have.

Team 4-4-2: Regan; Middleton, Hall, Miller; Bennet, Mason; Burns (Fox 88); Charmey; Campbell; Robertson, Kerridge (Sayer 77).

Subs Not Used: Martin; Holland.

Goals: Campbell 29,56.

Yellow Cards: Mason, Kerridge.

Attendance: 177

Kevin Mochrie