A competitive match was expected as the Stan had won their last 3 matches while even more impressively Esh had won their last 5. The Stan Army particularly enjoyed the last 18 minutes which saw the Stan score 4 goals and win after being 2-0 down. There were 2 changes from Wednesday’s win at Billingham Synthonia with Imray and Fielder replacing Wilson and Simpson. There was a place on the bench for new signing Michael Baxter who made his debut from the bench on Wednesday.

The Stan started with the strong wind behind them and won a corner after 3 minutes which resulted in Fielder trying an overhead kick which was blocked for another corner. From this, Wright blasted his effort wide and over. Although the Stan had most of the ball so far, it was Esh who scored in 8 minutes when Regan initially saved but Marley tapped in from a few yards out.

Both teams tried to attack but the wind wasn’t helping. After 20 minutes, the Stan had a number of attacks over the next 5 minutes which were all blocked. Esh keeper McMahon got down to block in 25 minutes. The Stan continued to have most of the ball until in 30 minutes Esh’s number 9 attacked under pressure. Regan got down to block but spilled the ball which allowed the Esh player to regain it but Regan blocked again. The Stan then countered which saw Wright and McMahon slide into each other. The Esh keeper was injured though and had to be replaced by their Captain Stoker.

In 42 minutes, a Charmey long shot went just wide and Wright was blocked 3 minutes later. Into injury time and a Stan cross into the box was cleared but the ball was sent back in resulting in the keeper getting down to save but the ball went under him for a corner.

The wind died down for the 2nd half but was replaced by miserable wet and cold conditions for both players and fans. The half started with the Esh keeper having to clear twice and then a long ball in from Imray saw Ray head just wide. The Stan kept the pressure on with efforts from Kerridge, where a possible penalty for handball was not given, and Burns. It was Esh who scored again though in 51 minutes when Gill headed in from a corner.

In 54 minutes, Baxter made his home debut replacing Wright and 5 minutes later Wilson replaced Fielder. Baxter immediately started to be dangerous on the left and in 59 minutes supplied Charmey who was brought down in the box but no penalty was given. The Stan kept the pressure on including 2 consecutive corners which saw the Esh keeper drop the ball before catching it.

In 64 minutes Baxter advanced down the left wing and passed to burns who slid his effort just wide when he should have scored. The Stan pressure continued although Esh had a rare attack in 67 minutes which was eventually cleared. It was then back to Stan attacks including a Baxter shot being blocked and a weak Charmey overhead effort going out. Esh then had a speculative long shout in 69 minutes which went wide.

In 70 minutes, Burns was through but offside then Kerridge headed wide. The Stan pressure paid off in 71 minutes when Bailey supplied Kerridge who ran into the box and tapped the ball into the net. Soon after Sayer shot just over and in 74 minutes the threat to Esh was increased when an energetic Regan Paterson replaced Kerridge.

In 77 minutes, a rare Esh solo attack saw Regan block with his feet before Sayer suffered from a dreadful tackle. In 80 minutes Paterson got forward twice and the 2nd time saw him cross to Charmey who made it 2-2. Esh didn’t appear to know what had hit them and the Stan kept attacking and the pressure paid off and in 85 minutes when Sayer supplied Burns in the 6 yard box who shot to make it 3-2.

Esh then had a headed effort from a free kick which Regan caught. There was a dreadful tackle on Bailey before an Esh attack was cleared. The points were secured in the 90th minute when Wilson won the ball in the centre of the park and advanced, supplying Baxter who went round 2 defenders and shot past the keeper from a difficult angle to make it 4-2. Charmey supplied Paterson but although it was a good chance to make it 5 he spliced his effort.

What an ending and a great, if to an extent unexpected, win for a resilient Stan.

Partly due to Crook’s postponed fixture, the Stan move up to 4th and the final promotion place and this helped create the big grin on manger Thompson’s face post-match.

Next up is a trip to Jarrow on Saturday and we hope to see you all there cheering the lads on.

Stan: Regan; Imray; Sayer; Ray; Hall; Bailey; Burns; Charmey; Wright (Y) (Baxter); Fielder (Wilson); Kerridge (R Paterson).

Subs not used: M Paterson; Mason.

Yellow Card: Wright

Goals: Kerridge 71, Charmey 80, Burns 85, Baxter 90 (+2).

Attendance 154.

Kevin Mochrie

1-2 Kerridge

2-2 Charmey

3-2 Burns

4-2 Baxter

Match Photos