It was 7-Up for the Stan as fans celebrated a 7-0 win with better refreshments at both the bar and Liz and Carol’s snack bar. It was the 3rd of 4 league cup group stage matches and there were 3 changes from Saturday’s draw at Willington with Hoggins replacing the injured Wright and reserve player Usman Ogidan making his competitive 1st team debut from the bench. Stan legend Shaun Backhouse was in goals for the Uni.

The Stan were ahead in 5 minutes when Backhouse went out for the ball but confusion with a defender allowed Sayer to get the ball and calmly chip it over them into the net. Paterson then had 2 efforts stopped by Backhouse before Kerridge was wrongly found to be offside after a good turn and move on the edge of the Uni box. The 1st 2 Uni attacks in the 15th minute were easily cleared and it was back to the Stan with Paterson twisting into the box before passing back to Bailey whose long shot was just wide. Hoggins then shot just wide.

In the 18th minute the Stan countered through Paterson on the wing who crossed into the box for Hoggins to shoot and score. A quieter next 10 minutes saw both sides trying to attack but the efforts were easily dealt with at both ends. In 32 minutes, Bailey headed just wide from a corner. In 33 minutes, it was 3-0 though as Paterson was brought down in the box by Backhouse and Kerridge scored the resulting penalty as although Shannie dived the correct way, the ball went under him. The Uni shot just wide in 37 minutes and in 42 minutes Backhouse had to get down to catch. The end of the 1st half had been quieter and more even but the Stan went in 3-0 up.

The match was definitely over after 3 minutes of the 2nd half. In the 1st minute a great 5 player attack allowed Paterson to tap the ball into the net. In 48 minutes, Bailey supplied Kerridge who put the ball past Backhouse. 10 minutes in to the 2nd half and the Uni started to have a period of possession although with no end result partly due to Ball and the Stan defence.

IIn 60 minutes it was 6-0 when a Kerridge shot was blocked and Hoggins supplied Bailey who scored. The Uni again had a period of possession though few efforts on goal and it was the Stan who nearly scored again in 71 Minutes when Hoggins hit the bar. In 75 minutes, Sayer got the ball but was brought down just outside the box but it rolled on allowing the advancing Paterson to make it 7-0. In 77 minutes, the Uni had a long shot which Ball had to tip over the bar and from the corner they headed over.

The last 10 minutes saw a reasonable amount of Uni possession although most of the advances forward, but with no shot on goal in most cases, were by the Stan. In 89 minutes the Uni shot wide but the match finished with a number of Stan attacks and a fantastic 7-0 win for the home side.

The Stan’s final group stage match is next Wednesday at North Shields with the Stan still in with a good chance of progressing as 2 teams go through and they currently sit joint 1st with the Robins.

Team: Ball, Simpson; Stoddart, Ray; Hall, Bailey; Paterson; Charmey (Blackbourne 63); Hoggins (Ogidan 69); Kerridge (Walker 63); Sayer.

Goals: Sayer 5, Hoggins 18, Kerridge 33, 48, Paterson 46, 75, Bailey 60.

Unused sub: Deagle.

Attendance 131

Kevin Mochrie