A large crowd of 241 watched this top of the table clash between the 2 long standing local rivals. The match was given an extra edge by the presence of a number of ex-Stan players in the WAC team including Jack Errington, Matty Hayton, Shane Jones and Abu Salim. There were 3 changes from Saturday’s win with Simpson, Fielder and Wilson joining the starting line-up. New signing Scott Canham was an unused sub.

In quite good conditions, the match started at a frantic pace with the Stan attacking 1st and shooting over after 3 minutes. WAC had a good chance from a corner cleared in the box 5 minutes later followed by the Stan just shooting wide. Baxter then made a good run but shot just wide. The WAC keeper had to punch clear twice from a Stan corner after 12 minutes. It was mainly Stan now, Wilson and Baxter were working particularly hard and, after Ball had made a good save from a WAC counter-attack, they both came close with efforts. 

The Stan kept attacking, apart from a WAC corner after 23 minutes, and a minute later Baxter shot wide. In 30 minutes a WAC attack saw them hit the bar from a corner although they were also responsible for a few bad tackles. In 31 minutes the ball slipped out of the WAC keeper’s hands from a Stan corner but despite the follow up efforts of Middleton, Paterson and Wilson, the ball was blocked. 

In 35 minutes Wilson sent a free kick just wide and 3 minutes later WAC headed wide. Wilson then saw his corner cleared twice before some ping pong in the box when Paterson should have scored. The half ended with WAC on the attack which included Ball having to get down to make a save.

2 minutes into the 2nd half and the Stan take the lead when a ball from a corner is headed into the WAC net by one of their own players for an own goal after initially it looked like it was Middleton who had headed.

In the 53rd minute, a long ball to Hayton, under pressure from 2 Stan players, saw him just manage to hold them off and slot the ball to Ball’s left and just inside the post for the equaliser. WAC kept the pressure on with 2 corners. In 58 minutes, the WAC keeper had to save before a further attack at either end. It was end to end now and the Stan tried to break the deadlock in 64 minutes replacing Fielder with Saturday’s hero Wright.

 In 67 minutes WAC attacked but the Stan countered and Baxter was eventually blocked before the Stan attacked again and shot wide. Baxter had 2 more shots before WAC shot across goal in 71 minutes and headed across it 3 minutes later. Another WAC shot hit off the bar and it wasn’t until 78 minutes when the Stan broke through again when Paterson ran down the right and sent the ball high into the box and it went flying into the far corner of the net for 2-1. What a goal! 

WAC immediately attacked and shot across goal before another effort was blocked. The pressure paid off in 82 minutes when a WAC attack into a crowded box saw the ball slotted into the net by Hayton for 2-2. WAC shot just wide 2 minutes later and 2 minutes after that Wright broke away but saw his shot blocked by the WAC keeper. The Stan attacked again but Wright was deemed offside. The Stan kept attacking but could not break WAC down although it was the visitors’ who had a solitary late and it turned out final effort which was blasted over.

It was a competitive fast paced and entertaining game that could have gone either way but should have seen the Stan just pip it. The only negative point was the constant moaning from some of the WAC players and support but hopefully they will be silenced in the return match on Easter Saturday. A point each in the end although If the Stan had beaten league leaders WAC, and other results had gone their way, they would have moved up to the 4th and last promotion place. 

Heaton Stannington: Ball, Simpson, Sayer, Middleton, Hall, Imray, Paterson, Mason, Fiedler (Wright 67), Wilson (Deagle 82), Baxter. 

Subs Not Used: Kerridge, Canham, Hoggins.

Yellow Cards: Simpson, Baxter.

Goals: Own Goal 47, Paterson 78.

Referee: Gary Hargrave.

Assistants: Ben Gordan, George Fox.

Attendance 241. 

Kevin Mochrie