After a draw in the 1st league match the Stan Army wanted a win on this pleasant summer’s night and not a repeat of last year’s 5-5 score in the same tie. There were 3 changes from Saturday including a first competitive start for Dan Regan, who was suspended for the first match, and Jonathan Wilson. The injured Wright was replaced by Salim.

It was end to end to begin with but the first clear shot didn’t come until 9 minutes when Salim shot over. 4 minutes later and Easington won a corner from which the ball was headed straight at Regan. In 15 minutes, after a Colliery attack was snuffed out, Kerridge put the Stan ahead with a similar goal to the one he scored on Saturday. A long ball from Burns went to Robertson who ran on and made a superb cross to Kerridge who sent the ball into the far corner of the net past the keeper.  

In 18 minutes, a Stan free kick went out for a corner and from it Robertson’s shot was blocked. 5 minutes later there was a great run and speculative shot from outside the box from Salim which the keeper put out for a corner. Easington didn’t have another shot until 27 minutes and 3 minutes later they had a sustained attack which was eventually blocked. 5 minutes later and Salim shot wide with an Easington attack being blocked by Sayer 3 minutes later. A Stan counter attack saw Salim split the defence and pass to Burns who shot wide. Regan caught in 40 minutes. 

Although they were getting plenty of the ball, the Stan’s control was not great. On 45 minutes, Salim moved in from the side and his shot was blocked for a corner. From the corner, Burns headed to Robertson whose own header was blocked. The half ended with both teams trying to attack but with the Stan in the lead.

3 minutes into the second half Salim attacked but was sandwiched then shoved but nothing was given. 2 minutes later and again the referee did nothing when Salim was brought down in the box. In 51 minutes, from a corner, Miller headed towards the goal but the keeper tipped the ball over for a corner. From it the ball bounced in the box but everyone missed it.  

In 54 minutes, an attack by Easington saw a good shot blocked by Regan but although the rebound shot went into the net it was off-side. Easington were very much still in the game although their keeper had to catch in 55 minutes. After 3 minutes of injury stoppage, Salim was replaced by Hoggins. Almost immediately the visitors won the ball in the middle of the park from Bailey and Adamson ran and rounded Regan to score. 

Regan made a good catch a minute later. Although Hoggins was attacking whenever he could, the Stan kept losing the ball in midfield. In 70 minutes, a pass back saw the Easington keeper just get to the ball before Hoggins did. Burns then broke and ran but could not pass before the keeper got to the ball. The ball was straight back up and Regan had to catch. 

There was a sustained Stan attack in 73 minutes with Burn’s shot eventually caught by the keeper. Holland and Jones made a difference, with the Stan looking more dangerous, when they came on after 75 minutes. Not long after Miller had to head clear. In 82 minutes, Jones sent a great cross to Kerridge whose shot was blocked by the keeper for a corner. The corner ball was then caught by the keeper but could have gone in. 

With 5 minutes to go both teams sought a winner with the visitors shooting wide before Holland was wrongly ruled off side. 3 minutes later and Holland crossed into the box but Kerridge couldn’t get his shot in. There was Stan pressure again although they were not helped by poor refereeing. Easington countered in the last minute and Regan caught from a free kick followed by the visiting keeper also having to catch twice. 

 In 92 minutes, Easington got a corner and the ball from it into the box was not cleared allowing the unmarked Wood at the back post to tap it into the net for 1-2. 

The match finished with the Stan attacking and although they could have won a draw would have been a fairer result. Despite the Stan looking more dangerous going forward, Easington were better at passing and holding onto the ball and it paid off in the end. So, the Stan grabbed defeat from both the jaws of victory and a draw.

Heaton Stannington: Regan, Parker, Sayer, Wear (C), Miller, Bailey, Burns (Holland 74), Wilson, Salim (Hoggins 59), Robertson (Jones 74), Kerridge.

Subs Not Used: Deagle, Imray.

Yellow Cards: Parker, Burns.

Attendance: 121.

Kevin Mochrie