At the third attempt, the weather finally allowed the match against Northern Premier Division 1 East league leaders to go ahead in front of a large crowd. There were 3 changes from the last match at Ryton. Holland was ill and Robertson was reduced to the bench due to a knock while the Youth Academy lads were unavailable having played in the afternoon for Carlisle against Darlington. Morpeth included Vase winners and ex-league players as well as ex-Stan Julian Petrache.

The first attack came from Morpeth although the Stan were up for winning and after 4 minutes Campbell shot straight at Tasapalos in the visitor’s goal. Hall then had to clear off the Stan goal line before Regan also cleared and he did so again in 9 minutes. 2 minutes later and Regan came out to block a Morpeth attack but Foale got by him and shot past a defender to make it 0-1. 

Regan had to soon clear off the line from a corner and in 15 minutes another attack by them was blocked and 3 minutes later they headed over followed by Charmey blocking another effort. It was still all pressure from Morpeth although the Stan got stuck in while defending and remained positive. In 24 minutes there was finally another Stan attack, and a great joined up one it was, which ended with Mason’s good effort going over. Campbell forced a corner but Morpeth countered and eventually shot over. 

In 30 minutes, Campbell fantastically took on 3 players on the right wing and won the ball. He passed to Burns who made a great diagonal run into the box and passed to Kerridge who was also running into the box and he blasted the ball into the net to make it 1-1. A long free kick into the Stan box 2 minutes later was headed just wide. Both teams were trying to attack but it was Morpeth who had the next clear chance when Regan came out of his box and Middleton had to clear. 

The Stan defence was working well but they also had 2 more attacks with the second seeing 2 shots on the Morpeth goal. Regan had to block in 42 minutes and everyone was defending when required including Burns heading clear. The Stan withstood more pressure until the half time whistle went.

Both teams tried to attack from the start of the second half but most early efforts were by Morpeth. In 54 minutes, Morpeth’s efforts paid off when a speculative long shot by Mott went through players and was missed by Regan for 1-2. The Stan had a sustained attack in 54 minutes but Regan had to make a good block in 58 minutes. 3 minutes later he made a great leaping save to prevent a Morpeth header in front of goal. From the resulting corner, he then made another save from a close range header. 

In 62 minutes, Morpeth’s No.8 elbowed Kerridge in the face but only received a booking. The Morpeth pressure continued but the Stan were defending well before there was a quiet period until Sayer made a great tackle to stop a Morpeth attack in 76 minutes. The Stan then had 3 attacks while Morpeth, who had not taken their chances, time wasted. 

Morpeth then had to clear 2 Stan attacks before getting a corner in 83 minutes. From it, Petrache headed in off the post from point blank range to make it 1-3. They then shot wide twice before a Stan effort was headed clear. In the last minute, Campbell broke into the box and was brought down and the culprit was booked.Campbell calmly sent the penalty kick into the net for 2-3.

In the third minute of injury time Regan had to make a close save just before the final whistle. Given the Stan’s performance, including coming back from behind, a neutral would not have known that there was a gap of 2 leagues between the teams and they should be proud of themselves as they now focus for the rest of the season on the league and promotion.

Heaton Stannington: Regan, Middleton, Sayer, Hall, Miller, Fulcher (Robertson 75), Mason (Imray 55), Charmey, Campbell, Burns, Kerridge (Martin 78).

Sub Not Used: Hoggins.

Goals: Kerridge 30, Campbell 89 (Pen).

Yellow Cards: Burns.

Attendance 240.

Kevin Mochrie