Crook didn’t have to steal a win as they were delivered it by a surprisingly & unusually poor Stan performance. The Stan had won their last 3 home game and had only been beaten once in their last 8 matches. There was one change from Friday night’s defeat at Whickham with Hopper replacing Cassidy.

On a cold & blustery evening, there was a slow start by both teams although the 1st 20 minutes saw the Stan have more of the possession. The Stan’s 1st effort came in 8 minutes from a free kick. Soon after Hopper sent a long ball towards Lashley in the visitor’s box but the ball was blocked for a corner. 

The Stan kept attacking & in 10 minutes a Stephenson long range effort went wide. 6 minutes later & he tried another long range effort which brought out a good save by the Crook keeper. In 19 minutes, Lashley supplied Burn but the keeper stopped the shot with his legs. The Stan continued to attack & from a corner Stephenson hit the top of the net. 

In 22 minutes, Crook had their 1st clear attack & scored from it with Flynn initially blocking then, after a scuffle of legs in the 6 yard box, the ball was forced over the line. In 23 minutes, a Stan corner was punched clear. After a quieter period, a Stephenson free kick in 30 minutes, after Lashley was brought down, went just wide & 3 minutes later a shot from Hopper bounced just wide.

In 35 minutes, Hopper advanced into the box & his shot was blocked for a corner from which the ball was headed over. In 36 minutes, Crook attacked for only the 2nd time & again scored when a cross inside the edge of the box resulted in a shot which beat Flynn. Crook then had a ball from a corner headed clear with the rebound shot going wide & the half ended with a quieter period & the Stan Army still in shock.

Crook started the 2nd half on the attack. In 49 minutes, the Stan had an attack which resulted in a Crook counter move which ended with a long range effort which Flynn easily caught. He then got down to easily save 6 minutes later. 

In 58 minutes, the Crook keeper got down to save a shot which had bounced awkwardly. In 64 minutes a Crook corner saw Flynn get up to try to save it & although he got his hand to the ball it was headed into the net for 0-3. Crook then attacked again but the ball was cleared. Crook then won a corner from which Flynn punched clear & from another he put the ball over the bar. A 3rd corner saw him punch clear then catch a follow up shot. 

A triple substitution by the Stan did not immediately lead to a home revival as the fans witnessed a lack of action until in 75 minutes the Stan had a prolonged & joined up attack. The 5 minutes of added time saw a late Stan revival as they put sustained pressure on the well organised visiting defence although the match ended with a Crook free kick which went across the box without any contact. 

Although the match was there to win, 2 early goals against the run of play, a quiet 2nd half from the Stan & a solid Crook defence meant that for the 1st time in over 3 months a visiting team had won at Grounsell Park. The Stan now host Tow Law on Saturday.

Heaton Stannington: Flynn, Turnbull J., Hornsby (Cassidy 65), Burn (Walker 65),, Watson, Shepherd, Lashley (Hoggins 75), Stephenson, Anderson (Cowburn 54), Hopper (Proctor 65), Lamb.

Yellow Cards: Turnbull, Cowburn. 

Supporters Man Of The Match:

Referee: D. Van Hymus.

Assistants: G. Leadbitter, P. Youngman.

Attendance: 244.

Kevin Mochrie