The Stan made it 3 wins in a row, amassing 13 league goals in the process, by defeating local & long-term rivals West Allotment Celtic in front of a fantastic crowd of 455. There was one change from last Saturday’s win at Northallerton with Evans replacing Lashley. WAC started with ex Stan players Connor Campbell & Mikel Thompson while Shane Jones was on the bench.
Both teams started positively but WAC had the 1st opportunity when in 3 minutes, they got the ball behind Purvis but Campbell could not get to it. Lamb broke at the other end 2 minutes later but was off side. Both teams were trying to attack & in 7 minutes the ball went across the WAC box but Anderson couldn’t get to it. In 9 minutes, Lamb was brought down & Stephenson sent the resulting free kick over the bar. Turnbull cleared from a free kick for a corner in 12 minutes & from a 2nd corner WAC headed over.
After a quieter period until the 20th minute, WAC had 2 corners cleared. It was the Stan who took the lead though in 22 minutes when an attack down the right saw Burn pass across the box to Anderson who tapped the ball into the net. Both teams continued to try to attack with neither dominating.
In 38 minutes, Lamb was brought down after breaking forward but Stephenson’s free kick was saved by the WAC keeper. Hornsby made a great clearance just before the half time whistle & there was still all to play for in the 2nd half.
In 48 minutes, the Stan were 2-0 up when Lamb cut inside & curled the ball into the top of the net. The Stan kept pressurising & in 51 minutes a defender just got to the ball 1st after Turnbull had tried to supply Stephenson. 3 minutes later & Anderson was pulled down just outside the box but Stephenson’s free kick hit the wall.
In 64 minutes, WAC started to get back into the match when Purvis had to catch from a corner. He then had to make a save which led to a corner from which Evans cleared off the goal line. The Stan countered & Lamb tried to lob the keeper who was off his line, but his effort went wide. WAC were pressurising continuously now although the Stan were defending very well & blocked attack after attack.
In 72 minutes, Lamb countered again & tried to lob the keeper who got a hand to the ball. There was a quieter few minutes until in 78 minutes, after the Stan cleared a WAC attack, the ball went out to sub Shane Jones on the edge of the box who shot through the crowded box to bring WAC back into the match.
Jones nearly equalised in 82 minutes when he shot just wide. 2 minutes later, as the rain started to pour down, Jones shot over the Stan bar. The Stan started to attack again & in 89 minutes Cassidy supplied Burn who shot wide.
Into 5 minutes of added time & it was now all Stan & in 91 minutes Proctor supplied fellow sub Lashley who smashed the ball into the WAC net. 3 minutes later & Lashley scored again when a Stan attack was initially cleared & the ball came back to him on the edge of the box which he then blasted into the net.
The match finished with the Stan achieving a deserved but hard fought win over WAC & although they went 2-0 up, the win was not completely secured until the 2 late goals due to WAC not giving up the fight & pulling a goal back. The Stan Army now take to the hills as the team visit Tow Law on Tuesday night.
Heaton Stannington: Purvis, Evans, Hornsby, Turnbull, Watson, Shepherd, Burn (Proctor 82), Walker (Slaughter 59), Anderson (Cowburn 87), Stephenson (Cassidy 75), Lamb (Lashley 82).
Goals: Anderson 22, Lamb 48, Lashley 90(+1), 90(+5).
Supporters Man Of The Match: Konner Lamb.
Referee: Steven Beresford.
Assistants: L. Marriner, D. McCall.
Attendance: 455.
Kevin Mochrie