On a freezing but dry winters night, and with both teams having received byes to the 2^nd round, cup action returned to Grounsell Park. There was a debut for Josh Wilson, formerly of Brocton of the Midland League, and from the bench for Regan’s brother Morgan Paterson. Ryan Bailey was suspended for 1 match. This was only the Stan’s 2^nd competitive match in 4 weeks although they did beat Newcastle Blue Star 3-1 on Saturday on an 3G pitch at Killingworth.

There was a relatively quiet start but with most of the attacks by the Stan. In 11 minutes a Paterson shot was deflected for a corner. In 13 minutes Kerridge had a shot blocked and the Ryton keeper eventually just got to the ball. Ryton then attacked and headed just wide. There was more action now and in 15 minutes Regan had to make a great save.

The Ryton keeper was looking dodgy and he came out and nearly missed the ball soon after. He then had to save from a free kick and in 20 minutes Regan had to save. In 22 minutes there was a great build up which resulted in Hall supplying Sayer who crossed to Paterson in the crowded box who headed the ball into the net for 1-0. In 24 minutes a cross from Paterson saw Sayer head just wide before a Ryton attack was blocked. A Ryton long ball into the box was headed out by Ray for a corner and then put out for another.

In 29 minutes, a long ball to Paterson saw him pass to Kerridge who supplied Wilson but he couldn’t get the ball into the box. Eventually Mason managed to pass to Sayer who made it 2-0 in 29 minutes. It was a great move. 2 minutes later and Paterson shot just wide. In 35 minutes, Ryton attacked and although the ball was initially blocked it was forced in by Norris to make it 2-1. Things got worse in 39 minutes when Ryton attacked again and the ball was blasted high into the net from the edge of the box for 2-2 by ex-Stan man Cooper. Ryton hadn’t had many chances so far compared to the Stan but they had taken them well.

The second half started with a Ryton attack being headed clear by Ray. In 49 minutes Wright replaced the injured Sayer. The visitors then shot just wide. The Stan were dealing with the pressure although Ryton kept attacking and shot over in 56 minutes. The Stan has a rare attack in 59 minutes when Wright supplied Paterson but he was blocked but then Kerridge, from a throw in, put the ball just over the bar.

In 63 minutes a Kerridge free kick from just outside the box went through the wall and hit the side netting. Wright then tried to chip the keeper but he caught the ball. After a period of Stan pressure, Ryton took the lead in 66 minutes when Hall tried to stop 3 off-side players but Cooper was able to put the ball into the net. 2 minutes later and again an advancing Ryton player (Jasper) was off side but the flag stayed down and he chipped Regan to make it 2-4.

The Stan responded and shot over in 72 minutes later although Regan had to clear on the line 2 minutes later and another effort had to be cleared off the Stan line in 77 minutes. From the resulting corner, a Ryton player had the ball just in front of the goal line and although he should have scored he put the ball over. The Stan were back in the match in 79 minutes when Middleton headed over the keeper for 3-4. The last 10 minutes were scrappy as the Stan tried to get an equaliser which would have saw the tie, at the end of 90 minutes, go straight to penalties.

In 83 minutes though Ryton had a corner with the ball going through the crowded box but the player at the far post slid in with the ball hitting the side netting. In 85 minutes Wright’s twisting and turning resulted in a corner. Fropm it Kerridge eventually got a shot which the keeper fumbled then caught. Hall sent a high long ball into the bow but Wilson’s shot went just wide. When he should have scored. Ryton attacked before a Stan long shot was caught by the Ryron keeper.

In the 89^th minute, Kerridge had a 40 yard free kick but his effort was headed the wrong way by a Stan player and resulted in a player from either side crashing into each other. The Stan called for a penalty and assistant manager Geoff Walker was booked for his reaction. The Stan kept attacking into injury time including shot over the bar by Wright. There was a great move by Regan Paterson into the box in 93 minutes but he was blocked twice.

There were plenty of goals for the crowd but after a positive start and 2 early goals, the Stan Army were left disappointed and possibly only remain in one cup, the league cup, depending on the result of the last group match between Newcastle Uni and Seaham Red Star. On a positive note though, there was a good debut for Josh Wilson who is eager to play for the club again on Saturday against the Synners.

Stan: Regan; Stoddart (Simpson 61); Hall, Ray; Middleton; Mason; Kerridge; Charmey (M Paterson 75); Paterson, R; Wilson; Sayer (Wright 49).

Subs not used: Hoggins; Ball.

Goals: R Paterson 22, Sayer 29, Middleton 79.

Yellow Card: Wright

Attendance 133

Kevin Mochrie