After the dramatic comeback v Esh Winning in our last game there was an expectant crowd of 157 to see if the Stan could continue to stretch the winning run to five games and keep in touch with the promotion pack. There were three changes from that game with the injured Fiedler, the absent Sayer and Imray being replaced by Middleton, Wilson and Baxter as the Stan switched to a 3-5-2 formation.

The visitors, who deservedly won the reverse fixture in August, had won their last two games to sit comfortably in midtable. They included Mordey in goal who had made a couple of appearances last season for us as cover for Regan, and the popular Ex Stan wide man Josh Holland wass included on the bench.

The Stan kicked off attacking the Church End and the first chance fell to Middleton after a corner fell nicely for him but his drive was well blocked by a defender. The Stan were seeing most of the ball at this stage but without really creating anything and it was the visitors who took a surprise lead with their first real attack in the 17th minute. The danger had seemed to be averted when Bailey hacked clear from infront of his own line after a shot was hooked goalwards but Birtley recycled the ball on the right and Hedley took advantage of slack marking to swivel in the box and volley left footed past Regan.

The Stan were stunned and took a while to settle but Baxter got them going in the 25th minute with a fine run but a bobble undid all the good work as he was about to slip Burns in one on one. A break down the left saw Wright release Kerridge in the box but Mordey was down smartly to turn his shot away. Wilson was next to attack and Wright met his pullback but didn't get enough on his effort and it was an easy save for the Birtley keeper.

Birtley weren't creating much themselves but Smith and Sherlock upfront were holding the ball up well and there could be few complaints from the Stan Army as the interval arrived with the visitors holding a slender advantage.

HT: Stan 0 - 1 Birtley

The Stan flattered to deceive at the start of the half with the visitors looking more and more comfortable and the Stan's task was made a little bit harder when Ray, angered at the award of a soft free kick, was sinbinned for dissent in the 55th minute. Burns then broke from within his own half and he set up Baxter but his shot was straight at Mordey.

Decka responded with 3 changes as Mason, Hoggins and Paterson entered the fray before Ray was allowed back on to the field. Birtley had looked good value for the lead throughout the second period and had a glorious chance to make the game safe on 80 minutes when substitute Candlish raced clear but Regan stood up to him and made a fine save to keep his team in the game. That value of that save increased four minutes later when Bailey won a header inside the Birtley half and Baxter ran at the defence, his scuffed shot looked like meat and drink to Mordey but he could only manage to push the ball into the corner of the net as it bobbled past him to give the Stan an unlikely equaliser.

After the late drama v Esh the crowd sensed another comeback win but Birtley held firm and although Hoggins did have the ball in the net it was rightly ruled out for a foul by Baxter.

Baxter was then shown a 92nd minute yellow for a foul on Holland as the game finished all square.

FT: Stan 1 - 1 Birtley

A disappointing performance from the Stan who had looked second best all afternoon to a spirited and organised Birtley. Whereas Esh had sat deep in the last game and invited the Stan to attack in the last 20 minutes allowing us to turn arround a 2 goal deficit, Birtley had kept their shape throughout and the Stan can consider themselves fortunate to pinch a point thanks to a goalkeeping error late in the game.

With Carlisle, Ryton, Redcar, West Allottment all winning and Crook picking up a point we drop to 6th place in the table with a tough trip to Tow Law up next.

Team (3-5-2): Regan; Middleton, Hall, Ray (Sin Bin 55 - 65); Charmey (C) (Mason 59), Bailey, Wilson, Kerridge (Paterson 63), Burns; Wright (Hoggins 61), Baxter

Subs: (Not Used): Ball, Imray.

Goals: Baxter 84 Min

Att: 157

Simon Lansley