Stan gave their best away NL 1 performance of the season (Clitheroe away in FA Cup) in dominating the match at Hillheads from the start, creating a lot of chances which would not have flattered Stan if they had scored 5 or 6 goals such was their superiority. They had to settle for a goal in each half without reply from the hosts.
On a warm sunny afternoon Stan had their first opportunity as early as 10 seconds when Bay keeper Dan Lister came to the edge of his area to gather the ball as Konner Lamb chased a through ball. Stan had so much of the ball and used it well, good build up play, with only home keeper playing well for the Bay.
A golden opportunity on 7 minutes when Leighton Hopper played a delightful through ball for Lamb, beat the offside call but put his low shot narrowly wide. One minute later a corner from Jay Hornsby, with Declan Bisset volleying wide.
Another corner 2 minutes later, in-swinging from Dan Stephenson which Lister under pressure managed to punch away but Bisset hit it first time and again just wide.
Lister again ran out of his area to deny Lamb getting onto Richie Slaughter’s pass.
On 23 minutes first corner for Bay. Surprisingly their build up was so slow and not able to penetrate the Stan defence. Stan were continuing to create chance after chance.
Bay captain Michael Hall was booked on 26 minutes for a foul on Hopper, inches outside the area. Stan wasted the free kick.
Just before the half hour, more good build up play from Stan, between Hornsby and Hopper with Stephenson driving over the bar.
On the half hour Bay’s Harvey Neary had a low shot which Greg Purvis watched it go past his upright.
Ten minutes before the interval, Lamb surged down the right, a great cross for Hopper with his slick flick goal bound but Lister made a wonderful finger tip save to put the ball over his bar.
Were Stan not going to score after all this dominant play? It came on 42 minutes with another exquisite ball forward from Hornsby for Lamb, slight hesitation from the striker, but off he chased and made no mistake with a low shot into the corner of the net, for his 18th league goal of the season. 0-1
In the first half as Bay struggled, they did not manage a single shot on target. Surely they would do better in the second half?
HT 0-1
24 seconds after the restart Lamb set up Hopper, his shot was again well saved by Lister, pushing the shot for a corner. But for Lister’s excellent performance Stan would have been out of sight and the points in the bag.
On the hour Bay’s first shot that needed Purvis to save.
On 65 minutes Lamb got the ball on the left, beat one defender, but a second defender managed to get the ball back to Lister for him to clear. Hornsby fell awkwardly having put the ball into the Bay area. He continued after some treatment.
On 76 minutes Alfie Marriott brought down Luke Porritt outside the area, on the left. He received a questionable booking.
On 82 minutes Stephenson was clearly tripped in the area, Stan fans were amazed that no penalty given.
Stan still putting Bay under pressure with a series of corners, but nothing came of them.
Whenever Bay managed to put a decent ball into the danger area, there was Mark Turnbull, in the right place, never put a foot wrong in the whole match, clearing with ease.
6 minutes of added on time. Bay’s Ben Richardson hit a strong shot that thumped against the post and was cleared. Substitute Lashley had a shot saved.
Then in the 5th minute of added on time, Cassidy looked likely to score, was he brought down? Irrelevant as Lashley placed the ball into the net.0-2.
FT 0-2
Heaton Stannington: Purvis, Evans, Hornsby, M. Turnbull, Marriott, Shepherd, Stephenson (Cassidy 86), Slaughter (C), Lamb (Lashley 77), Bisset (Burn 79), Hopper (Proctor 86).
Unused Sub: Watson.
Yellow Card: M. Turnbull, Marriott.
Goals: Lamb 42, Lashley 90 (+ 5).
Supporters Man Of The Match:
Referee: Charlie Ford.
Assistants: D. Ure, T. Wallace.
Attendance: 558.
Venue: Hillheads Park, Rink Way, off Hillheads Road, Whitley Bay, Tyne & Wear. NE25 8HR.
Brian Pratt