It was a game of 2 halves as the Stan won their fifth consecutive away league match in very windy conditions. There were 2 changes from the mid-week Morpeth match with Bennett and Robertson replacing Mason and Burns.

The Terriers, with the wind against them, had the firstt attack in the 1st minute but the Stan countered. The next 15 minutes were almost one way for the Stan but without them really threatening although Miller headed wide from a corner after 12 minutes. Bedlington attacked after 15 minutes although it was offside followed by Campbell attacking but colliding with the keeper. 2 minutes later and a high ball was chased by Campbell who headed under pressure but the keeper easily caught. 

The Stan pressure finally paid off in 19 minutes when a Sayer cross into the box went over Campbell and was missed by a defender and Robertson headed it into the net to give the Stan the lead (which I promise to be the only dog pun of the report). The 24th minute saw the first real danger at the Stan end when a cross went across the goal and out for a corner from which Hall nearly headed the ball into his own net. The second corner was caught by Regan. It was then back to Stan pressure and in 29 minutes a Kerridge 35 yard piledriver went just over. 

In 31 minutes, a great ball from Hall saw Sayer tripped in the box. Campbell made no mistake sending his penalty kick into the top right hand corner of the net for his 21st goal of the season. Robertson then attacked followed by a Terrier’s long shot which Regan easily caught. The Stan kept attacking although a rare terrier attack in 37 minutes saw Miller head clear. Charmey then advanced and crossed to Campbell who somehow flicked the ball over the bar from almost on the goal line when he should have scored. 

Bedlington then had 3 attacks before a Hall cross saw Chamey’s resulting shot blocked by the keeper in 44 minutes. A minute later and Charmey tried again and this time his 20 yard shot saw the keeper get a hand to it but it still ended up in the net for 0-3. Another Stan long ball bounced awkwardly in the wind but the keeper got to it this time.

The second half was a non-event apart for the unfortunate knee injury to Robertson resulting from a rash tackle on him after 59 minutes which left him unable to walk unaided and he was replaced by Hoggins. Kerridge did have a long shot blocked in 48 minutes followed by Robertson hitting the side netting. 

In 61 minutes the Terriers headed over and 3 minutes later Regan had to catch followed another 3 minutes later by 2 Stan clearances. In 75 minutes, Hoggins had a shot blocked followed by a Stan corner ball being cleared before Miller blasted an effort wide. In 79 minutes the Terriers got forward and hit the post, then shot straight at Regan before shooting well over. Soon after and a Campbell effort was blocked and in 86 minutes a Kerridge shot was also blocked. 

A minute later and the Stan Army were entertained when Regan blasted a clearance out of the ground and over a house into the next street and if the wind had not died down it might have reached the sea. In injury time Regan punched clear before Bedlington shot over. The match finished just after Hoggins took the ball into the box and blasted over. A frozen and bored Stan Army were glad of the final whistle.

Heaton Stannington: Regan, Middleton, Hall, Miller, Bennett, Fulcher, Kerridge, Charmey (Mason 80), Campbell, Robertson (Hoggins 60), Sayer (Martin 75).

Goals: Robertson 19, Campbell 31 (Pen), Charmey 45.

Attendance 47.

Kevin Mochrie