After a disapppointing start to the season the Stan  were looking to continue the unbeaten run of 3 games but had to do without injured top scorer Jon Wright who was replaced by  Richie Hoggins as the only change to the line up that won convincingly at Brandon.

The visitors were 2 points and 3 places better off than the Stan but good wins v Willington and Birtley were coupled with 5 goal hiding's off Jarrow and Bedlington.

Washington kicked off attacking the Church End and McGeoch got on the end of a long ball in the 3rd minute but his finish was weak and easily saved by Ball. The Stan were struggling to get going and McGeoch had two more decent chances but he headed the first straight at Ball and then headed over the top. Horsfall was next to have a go for Washington but his volley was wide of the target and it wasn't until the 20th minute that Stan created anything and when they did Paterson broke clear but stood on the ball before he could get his shot away.

The action was back to the other end and Ball beat an effort from Dixon away before he dived to block a cross from McGeoch with the rebound hitting Hanson and going over the bar.

Paterson was looking the Stan's best bet for a goal and after he had shot over the top he then forced Lumsden into a good save with Imray not being able to get a decent contact on the rebound.

Ball was again called into action with a fine save as Washington looked to press home their dominance before half time.

Half Time: Stan 0 - 0 Washington

Joe Kerridge replaced the injured Danny Sayer at the break but it was the visitors who were on the front foot and a free kick from 20 yards drifted wide before the Stan finally woke up. It was Charmey that got them going, breaking into the Washington half a crashing a tremendous drive off the crossbar. Paterson was first to react and he brought it down and fed Hoggins who lashed it home from 12 yards to give the Stan a fortunate lead. Within a minute Hoggins headed at the keeper and a minute later, after Mason had nodded on Paterson's cross, Hoggins brought a superb save out of Lumsden. 

Bailey replaced Imray and the Stan onslaught continued with a delightful first touch from Paterson getting him in but his shot from 20 yards smacked the post with the keeper beaten. Hoggins then picked out Kerridge but his shot was blocked and then the same player was tripped in the box right in front of the Linesman who failed to give the obvious penalty. Hoggins and Paterson linked again but the final ball was deflected away from the unmarked Kerridge while at the other end Broomfield volleyed wide with Ball beaten.

Ball was then the architect of the Stan's second goal when his long clearance was controlled by Paterson 20 yards out and he lobbed it over the advancing Lumsden to put the game to bed in the 85th minute. The pressure continued and first Mikey Hall had a great run down the left with his cross almost deflected past the keeper at the near post and then Kerridge wriggled past 2 men in the box but shot straight at the keeper from close range. 

The shellshocked visitors did pull a goal back in the 93rd minute when a a shot from McGeoch decieved Ball but the Stan saw out the remaining minute of stoppage time to record a 4th league win of the season which takes us up to 6th in the table.

Full Time: Stan 2 - 1 Washington

The Stan had looked well out of sorts for the best part of an hour and were lucky to still be on level terms when they finally got going. Hoggins, who had been anonymous until then, was the catalyst with his first goal of the season and was unlucky not to add to his total. Regan Paterson also made his mark on the game in the last quarter and deserved his goal after rattling the post earlier. 

We'll need to start the game better but we can go Seaham Red Star on Tuesday in the League Cup knowing that the performance in the last 30 minutes gives us a great chance of getting a result.

Heaton Stannington (4-5-1): Ball, Stoddart, Hall, Middleton, Ray, Imray (Bailey 60), Charmey (C), Mason, Paterson, Sayer (Kerridge 46), Hoggins. 

Subs Not Used:  Blackbourne, Bennett, Simpson. 

Goals: Hoggins 57, Paterson 85.

Referee: Jim Halliday.

Attendance: 170.

Simon Lansley