Table toppers Newton Aycliffe left Grounsell Park without a point as Stan gave their best performance of the season, getting a slender 1 goal lead in the first half, but added 3 more in a dominant second half, without reply from the visitors.

Newton Aycliffe started well, on the offensive, Liam Adamson had a shot blocked for a corner. Stan quickly responded, from a corner, Jay Hornsby shot was blocked.

On 13 minutes the question was how did Stan not score when the ball hit the crossbar, Konner Lamb closed down keeper Adam McHugh, back heeled the ball and was it over the line? Play on.

An open game with both sides playing some good football, Adamson had a long range shot comfortably saved by Greg Purvis.

On 29 minutes a great through ball down the middle for Lamb but he was nudged off the ball and Aycliffe escaped again.

However, 2 minutes later, Lamb on the left, outside the area curled an exquisite shot into the top far corner of the net. Outstanding, and home fans were delighted. 1-0

Jake Turnbull was booked for a foul.

Adamson got onto a through ball but shot tamely and straight to Purvis.

Callum Munro was booked for a foul on Leighton Hopper, who was lively and had his best game of the season.

Lamb chased a long ball, McHugh just got there first at the edge of the area. Was he outside his area? Nothing given.

Alfie Marriot did well to deny another attack, putting the ball out for a throw in to deny them an opportunity to score.

On 44 minutes a masterful tackle by Mark Turnbull on their leading goal scorer, Liam Jarvie, winning a goal kick when a goal or a corner looked likely.

Ethan Wood was given a yellow card for a foul on Hopper. The visitors were finding Hopper hard to deal with.

H.T. 1-0

A strange incident in the opening minutes of the second half, when a corner from Aycliffe drifted on top on the crossbar with Joe Shepherd clearing the danger.

It was no surprise when Stan doubled their lead on 53 minutes, with a mazy Hopper run, his low shot across goal hit the far post, with Lamb tapping in from close range. 2-0

Two minutes later and Munroe received a second yellow for a foul on Shepherd, who needed treatment before he could restart. Jake Turnbull hit a volley wide before he was replaced by Andy Burn.

Game over now, if not before, when Oscar Eckley-Aldsworth felled who else, but Hopper in the box. Penalty. Hopper got up and sent McHugh the wrong way 3-0

On 75 minutes substitute Jordan Lashley with precision lobbed the ball over the visitors defence for Burn to run onto and net. 4-0

If this had been a boxing match the referee would have stopped the match.

Almost a fifth goal in added on time when a tackle by Hornsby ends up going to Lamb who is tackled with the ball hitting the crossbar.

The last 4 NL games, 2 wins and 2 defeats, but Lamb has scored in each of them, netting 7 goals, Hopper has scored in the last three of them scoring 6 goals. Can this sequence continue?

Dean Nicholson said afterwards, “A flawless performance. They are the best side we have played, and they may well win the league. Watching our lads jumping in front of the ball in the 90th minute to keep a clean sheet, just shows the pride they have got. They did not want to concede a goal. They deserved it. All the way through from Gregg to the 16 they deserved to keep a clean sheet tonight.”   

Newton Aycliffe are a much better side than what we saw here. That’s how good Stan were today. They now meet Ashington next Saturday whilst Stan go to Pickering on Tuesday evening and on Friday at home to Seaham Red Star

Heaton Stannington: Purvis, Cassidy (Watson 85), Hornsby,  Turnbull M., Marriott, Shepherd (C), Turnbull J. (Burn 63), Stephenson (Walker 79), Hopper (Lashley 66), Bisset (Proctor 79), Lamb.

Goals: Lamb 31, 53, Hopper 65 pen, Burn 75.

Yellow Cards: Turnbull J.

Supporters Man Of The Match:  Mark Turnbull.

Referee: K. Graham.

Assistants: E. Galbraith, K. Jobling.

Attendance: 275.

Brian Pratt