After a poor start to the season, there was lots to be pleased about tonight as the Stan got a rare league cup win and also received news that they had drawn a struggling Blyth Spartans at home in the Northumberland Senior Cup. There were 6 changes from Saturday’s home draw with Tow Law and a start from the bench for new signing Calvin Boyd. Both teams had coaches’ sons in the starting line up through Billy Walker for the Stan and Harvey Dixon for Billingham. This was the 1st of 4 matches the Stan will play in the group stage of the league cup.

The Stan got off to a great start in the 1st minute when Middleton headed in off the bar from a corner to give the Stan a very early lead. After 4 minutes Synners attacked but Ball came out to block for a corner. 3 minutes later and the visitors shot wide but soon after Wright had a shot at the other end caught by the keeper and the Synners counter attack came to nothing. In the 9th minute a long shot from Kerridge brought out a good save from Synner’s Orton and he then caught the ball from the resulting corner. He then made another great save in the 13th minute. Ball then had to make a save. The Synners then started to put pressure on the Stan but they looked dangerous on the counter especially through Kerridge and Wright.

In 19 minutes a Billingham free kick was headed over and 2 minutes later they equalised when another a ball from a long throw was headed into the net. In 25 minutes, a Kerridge long range free kick was put just over by Orton. The Stan came close from both resulting corners but it was Billingham who came close to scoring in 27 minutes when a long shot hit off the post and nearly rebounded into the net off a defender. The Stan then had a ball from a corner headed off the line. The Stan also headed wide in 30 minutes before a linesman was flattened by a Synners’ player falling on him.

In 32 minutes a Billingham attack resulted in a melee in the Stan box and although the ball was blocked twice it was forced into the net to give the Synners the lead. A Stan attack was cleared in 35 minutes and 4 minutes later the visitors shot just wide. In 42 minutes a Billingham long shot went just over. A minute before half time Hoggins broke free but was blocked and the Stan remained under pressure.

There was a slow start to the 2nd half with the 1st excitement coming after 56 minutes when Wright broke free and shot just wide. In 58 minutes a Billingham corner came to nothing. In 63 minutes a Stan free kick was sent into the Billingham box, hit off the keeper and was tapped in but for some reason the goal was not given.

In 65 minutes, in a busy Stan box, the Synners hit the post from close range and the ball was cleared. Orton had to catch after 69 minutes and 2 minutes later another Stan attack was blocked. In 73 minutes a Stan free kick was initially blocked by Orton but Bailey put the ball into the net for 2-2. In 75 minutes Wright ran into the box under pressure, turned and shot past defenders to make it 3-2.

The Stan were back on top and sought a 4th goal with a Sayer run being blocked. In 80 minutes a Stan cross was cleared by Orton and the Synners counterattack was offside. Orton then had to catch from a Stan free kick before a Wright long shot went just wide. In 87 minutes a Stan corner saw Bailey shoot just wide although in the last minute Ball had to catch from a long shot. Ball had to make 2 more blocks in injury time followed by the Synners heading just wide but the Stan held on for victory.

It was great comeback from the Stan who have started their league cup campaign with 3 points from their 1st group stage match with the next one being a trip to division 1 Seaham Red Star on Tuesday 24th September.

Team: Ball, Stoddart, Hall, Blackbourne (Ray 68), Middleton, Bailey, Walker, Charmey, Wright, Hoggins (Boyd 76), Kerridge (Sayer 73).

Unused subs: Mason, Imray.

Yellow Cards: Bailey

Goals: Middleton 1, Bailey 73, Wright 75.

Attendance 140.

Kevin Mochrie