There was a great advert for Northern League football on the last day of the season as a close fought match saw the Stan secure a late win over Carlisle City. Despite the torrential rain all afternoon, a huge crowd of 449 witnessed this spectacle. There were 3 changes from Tuesday’s defeat at Penrith with Corkhill, Cassidy and Lashley replacing Purvis, Marriott and Burn.

In monsoon conditions, Carlisle started on the attack & a cross from the right led to a shot on goal which saw Corkhill having to get down to save it. Both teams were trying to attack & in 7 minutes Bisset ran through on goal but his great shot was stopped by the keeper’s foot. Carlisle then had a long range effort go wide. 

In 10 minutes, the visitors tried another speculative long range shot which Corkhill put wide for a corner. From the corner, Kirkup headed into the Stan net to give Carlisle the lead. Carlisle then wasted another opportunity to score from another corner. The Stan didnt give up & in 13 minutes a Bisset shot was cleared off the line. The visiting keeper then had to save from a Lashley effort. 

It was mainly pressure from the Stan now. In 17 minutes, a Carlisle defender sliced a safe pass over his own bar. From the corner, Lamb eventually shot but his effort went high over the bar. 2 minutes later and another shot from Lamb was deflected by the Carlisle keeper over his bar for a corner. The ball from it was missed by everyone until Bisset sent the ball back in & it was cleared. 

A Lamb effort was cleared & was followed by a 13 pass Stan advance that ended with a deflection for a corner. It was all Stan now & they kept attacking. In 28 minutes, Hopper passed to Bisset in the Carlisle box whose shot was deflected for a corner. Carlisle had a rare attack in 28 minutes which was off-side & from it a long ball to Hopper saw him beat a player & shoot but the keeper blocked for a corner. A Lamb effort was then blocked before the Stan attacked again. 

The Stan pressure finally paid off in 34 minutes when a ball to Hopper in the Carlisle box saw him carefully tee his shot & he sent the ball high into the net for 1-1. 

After a quieter period, partly due to the torrential rain, the Stan were back on the attack on 41 minutes with Hopper being blocked. The ball from the resulting corner was headed clear before Lashley’s rebound shot went just wide. Lamb then attempted to get a loose ball but the keeper got to it 1st. Lashley won a corner from which the ball was headed out for a 2nd corner in 46 minutes & from which the Stan took the lead. Cassidy took the corner which was flicked on by Hopper & headed into the net by Shepherd.

The 2nd half started with a Lamb shot being saved by the Carlisle keeper. Carlisle then had a shot that was easily gathered by Corkhill. It was end to end now as both defences were put under pressure. In 54 minutes after a Hopper advance had been blocked in the box, Lashley passed to Lamb who passed back to him but his effort went high & wide. Hopper was then fouled just outside the box, but Cassidy’s free kick went wide. 

In 58 minutes, Turnbull headed a Carlisle effort clear before a Carlisle free kick was also cleared. In 61 minutes a Carlisle long range effort was headed out for a corner. Carlisle were putting more pressure on the Stan defence now although the Stan were also still trying to attack. In 68 minutes, the Stan came close to getting a 3rd goal when Lamb advanced round the keeper & shot from a tight angle but his effort was stopped in front of the goal by a defender. 

It was back to being mainly pressure from the Stan now although it was actually Carlisle who scored next with an equaliser in 72 minutes after they had shot wide from a corner. From the goal kick, the ball was played out from the back but a Carlisle player nipped in between 2 Stan defenders & pinched the ball then shot & scored. Both teams were trying to get a winning goal with both teams having efforts on goal but to no avail as time was running out. 

In 85 minutes an Evans effort was blocked before a 2nd Stan effort was blocked in the box amid calls for a penalty for handball but nothing was given although the visiting keeper then had to make a save. In 87 minutes, the Stan got their deserved 3rd goal when a solo run by Lamb saw him pass a defender then shoot confidently past the keeper for 3-2. In added time both teams kept attacking & a Carlisle attack was stopped by a great tackle by Mark Turnbull. The match ended with the Stan shooting wide.

So, the Stan finished their first season in division 1 with a win and have ended up in at least a very acceptable 8th place (with a chance of 7th) in the league. Everyone associated with the Stan are already looking forward with anticipation to next season.

Heaton Stannington: Corkhill, Evans (J. Turnbull 86), Hornsby, Walker, M. Turnbull, Shepherd (C), Hopper (Marriott 89), Cassidy (Burn 75), Lamb, Bisset (Watson 88), Lashley ( Proctor 60).

Goals: Hopper 34, Shepherd 45+1, Konner Lamb 87.

Yellow Cards: Evans.

Supporters Man Of The Match: 

Referee: Craig Jinks.

Assistants: C. Kitson, B. Beattie.

Attendance: 449

Kevin Mochrie