On sunny non-league day, ironically national media attention after the match was on Harry the Dog and another spectator from the Premier League: last week’s scorer against Man Utd for the toon, Matty Longstaff. Harry and Matty witnessed a competitive game along with 256 other spectators with the score line probably flattering the Stan although their tally included some of the best goals scored at Grounsell Park for a long time. There was one change from Wednesday night with Stoddart replacing Hall. This was the 1st time the teams had played each other in the Northern League although Carlisle won 3-1 in High Heaton 2 years ago in the Vase.

The Stan started on the attack and had most of the possession early on with Paterson getting a good share of it. Carlisle couldn’t get forward themselves but were blocking the Stan’s advances and were helped by the referee including in the 7th minute when Wright was brought down on the edge of the box but nothing was given. In 10 minutes one of a number of joined up Stan attacks saw a Sayer shot blocked and also Wright’s rebound shot.

The 1st Carlisle advance wasn’t until the 12th minute but the Stan countered with the visiting keeper just getting to the ball 1st. In 15 minutes Paterson and Sayer had shots cleared and 2 minutes later a Wright solo attack saw him keep going after being tackled and his eventual shot from the edge of the box was deflected for a corner. The 19th minute saw a Carlisle attack blocked for a throw in. It was taken long into the box and Ball had to stretch high to punch clear.

In 21 minutes another Carlisle attack saw one of their players get the ball unmarked but Ball did well to block his shot with his feet. It was the best chance of the game so far although Wright then countered leading to a corner. Wright got forward another two times including in 25 minutes when both he and the keeper went for a long high ball and although it went into the net a foul was given against him. In 27 minutes, a Carlisle corner was cleared twice before Ball got down to block again with his feet. Wright then was brought down on the edge of the box and although nothing was given he managed to get the ball to Charmey whose shot from the edge of the box forced a good save from the Carlisle keeper. It led to 3 Stan corners although it was then back to a Carlisle attack which saw the ball deflected across the Stan box.

In 36 minutes the advancing Mason was body checked on the edge of the box and Charmey’s 35 yard effort from the resulting free kick saw the keeper just get down at his left post to put the ball out for a corner. The last 10 minutes of the 1st half was almost all the Stan including a great break by Wright with no one able to get to him but his shot from the right went just past the left post. The last move of the half was another Charmey free kick this time from 30 yards which just went over both the stranded keeper and crossbar.

The Stan again started on the attack with their 2nd one seeing a good cross from Wright but Sayer’s header was punched away by the keeper. The ball came in again and after the keeper had blocked, Sayer shot just wide. The Stan kept attacking and Wright shot just wide in the 50th minute. 2 minutes later and the pressure paid off and what a goal it was. A great through ball to Wright saw him advance into the left of the box and he calmly and confidently chipped the keeper for 1-0.

There was then a slightly quieter period but both sides were trying to attack. In 62 minutes, ball had to make a great stretching save to stop a Carlisle counter attack. The resulting corner saw the Stan head off the line as Carlisle searched for an equaliser. Another corner ball was headed out by Ray before Ball had to catch again. The Stan had to clear again before in 65 minutes a ball from a Carlisle corner was tapped just wide of the post by one of their players when they should have scored.

In 68 minutes, Sayer forced a corner which was headed clear but it came back in and Bailey blasted it into the net. In 71 minutes a Wright long shot was straight at the keeper and 3 minutes later he blocked another Wright effort and then caught Paterson’s header from the resulting corner. Carlisle then had a period of pressure including shooting across goal in 81 minutes. Their pressure paid off in 84 minutes when the ball from a corner went through the crowded Stan box and was tapped in on the left.

Although Carlisle had begun to look dangerous, the Stan killed them off from the restart in 85 minutes as Paterson advanced up the right wing and crossed for the advancing Charmey to power a header into the net for 3-1. What a goal! The Stan attacked again with Paterson shooting just wide. In 88 minutes, the advancing Charmey was brought down and his 30 yard free kick was blocked by the keeper, and so was Hoggins before Paterson forced a corner. Charmey’s 90th minute corner was put in the net for 4-1 by a great header by Sayer. The goals hadn’t stopped as in the 94th minute a great run by Sayer saw him blocked but the ball fell to Hoggins 12 yards out and after the keeper had saved his first attempt he followed it up and bundled it over the line for our fifth goal.

In a high tempo match, the Stan didn’t just do well to hang on and win but did so convincingly late on to thoroughly please Matty, Harry and the rest of the Stan Army.

Stan Team: Ball; Simpson; Stoddart; Ray; Middleton; Bailey; Paterson; Mason ; Wright (Hoggins 78); Charmey; Sayer.

Unused subs: Wear; Imray; Allan; Kerridge.

Attendance: 257.

Goals: Wright 52, Bailey 68, Charmey 85, Sayer 90, Hoggins 90(+4)

Kevin Mochrie