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Any hope of a trip to St James Park were banished when a very strong Blyth Spartans team brushed aside a depleted Stan in the Senior Cup 1st Round; but a fantastic crowd of 509 had the bar, snack bar and programme till's ringing all night so both team's went home happy.
The Stan were still without Wright, Hoggins and Middleton and Sayer joined them on the absent list due to work committments, Dan Robinson again started upfront and "retired" Joe Wear was added to the bench. Spartans, who seemed to have turned a corner after a horrendous start to the season, included club legend Robbie Dale in a strong line up.
Blyth were straight on the front foot attacking the Church End and Ball was tested as early as the 3rd minute as the Stan struggled to get a touch, it seemed as though the Blyth pressure would surely result in an early goal but amazingly it should have been the Stan who took the lead in the 8th minute when a superb pass from Ray released Paterson but although the youngster's shot beat Foden it flashed wide of the far post.
Blyth bounced back and took the lead on 13 minutes when Scott forced a fine save out of Ball but Hawkins reacted quickest to squeeze the rebound home. Ball was then second best as he raced from his box but Hall did well to block Dale's shot on the line. Foden almost gifted the Stan an equaliser when he fumbled on the edge of his box but he recovererd before Robinson could profit. The Satn fell further behing on 29 minutes when great control in the box by Sweet fashioned a chance for himself, again Ball saved brilliantly but Sweet was able to square the rebound to Scott who tapped home from 3 yards.
Blyth were then dealt a blow when Callaghan limped off to be replaced by Mullen but they controlled play until the break.
HT: Stan 0 - 2 Spartans
Fenwick replaced Hunter after the break for Spartans but within 5 minutes he went down in some pain in the Stan box, after a lengthy delay he was stretcherd off with suspected ankle ligament damage and replace by Mouanda.
The pressure didn't relent however and Sweet headed over the bar when well placed before Ball denied him again with a block from point blank range.
Mason replaced the tiring Robinson and couldn't connect with a header on a rare Stan attack before Blackbourne replaced Imray. A decent spell for the Stan saw Bailey nod down for Charmey who missed his bicycle kick and Paterson hurrying a shot from distance straight at Foden. Blyth then stepped up a gear and after Sweet shot wide after good work by Evans, Robbie Dale beat two men as he entered the box and poked a finish past Ball into the far corner for a third goal.
Ball was called upon again to deny the impressive Wrightson before Sweet finally got his goal when he volleyed home a near post corner on 84 minutes.
Joe Wear was introduced for Kerridge for 5 minutes against his former club with the veteran defender deployed upfront, within minutes the Stan had their best chance of the game when Paterson found himself clean through on goal but his rushed shot was high over the bar.
FT: Stan 0 - 4 Spartans
The Stan had given their all but Blyth's quality shone through from the first whistle and the result had never been in doubt from the minute Hawkins poked home from close range to open the scoring. The Stan had their moments and Paterson might have done better with two good chances but it was in goal and at the back where they excelled with Ball and his back four outstanding all game.
Good luck to Blyth in the next round v Bedlington Terriers and hopefully the injury to Fenwick isn't too seroious, hopefully the Stan can get some bodies back and continue their promotion push at home to Easington on Saturday.
Team (4-5-1): Ball; Simpson, Stoddart, Hall, Ray; Imray (Blackbourne 73), Bailey, Charmey (C), Paterson , Kerridge (Wear 85); Robinson (Mason 60)
Att: 509
Simon Lansley
Heaton Stannington v Blyth Spartans: A History
Heaton Stannington v Blyth Spartans: A History
The match tonight is only the seventh time that the 2 teams have met and the second at Grounsell (formerly Newton) Park. Hopefully the Stan will add to their solitary win and prevent Blyth adding to their 5 wins. All 7 encounters have taken place in cup competitions. The only league matches between the 2 clubs took place when Blyth Spartans Reserves and Heaton Stannington first team were both in the Northern Alliance 1952-56 and again during the 1960s when they were both in the Northern Combination.
The last meeting took place 3 and a half years ago in the Senior Cup when Blyth won 6-0. The current Stan management team of Derek Thompson and Geoff Walker were in charge for the 2008 and 2016 matches. The details of the 6 previous Cup meetings are as follows:
FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round, 15/10/1949: Blyth Spartans 5-1 Heaton Stannington
FA Amateur Cup Preliminary Round, 23/9/1967: Blyth Spartans 5-2 Heaton Stannington
FA Amateur Cup Preliminary Round, 13/9/1969: Blyth Spartans 5-1 Heaton Stannington
Northumberland Senior Cup Semi Final, 1/3/1980: Blyth Spartans 1-3 Heaton Stannington PROGRAMME SCANS
Northumberland Senior Cup 1st Round, 14/10/2008 Blyth Spartans 4-2 Heaton Stannington
Northumberland Senior Cup Semi-Final , 16/3/2016 Heaton Stannington 0-6 Blyth Spartans MATCH REPORT
Northumberland Senior Cup 1st Round , 23/10/2019 Heaton Stannington 0-4 Blyth Spartans MATCH REPORT
Heaton Stannington in Northumberland County Cup Finals
Heaton Stannington in Northumberland County Cup Finals
The Stan have surprisingly played in ten Northumberland County Cup finals and two replays since 1926.
Northumberland Amateur Cup
- Runners Up 1925-26 Howden British Legion 5-4 Heaton Stannington at North Shields (3/4/26)
- Runners Up 1930-31 Newcastle West End Amateurs 1-0 Heaton Stannington at St James’ Park (13/4/31)
- Winners 1936-37 Heaton Stannington 3-2 Gosforth Amateurs at St James’ Park (19/4/37)
- Runners Up 1938-39 Willington Athletic 5-2 Heaton Stannington replay at North Road Ground (15/5/39)
Northumberland Senior Cup
- Runners Up 1963-64 Whitley Bay 4-3 Heaton Stannington (after extra time) at St James’ Park (30/3/64)
- Runners Up 1979-80 Ashington 2-1 Heaton Stannington (after extra time) replay at Appleby Park North Shields (29/4/80) after 0-0 at St James’ Park (14/4/80)
Northumberland Minor Cup
- Winners 1985-86 Heaton Stannington 2-0 North Shields St Columbus
Northumberland Senior Benevolent Bowl
- Runners Up 2001-02 Benfield Saints 3-0 Heaton Stannington
- Runners Up 2009-10 Alnwick Town 2-1 Heaton Stannington (after extra time) at Whitley Park (Blue Flames)
- Winners 2012-13 Heaton Stannington 3-0 Ponteland United at Whitley Park (Blue Flames) (8/5/13)
Heaton Stannington in the Northumberland Senior Cup
Heaton Stannington in the Northumberland Senior Cup
The Northumberland Senior Cup is the county’s premier competition and was first competed for in 1884. The Stan are competing in it for the 48th time tonight but have never been drawn against Newcastle United.
The Stan first competed in the cup during the 1925-26 season when they were defeated 5-0 at home in the preliminary round by Jesmond Villa. They also entered the competition in 1938-39 and 1939-40. Their first Senior Cup win came on 25 January 1947 when they won 3-2 at Hexham Hearts in the second qualifying round. After winning 2-1 at North Shields in the first round, they were beaten at home in the semi-final 2-1 by Newburn. The Stan also entered the cup for the next 25 seasons. Of note is their first preliminary round tie against Alnwick Town in 1955-56 when they won 6-4 (after extra time) in the fourth replay. In 1963-64 they made the final for the first time where they were beaten 4-3 by Whitley Bay after extra time.
After competing from 1946-47 to 1971-72, the Stan missed a season before returning to Senior Cup involvement for another nine seasons. In 1980 they again reached the final when they were beaten 2-1 in a replay by Ashington after a 0-0 draw. After the 1981-82 season, the Stan were not involved in the competition again until 2005-06 and 2006-07 and again in 2008-09. The club did not meet the qualification requirements again until their second season back in the Northern League in 2014-15 when they lost away 5-3 to Alnwick Town.
In 15-16 they defeated West Allotment Celtic 2-1 at home in the first round with both goals scored by Wright. This was the Stan’s first win in the tournament since they had beaten Blyth Spartans in the semi-final in 1980. They won again 3-1 in the quarter final at Bedlington Terriers with goals by Rowntree, Hayton and Burns. In the semi-final at Grounsell they lost 6-0 to Blyth Spartans. In 16-17 they beat Alnwick away 4-2 in the 1st round with goals from Robertson (2), Blackett and Walton but lost 3-0 in the quarter final away to North Shields. In 17-18 they lost 2-1 at Team Northumbria with Hoggins scoring. Last season they beat Whitley Bay in the 1st round 4-3 at home with goals from Campbell (2), Robertson and Kerridge. In the quarter final they lost at home 3-2 to Morpeth Town with goals from Campbell and Kerridge.
When the Stan beat the Spartans
When the Stan beat the Spartans
On Saturday 1 March 1980 at Blyth Spartan’s Croft Park, Heaton Stannington won 3-1 in the semi-final of the Northumberland Senior Cup. To date, this is the Stan’s only win over the Spartans. As well as Blyth being in a higher league (Northern) compared to Heaton Stannington (Wearside), the win represented an even more remarkable feat given Blyth’s FA cup record at the time. The club has reached the FA Cup proper on 31 occasions. Much of the Blyth team that day in 1980 had been involved when the club reached the fifth round of the FA Cup in 1977-78. In the season that the Stan beat them, Blyth had reached the second round of the FA Cup with Hull City taking two replays to defeat them.
Alan Hewson put the Stan ahead in the seventh minute before Les Mutrie equalised for Blyth with a penalty in the twenty third minute. In the second half, another goal from Alan Hewson and one from Rob Robson made it 3-1 to the Stan. The Blyth manager Jack Marks missed the match as he was watching the club’s FA Trophy opponents Mossley. He told the Journal that his side were a disgrace” and that “it is an absolute disgrace that Blyth Spartans should be beaten by Heaton Stannington.”
The Stan team that day was: Denis Gilroy; Gourley; Bill Colwill; Tobin; Mick Colwill; A. Gilroy; D.Short; Alan Hewson; David Robson; Green; Rob Robson. The substitute was Peter Rowntree.
The club currently or recently has 4 connections with that great day. Stan volunteer Bill Colwill and his brother Mick, both regulars at the club, were in the Stan team. Peter Rowntree, father of forward Adam Rowntree who played in the 2016 match, was on the bench. The Blyth goalkeeper that day, and also during their run to the fifth round of the FA cup, was Dave Clarke. Dave, who also managed Blyth and played for Newcastle United, is a member of Heaton Stannington club and a regular visitor to it. Peter Rowntree came on late in the match and remembers the Blyth fans throwing objects at him, including peanuts, as he warmed up. He also remembers that the Stan took a good sized travelling support to Blyth.
Current club stalwart Bill Colwill, who among many other roles has managed the implementation of the recent ground improvements, remembers the match clearly. The experience is best described through his recollections:
“I can recall when the team was selected that apart from myself, Jimmy Gourley and my brother Mick we had a very inexperienced team and with only one or two exceptions the side was not very big in stature. The inexperience was more than made up for by the skill and ability of the younger lads in the side, all of whom went on to play for teams in higher leagues. Their inexperience actually worked in our favour because during the build up to the game none of them gave any thought to the enormity of the task that we had. As a result we played in a very relaxed and carefree fashion with all of the younger players expressing themselves without any inhibitions.
The game started very much in an end to end exchange with both teams having efforts on goal until a superbly struck shot from Alan Hewson flew into the top corner. Our lead didn't last long as Blyth were awarded a penalty which was converted by Les Mutrie. It was 1-1 at half time and surprisingly the half time team talk was quite subdued. The manager, the late Tony Britt, just asked the lads to go out and do it again. Two second half goals gave us a good cushion and we seemed to be dealing with the opposition quite comfortably until a collective realisation of what would could actually be achieved took a grip. It became a very anxious last ten minutes when composure seemed to have been drained from all but keeper Dennis Gilroy who made a number of good saves. At the final whistle what was very rewarding to me was the fact that the majority of the Blyth players and coaching staff all agreed that we had deserved our victory by the way we played. The final was played at St. James’ Park and although we gave a good account of ourselves drawing 0-0 with another Northern league side Ashington, we never quite achieved the very high levels of performance that we had in the semi-final at Blyth.”
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