It was 3 league games in a row for the Stan where the performance did not lead to the deserved result. Crook Town stole a win as the Stan failed to put the ball in the net unlike on Saturday when they won 4-1 in the FA Cup. There was one change from this match with Lashley making his first start as he replaced Anderson.

The Stan started positively and controlled the game for the 1st 12 minutes as it took until then for Crook to cross the half way line. The Stan constantly tried to attack especially through Hopper who worked hard all night. He was brought down in 3 minutes but the keeper blocked Burn’s effort from Stephenson’s free kick. The ball was then headed clear from a Stan corner. In 7 minutes, Stephenson shot over. 

The Stan kept pressing and advancing into the home box. In 11 minutes Stephenson sent a free kick into the box which Hopper put just over the bar. Crook finally attacked in 12 minutes but this was easily dealt with. It was then back to the Stan with a Taylor header from a free kick being caught and Lamb shooting just over the bar. 

Crook woke up in 17 minutes when they shot wide and 2 minutes later Flynn had to clear for a corner from which he eventually caught the ball after some action in the box. Both teams began to cancel each other out and it was Crook who next had a clear effort in 26 minutes when a ball from a free kick was sent just over the Stan bar although Flynn was well placed. It was then the Stan’s turn to send a ball from a free kick into the opposing box but although Stephenson’s effort went through the wall it was saved by Makepeace in the home goal. 

Crook took an unexpected lead in 30 minutes when the ball from a throw in was crossed into the box and the shot went into the Stan net. The Stan responded immediately and in 33 minutes a free kick into the box saw Taylor head to the advancing Hopper but the ball went off his chest & straight to the keeper before Crook had a sustained attack that was eventually cleared.  

Both teams were trying to attack and both looked capable of scoring. This included 5 clearances in the home box as the Stan sought an equaliser. The Stan has a few minutes of dominance but Crook came closest when in 44 minutes an attack into the Stan box saw the ball go across the goal beating Flynn but Taylor blocked. It was end to end as the 1st half drew to a close but it was only Crook who managed to breach the opposing defence as the Stan had failed to utilise their good early start.

The Stan started the 2nd half on the attack as darkness descended. The 1st clear chances for both teams came in 50 minutes with the Stan’s effort involving Lashley splicing a shot high and wide. 3 minutes later and Flynn had to make a great save from an advancing Crook player. The home pressure continued and Flynn had to punch clear. In 56 minutes Lamb shot over and the Stan continued to try to attack but for the rest of the match Crook did look dangerous when able to counter attack.

 Both teams were threatening and in 63 minutes sub Cowburn’s shot was deflected just wide. After Hopper was brought down in 66 minutes, a free kick into the box saw Cowburn force a great full length stretch and save from Makepeace. In 69 minutes Makepeace made another great save to stop Hopper’s long range effort. 

The Stan forward line was strengthened in 71 minutes when Ward replaced the injured Evans, who had worked hard, and in 84 minutes when Esdaille came on up front to replace Lamb. It was one way traffic now as the Stan kept attacking and in 78 minute Hopper crossed into the box and the ball was missed by all the defenders but Lamb put his shot just over the bar. 

The Stan pressure continued although the last 10 minutes plus 7 minutes added time also saw an increasing amount of time wasting by the home team. Despite all the Stan advances and pressure they could not convert most of it into clear chances. Keeping the ball more on the ground might have helped. It remained almost all Stan pressure for the period of added time as they frantically sought at least an equaliser, apart from a number of stoppages due to injured home players. 

This one way traffic did leave the Stan at threat of counter attacks and this happened twice when in 95 minutes an advancing Crook player lobbed Flynn but hit the post and then he had to catch again soon after from another counter. The Stan kept attacking but continued to be thwarted by the home defence and although the Stan had the vast majority of attacks and efforts in the 2nd half they were unable to convert any.

The Stan started well in the 1st half before Crook were allowed back into the match and scored while the vast majority of the chances fell to the Stan. Even though they have now lost 3 league games in a row, the Stan Army will remain confident for Saturday when Thornaby visit Grounsell Park.

Heaton Stannington: Flynn, Evans (Ward 71), Stephenson, Watson, Shepherd, Taylor (Bamborough 55), Burn, Slaughter (C), Lashley (Cowburn 55), Hopper, Lamb (Esdaille 84).

Unused Subs: Hornsby. 

Yellow Cards: Watson.

Supporters Man Of The Match: None.

Referee: Richie Rowe.

Assistants: Lynn Brown, Frank Molton.

Attendance: 260.

Venue: The Sir Tom Cowie Millfield, West Road, Crook, County Durham, DL15 9PW.

Kevin Mochrie