Despite only travelling a few miles to Palmersville for the Stan’s 1st visit to West Allotment’s latest ground, the team failed to turn up for much of the match. Things improved in the 2nd half, but it was not enough to stop a 3-0 defeat to 5th place Celtic. There were 4 changes form the Spartans match with Cassidy, Proctor, Jake Turnbull and Hird replacing Hornsby, Shepherd, Slaughter and Bisset.  

On a bitterly cold & dull afternoon, the Stan started positively when Proctor was fouled just outside the home box. The resulting Cassidy free kick was deflected for a corner. Stephenson then made a clearance at the other end. WAC attacked again & the ball hit the Stan bar. Both teams had started trying to attack but, after a quieter few minutes, it was WAC who looked more in control & more likely to score. 

In 8 minutes, a WAC player, under pressure from Hopper, tried a shot from long range & hit the post. Purvis then had to get down to save & 3 minutes later WAC shot wide. In 14 minutes, Jake Turnbull advanced into the home box & was brought down but nothing was given. A Stan attack was cleared twice in 17 minutes before a sustained home attack in 19 minutes led to a goal for them. Watson initially headed off the line before the ball was then headed into the net.

 The Stan were looking disjointed & in 24 minutes WAC were 2-0 up when the Stan defence failed to clear properly & a WAC player hit the ball into the net from the edge of the box. The Stan were soon under more pressure & in 27 minutes the ball went across the Stan goal & was deflected out for a corner. 3 minutes later & a longball to Hird did allow a Stan attack but he was blocked by the advancing keeper. 

The Stan changed their formation in an effort to get back into the match & in 34 minutes, after an initial attack was blocked, a Stan free kick in front of the home box went wide. WAC had the ball in the Stan net again 2 minutes later, but it was ruled off side. In 40 minutes, Purvis was down to save. There was then a bad & loud tackle on Jake Turnbull which resulted in a yellow card for the offending player. 

The Stan end the 1st half more positively with a Stephenson long shot forcing a save by the home keeper in 45 minutes. The resulting corner saw the ball being blocked then dropped by the keeper. Jake Turnbull then headed the ball back in with the keeper blocking again followed by Hopper shooting over the bar.

The Stan made 4 substitutions at half time with Hornsby, Shepherd, Lashley & Bisset replacing Cassidy, Watson, Proctor & Jake Turnbull. The 2nd half started quieter though apart from WAC shooting wide in 49 minutes. The Stan started the half trying to attack but with no end product. It was not until 55 minutes that the Stan attacked & the ball was eventually cleared resulting in a corner. The corner was initially cleared before a Stephenson shot was blocked & Shepherd then shot over. As the Stan built up the pressure, WAC didn’t have another attack until 58 minutes & 2 minutes later Purvis had to catch. 

In 62 minutes, Stephenson had to be replaced by Walker due to a knee injury. It was back to Stan pressure immediately &, after Hopper was brought down, Bisset’s resulting free kick forced the keeper to put the ball over his bar. 2 minutes later, & it was a high cross from Hird that gain forced the keeper to put the ball over his bar. The ball from the resulting corner was headed clear. It was still mainly Stan although in 72 minutes Purvis had to get down to save after a rare WAC attack. A Hird shot was then blocked before a long range WAC free kick hit the roof of the Stan net. 

Soon after, Purvis put the ball out for a corner as WAC began to get back into the match. The corner saw the ball go across the Stan goal before a WAC player shot wide. Purvis saved in 81 minutes but a minute later a long-range free kick into the Stan box bounced awkwardly & was put into the net to kill off any hope of a Stan revival. In 87 minutes, a good corner from Bisset saw the ball missed by everyone & after both sides had attacked 1 more time, the match was over.

So an unforgettable afternoon for the Stan Army despite it being Non-League day. The team’s performance was in contrast to that witnessed in recent matches. One similarity with Wednesday night’s match against Blyth Spartans, where there was a record crowd of 1339, was that the Stan Army were there in force making up the vast majority of the 250 crowd. Next there is a trip to Guisborough on Saturday.

Heaton Stannington: Purvis, Evans, Stephenson (Walker 60), Cassidy ( Hornsby 45), Watson (Shepherd 45), M. Turnbull (C), Proctor  (Lashley 45), J. Turnbull (Bisset 45), Hird, Burn, Hopper.

Yellow Card: Evans.

Supporters Man Of The Match: 

Referee: Cameron Atkins.

Assistants: J. Ferguson, D. McCauley.

Attendance: 250.

Venue: East Palmersville Sports Pavilion, Palmersville, Newcastle upon Tyne NE12 9HF

Kevin Mochrie