The Stan bounced back from their poor performance last Saturday at West Allotment with a positive & determined team effort. Despite the match being played in miserable, misty & wet conditions, the Stan were the better team & although they had to come from behind twice, they deserved to win but, in the end, had to settle for a point against 7th place Guisborough. There were 6 changes from last Saturday with Hornsby, Shepherd, Slaughter, Bisset & Lashley replacing Stephenson, Burn, Cassidy, Proctor & Hopper. There was also a 1st start in goals for the new signing from Blyth Town, Callum Corkhill, who replaced Purvis. There was also a return from the bench for the long term injured Liam McBryde

The Stan quickly got on the attack & dominated most of the 1st 25 minutes of the match. In 2 minutes, Evans shot wide from outside the box followed by Watson heading just wide from a Bisset free kick. The Stan kept attacking & Bisset shot just over after 6 minutes. The 1st Guisborough attack was not until the 10th minute when a ball was sent across the box but was missed by everyone. From the resulting corner, the ball was headed down & tapped into the Stan net against the run of play. 

It soon returned to almost constant Stan pressure, including through 2 corners, & in 18 minutes Shepherd forced a save from the home keeper. In 25 minutes the Stan got a deserved equaliser when a long range effort by Slaughter was parried by the keeper & Hird blasted the rebound into the net. After a quieter period, Corkhill came out to block in 32 minutes. The Stan then forced a corner with Mark Turnbull’s resulting header deflected out for another corner. 

In 37 minutes, Guisborough unexpectantly took the lead again when a free kick into a packed Stan box eventually resulted in a home player shooting low into the net with Corkhill not at fault for the goal. Guisborough attacked again & Corkhill came out to block with a home player trying to chip him & hitting the bar. A rebound header then went just over the Stan bar. Both teams ended trying to attack but cancelling each other out.

Hopper replaced Bisset, who had put in a good shift, for the 2nd half. The Stan started on the attack & Slaughter shot over in 47 minutes. In 49 minutes, Lashley took a free kick just outside the home box on the left & sent it into the box & over to the right for the unmarked Mark Turnbull to comfortably slot the ball into the net for 2-2. 

In 53 minutes, a Guisborough attack was cleared & a rebound shot went just wide. Both teams were trying to attack & in 59 minutes a speculative Lashley long range effort went over. In 70 minutes, a ball from a Stan corner was headed over the bar for another corner that was cleared. Both teams were still cancelling each other out although there was plenty of action for the fans to watch. 

The last 16 minutes saw the Guisborough fans introduce a big drum to encourage their team, but the Stan Army remained louder. The Stan began to increase the pressure again & Lashley shot just wide under pressure in 75 minutes. A Shepherd header from a Lashley corner was then cleared & in 79 minutes Hopper shot over under pressure as the Stan sought the winning goal. 

Hornsby was working well & in 81 minutes a Hird shot was blocked by the keeper. Hopper then shot just wide followed by Lashley shooting over in 87 minutes. The 4 minutes of added time saw advances at both ends but both defences made sure the match ended 2-2.

Despite it being April fool’s day, neither team were a joke & both provided good entertainment for all the spectators despite the challenges underfoot caused by playing in torrential rain. The Stan can now approach, with increased confidence, Wednesday’s home derby with Benfield.

Heaton Stannington: Corkhill, M. Turnbull (Burn 63), Hornsby, Evans, Watson, Shepherd, J. Turnbull (Proctor 77), Slaughter (C), Hird (McBryde 83), Bisset (Hopper 45), Lashley.

Unused Sub: Walker.

Yellow Card: M. Turnbull.

Goals: Hird 25, M. Turnbull 49.

Supporters Man Of The Match: Richie Slaughter.

Referee: Timothy Craig.

Assistants: M. Catoroz, A. Cook.

Attendance: 294.

Venue: King George V Ground, Howlbeck Road, Guisborough, Cleveland, TS14 6LE.

Kevin Mochrie