Entering the 21-22 Senior Cup at the quarter final stage, the Stan travelled to division 1 North Shields for what was also their 1st match of 2022. A late pitch inspection saw the match go ahead but in very cold conditions & there was a frosty outcome as a positive Stan were out played by their higher level opponents. There were 3 changes from the last match at Chester-le-Street with Hopper, Burn & McBryde replacing Bailey, Proctor & Campbell.
North Shields started on the attack & sent a shot over after 2 minutes from a corner. 2 minutes later & a Burn mistake allowed Shields in but the defence dealt well with it. Hopper then had a header easily caught. The Stan were working hard but Shields had slightly more of the ball & more attacks. After 2 home corners, the Stan countered in the 13th minute with Hopper shooting over from in the box.
The Stan attacked again & in 18 minutes a good joined up attack involving Hopper & McAndrew saw Holmes miss a Hopper pass in front of goal before Stephenson shot over. The Stan were to regret this miss as almost immediately a home player was tripped in the box by Hornsby. The resulting penalty was converted in the 20th minute. A minute later & a poor attempted pass by Burn allowed Shields to get the ball & score. From looking like they could make a good effort of wining the match, the Stan had quickly thrown it away.
They did not give up though & immediately had 2 shots on goal which were both wide. Both sides were trying to attack & in 27 minutes a Shields player managed to shoot past McAndrew but hit the side netting. 2 minutes later & a home player under pressure shot wide followed by a long range effort going just wide.
Just after the half hour, the Stan had a sustained period of pressure including through good work by Hopper & in 38 minutes McBryde shot wide. Again the Stan were punished for failing to take advantage of their opportunities when in the 41st minute Shields scored when a shot from a cross was sent past Regan. 2 minutes later & it was 4-0 when a great solo counter attack by Smith saw him chip Regan.
The home side started the 2nd half by shooting wide although the Stan did then get their 1st corner. There was then a period of sustained pressure from Shields although the defence, especially Hornsby, were working hard to stop them. This didn’t deter the Stan & in 53 minutes a joined up attack ended with a great shot by Stephenson going into the left hand corner of the net.
The attack was then freshened up when Campbell joined the attack although it was Esdaille who was called into action 2 minutes later blocking 2 home attacks. The Stan were still trying to attack, especially through the work of Hopper, but it was the home side who scored again in 64 minutes when a run into the Stan box saw the ball put past Burn & Regan.
Campbell was then brought down just outside the home box but Burn’s free kick went just wide. Despite more Stan pressure it was 6-1 to North Shields in 77 minutes when the ball was forced into the net from a corner. Although it was too late, the Stan were not giving up & Campbell’s effort was blocked in 79 minutes & although a Hornsby run down the left saw his pass to Hopper come to nothing. Regan had to get down to save a long range effort in 84 minutes although the Stan got another consolation goal a minute later when Hopper ran down the right & blasted the ball into the net.
The Stan had tried to play but were beaten by a better team although 2 goals in 2 minutes after a reasonable 1st 20 minutes performance decided the outcome of the match. It is back to league action on Saturday as the table topping Stan host Jarrow.
Heaton Stannington: Regan; McAndrew; Hornsby; Luke (Carr 66); Hall (C); Esdaille; Hopper; Burn; McBryde (Campbell 53); Holmes; Stephenson.
Unused Subs: Flynn, Poole, Stoddart.
Goals: Stephenson 53, Hopper 85.
Yellow Cards:
Supporters Man Of The Match: Leighton Hopper.
Referee:
Assistants: Nick Vincent.
Attendance: 310.
Kevin Mochrie