The Stan made four changes to the side that was narrowly beaten in the League Cup at Seaham on Tuesday with Ball, Ray, Allan and Sayer replacing Hoggins, Stoddart, Mason and Kerridge. The recent three game unbeaten run had lifted us up into 6th place in the table and a win would move us above Willington into 5th place at least. The hosts, who after a good start to the season, had lost their last six games in all competitions and conceded twelve goals in their last two games.

After heavy overnight rain the pitch survived a cautionary morning inspection and Willington got the game underway, kicking down the slope with the wind at their back's. The Stan were quick to settle into the now familiar 4-5-1 line up and and a good ball from Josh Allan set Jon Wright away in the 4th minute and the leading scorer cut in from the left and beat Proctor at his near post only to see his shot bounce back off the post. Within a minute Paterson beat his man and crossed to the back post but Sayer couldn't get a telling header in. Seymour then had a shot at goal which Ball collected at the second attempt before Bailey thumped a drive a yard wide for the Stan.

The action continued and only a great last ditch tackle denied Sayer as he broke into the box but at the other end Ball had to be alert to deny Gash. Charmey then hit the wall from a free kick 25 yards out but it took a superb diving save from Ball to stop Gash giving Willington the lead with a free header from a corner. A minute later and the deadlock was broken with Bailey and Charmey linking in the centre of the pitch with the latter releasing Wright down the left and this time Jon Jon made no mistake with a crisp finish past Proctor.

Willington responded and Lawlor shot over the top from distance before Gash broke through the offside trap but he hesitated as Ball came out to block and although he eventually poked a pass to Storey the chance was gone as the Stan got bodies back. Mr Campbell then angered the travelling Stan Army after Wren caught Bailey two footed after he had won a sliding tackle, amazingly after consulting with the Linesman he gave Willington a free kick and kept the red card in his pocket. Wren was shown a yellow 30 seconds later for a lesser foul on Allan and the Stan went in at the break good value for their one goal lead.

HT: Willington 0 - 1 Stan

The second half started in the same manner as the first with Wright beating Lawlor down the left, drawing Proctor and poking a finish past him only to see it hit the inside of the near post and rebound out. That meant the Stan had hit the post 5 times in 97 minutes over their last 2 games. They weren't denied for long though and a patient break down the right ended with Paterson crossing for the unmarked Sayer to head home from close range in the 55th minute.

At that stage you'd have thought it was game over but three minutes later Ball came for a cross that he was never going to make and after the ball sailed over his head he clattered into a Willington forward to give an unnecessary penalty away. Gash sent him the wrong way from the spot to give Willington an unlikely lifeline. Willington continued with new found impetus and Wren shot wide before a cross flashed ascross the face of the Stan goal without anyone getting a touch. Charmey then broke down the right and put a lovely ball into the box but Wright could only guide it over the top from close range.

The onslaught at the other end continued and Storey had a great chance to level on 74 minutes but he was denied by a mixture of Ball, Ray and the post when it looked easier to score. Simpson was then shown a yellow for a reckless tackle and Blackbourne replaced the injured Allen. Gash headed wide from a corner before Bailey joined Simpson in the book for a trip as Willington broke but there was no respite for the Stan and substitute Cummings got in between Blackbourne and Middleton to head home from a long throw in to give Willington an equaliser in the 83rd minute.

The Stan did well to hold on for the rest of the game as Willington now had the bit betweeen their teeth and sensed an unlikely victory but they created little and the last action of note was Wright shooting high and wide from a free kick.

FT: Willington 2 - 2 Stan

The unbeaten league run was stretched to 4 games but it was a dispondent Stan that trudged off the Hall Lane pitch knowing that the game had pretty much been put to bed once Sayer had headed home. Instead a rush of blood by Ball had gave Willington a lifeline that they took as the Stan sat deeper and deeper as the game wore on.

Last week against Washington we had been awful for the first hour but woke up and did enough in the last 30 minutes to win the game, whereas here we dominated for the first hour before falling to bits in the last 30 minutes and letting Willington back into a game they had no right to still be in. The draw saw us drop to 7th in the table but if we can ever manage to perform fo the full 90 minutes we'll soon be challenging the top four, arguably the win at Crook is the only time this season that we have played and competed for the full game.

Next up see's Newcastle University at Grounsell Park on Wednesday 2nd October for a League Cup Group A clash with the Stan needing a win to have any chance of making it through the group stage.

Team (4-5-1): Ball; Simpson, Hall, Middleton, Ray; Allan (Blackbourne 76) , Charmey (C), Bailey, Paterson, Sayer; Wright .

Subs Not Used: Blackbourne, Bennett, Boyd, Hoggins.

Goals: Wright (26 Min), Sayer (55 Min)

Att: 50

Simon Lansley