After the disappointment of last weeks defeat v Crook the Stan made 4 changes for the visit of Easington with Stoddart, Mason and Sayer returning after absence and Burns making his first re-appearance since returning from the United States. Simpson, Kerridge, Wilson & Fiedler were the players to drop out with the latter two taking their place on the bench alongside the returning Hoggins.

The visitors were short on numbers and named their two joint Managers as substitutes but were able to include Josh Home-Jackson and Jack Pounder who had scored 29 goals between them this season.

The Stan kicked off attacking the Car Park End on a soft pitch which Bill Colwill had worked wonders on to get it into a fit state after the hammering it got last week v Crook.

Sayer was straight into his stride with a run and shot but his weak effort didn't trouble Lawrence, the visitors responded on 7 minutes but Pounder headed straight at Ball when well placed. Lawrence then made a brilliant fingertip save to turn a Bailey drive the top from 20 yards as the Stan gained the early upperhand.

A Pounder free kick cleared the bar before Bailey shot wide and then Sayer broke down the left but his cross was cut out by Lawrence before Mason could get a touch.

A quick throw in then found Paterson with space in the box but his cross was cleared and Pounder then curled a decent effort wide from distance.

A good break down the right saw Mason round the keeper but Bailey couldn't get a telling touch on his cross. It was the visitors who then finished the half the stronger and after a good block in the Stan box Ball was out quickly to spread himself to deny Southern, a minute later Ball was called upon again to deny Home-Jackson with a fine save as the half came to a close.

HT: Stan 0 - 0 Easington

The Stan struggled to get going in the second half with Pearson and O'Brien dominating Paterson as long balls were launched at the emergency front man, Easington had their best spell of the game and forced numerous corners without really troubling Ball's goal until the 62 minute when a powerful header from Pounder was blocked by his own player just in front of the line. The Stan responded with a double change as Fiedler and Hoggins replaced Burns and Imray, Paterson returned to the right with the two subs going upfront in a switch to 4-4-2.

Home-Jackson shot wide for Easington before Fiedler fashioned the best chance of the game with a great run and cross from the right, a stretching Mason did well to meet his cross but could only divert the ball onto the base of the post from 6 yards. The Stan kept up the pressure and Hoggins brought a routine save out of Lawrence before Sayer broke through the middle on 72 minutes and was tripped by Hassinin just outside the box. The Referee, Stephen Beresford, believed that there was a covering defender and only showed the full back a yellow and Deagle's free kick was straight at Lawrence.

Josh Wilson replaced Paterson as the Stan continued to search for a breakhough and Middleton was booked for the visitors for a foul on 80 minutes.

The Stan finally broke the deadlock on 85 minutes when a deep free kick from Deagle was headed back across goal by Ray and Fiedler was unmarked 6 yards out to head past the stranded Lawrence. The goal was harsh on Easington who believed the free kick shouldn't have been awarded but it made no difference three minutes later when the three subs combined to double the Stan's lead.

Fiedler again did well to break away and he found Wilson on the penalty spot who looked a certain scorer until he slipped a pass wide to Hoggins who finished calmly into the corner.

The Stan saw out the last few minutes without alarm to record an important victory which saw us leapfrog Easington into 6th position in a congested league table.

FT: Stan 2 - 0 Easington

The Stan had never really looked like breaking down Easington until the introduction of Fiedler and Hoggins and a switch to 4-4-2, from there on in they were dominant and ultimately deserved the points at the death thanks to goals from the two substitutes.

Easington's complaint was that the Assisant didn't flag for a foul despite being closer to the incident than the Referee who immediately blew for the foul, but the complaints seemed only to affect their concentration as the Stan won two free headers in the box from the free kick to open the scoring.

The win see's us finish the year in 6th position in the table despite our season not really getting started, but knowing that all is to play for in the second half of the season and that a decent run in 2020 will get us into one of the four promotion places.

With every team in the top 12 close enough to still harbour promotion ambitions it will be a tough ask but with your support it is certainly possible.

All the best for 2020 and see you at Bedlington on the 4th January

Team (4-5-1): Ball; Stoddart, Deagle, Hall, Ray; Imray (Hoggins 63 Min), Bailey (C), Mason,Sayer, Burns (Fiedler 62 Min); R Paterson (Wilson 78 Min).

Subs: (Not Used): Regan, M Paterson

Goals: Fiedler 85 Min, Hoggins 88 Min

Att: 107

Simon Lansley