After a hard-fought match in dreadful conditions for both sides, the Stan came from behind to beat the visitors from North Yorkshire. There were 3 changes with Burn, Watson & Proctor replacing Cassidy, Marriott & Lamb.

Northallerton were 1st to threaten when in 2 minutes Burnicle, who was dangerous throughout the match, broke & shot. Purvis blocked but then he shot again right in front of the keeper, but his effort went wide of the right post. After 6 minutes the Stan had an attack blocked followed by Hornsby shooting over. 

Not long into the match, torrential rain started & lasted for most of the match which made conditions underfoot increasingly difficult. There was a quieter period until 13 minutes when the visitors shot into the side netting from a corner. The Stan then attacked with Stephenson eventually shooting over. This was the beginning of 2 minutes of sustained pressure from the Stan which ended with a Northallerton counter attack which was stopped by great work from Watson. 

In 22 minutes, Shepherd headed wide from a free kick & 2 minutes later the visitors shot over the bar. It was end to end now & in 27 minutes Stephenson sent a ball into the visitor’s box but it was headed clear. The ball was sent back into the box but cleared again. The Stan then started another attack & Hird, supported by Stephenson, ran into the 6 yard box but the Northallerton keeper got in the way forcing Hird to shoot just wide. There was now sustained pressure by the Stan, but the visiting defence was dealing with it. Unfortunately though in 32 minutes Northallerton’s Hogan broke forward & remained just onside to shoot past Purvis. 

There was then some good work at the other end by Stephenson before Burnicle outran Turnbull to force a corner which was cleared. The monsoon conditions led to a quieter period. In 42 minutes, Hird was blocked on the Northallerton goal line & soon after Stephenson shot just wide. In 46 minutes, Purvis ran out to block Burnicle who was then deemed offside.

There was a quieter start to the 2nd half with the 1st attack, which was by Northallerton, blocked in the 49th minute. Although both teams were trying to advance, the next clear attack wasn’t until 55 minutes when the visitors were blocked & the 1st clear Stan attack, which was subsequently blocked, was not until 57 minutes although a minute later the Northallerton keeper had to make a save. Northallerton then shot wide. Burnicle then broke again but shot just over. Hopper then supplied Proctor at the other end but although he was tripped in the box nothing was given. Burn then suppled Proctor whose speculative but great long range shot went just over. 

After a few quieter minutes, Hopper’s shot was blocked in 66 minutes. Stephenson’s free kick into the box was then cleared as the rain got very heavy again. After another few quieter minutes due to the impact of the rain, sub Lashley headed just over from a Stephenson cross in 72 minutes. In 75 minutes, Hornsby, who was working hard, sent a ball into the Northallerton box which Proctor could not get to. 

The Stan kept attacking & the equaliser finally came in 79 minutes. An initial attack was blocked after Lashley was tackled in the box & then the ball came back in to sub Bisset who was blocked. Evans then sent the ball back into Hopper whose header was blocked but Bisset headed the rebound into the net. It was all mainly Stan after this, but they were frustrated by hard work from the opposition. 

In 86 minutes, Hopper was brought down & the resulting free kick was blocked then cleared. Hornsby then send the ball back in but it went over the bar. In 89 minutes, Hopper was blocked in the box & Burnicle then countered but was off-side. There were 4 minutes of added time as the Stan sought a winner. 

In 92 minutes, Shepherd headed just wide. Hopper then forced a corner, but Watson headed wide. In 94 minutes, Proctor ran with the ball & eventually rounds 2 defenders, passed to Lashley who passed back to Proctor who was then brought down in the box for a penalty. The last kick off the game in 95 minutes saw Hopper take the penalty to make it 2-1.

The Stan’s perseverance & team effort eventually got them a deserved if very late three points. The Stan can now approach with renewed confidence, Wednesday night’s massive game when Blyth Spartans visit in the semi final of the Northumberland Senior Cup.

Heaton Stannington: Purvis, Turnbull M. (Evans 68), Hornsby, Burn, Watson, Shepherd, Proctor, Slaughter (C), Hird (Lashley 62), Hopper, Stephenson (Bisset 74)

Unused Subs: Walker, Cassidy.

Goals: Bisset 79, Hopper 90 (+5) Pen.

Yellow Cards: Proctor, Dean Nicholson (non playing caution)

Supporters Man Of The Match: Richie Slaughter.

Referee: Elliot Cowens.

Assistants: D. Ure, K. Jobling.

Attendance: 339.

Kevin Mochrie