The Stan travelled to Ryhope on Wearside where they eventually left with 3 points after participating in a entertaining & competitive game with plenty of goals, including some early Christmas crackers. The Stan now have won 8 away games in a row much to the delight of the travelling Stan Army who made up a large proportion of the crowd. There were 3 changes from Wednesday’s draw with Ashington with Purvis, Walker & Lashley replacing Flynn, Slaughter & Lamb.

The Stan started with a few early minutes of pressure & headed over in 4 minutes. The 1st 10 minutes saw the Stan having most of the ball although in 10 minutes some RCA pressure saw a Shepherd part clearance then a corner being won. From it, Hornsby had to clear off the line before RCA hit the post before their rebound shot was blasted over.

After this let off, the Stan responded immediately with a goal in 12 minutes. Shepherd sent the ball up the left for Lashley who comfortably shot past Marrs in the home goal. Although the Stan were looking for a 2nd goal, it was RCA who scored next in 19 minutes when a ball into the Stan box was headed past Purvis & into the net by Bennett. Things were more even after the equaliser with much of the action for the next few minutes taking part in the middle of the pitch. RCA nearly took the lead in 24 minutes though when Bennett counter attacked &, although he was offside but no flag was waived, he chipped Purvis but his effort went just over.

There was then a few minutes of joined up Stan pressure with RCA not able to attack again until in 31 minutes. In 35 minutes, a Cassidy effort went just wide. It was RCA who took the lead though in 36 minutes when an attack was initially blocked but the ball came out to Davison on the edge of the box who blasted it into the Stan net. The Stan immediately attacked but RCA headed clear. In 38 minutes Burn shot just wide. In 40 minutes Morris shot wide when he should have scored for RCA.

Hornsby made a good clearance in 41 minutes, but it was the Stan who scored next in 42 minutes through a great goal. Evans supplied Lashley who sprinted up the park & blasted the ball into the net for 2-2. The Stan kept the pressure on RCA but Hornsby had to make another clearance in added time before the half finished with Lashley unsuccessfully chasing a long ball.

Unlike the dry 1st half, the 2nd half was played in wet & colder conditions but the action on the pitch helped greatly in distracting the crowd from the miserable weather as both teams approached it positively by seeking a win. The Stan nearly took the lead immediately on the restart when Anderson was blocked on the goal line & Stephenson was unable to connect properly with the rebound.

The Stan then attacked again & hit the side netting. The Stan kept attacking, especially through Lashley, & in 54 minutes, after some sustained pressure, a Stan corner resulted in the ball going to Shepherd in the box who passed to Turnbull whose shot was saved by the RCA keeper. RCA’s 1st proper attack of the 2nd half in 54 minutes was deflected for a corner.

It was RCA who went ahead in 59 minutes when Bennett scored direct from a 35 yard free kick. Both teams continued to try to attack & in 67 minutes the Stan equalised when Lashley ran into the box with the ball &, with the keeper in front of him, passed to his left to allow sub Proctor to slot the ball into the net.

2 minutes later & the Stan were ahead again when Stephenson sent a long ball to Proctor who passed to Anderson on his left who blasted the ball into the net from the edge of the box.

Both teams kept positive & in 74 minutes, Purvis had to make a great save with the rebound shot going just over. A minute later & RCA headed over, this time from a free kick. Cowburn then shot over at the other end. RCA then put sustained pressure on the Stan defence & Purvis before an Anderson effort was caught by the RCA keeper in 84 minutes.

Hornsby then headed a RCA free kick away before a long ball to Anderson saw him blast his effort just wide from the edge of the box. Both teams were seeking another goal & in the 90th minute an RCA header hit the bar. The match ended with a Stan attack & the Stan Army were delighted when the final whistle signalled victory for the visitors.

The Stan put on another determined & positive performance & the whole team contributed to bringing them back from being behind to achieving victory against challenging opposition although the skill and hard work of Jordan Lashley merits special attention. The match was a great advert not just for the Stan but also for the Northern League in general. The Stan now welcome Crook Town to Grounsell Park next Saturday.

Heaton Stannington: Purvis, Evans, Hornsby, Cassidy, Turnbull, Shepherd (C), Lashley (Taylor 84), Burn (Proctor 63), Anderson, Stephenson, Walker (Cowburn 63).

Unused Subs: Flynn, Lamb.

Goals: Lashley 12, 42, Proctor 67, Anderson 69.

Yellow Cards: Hornsby, Cassidy.

Supporters Man Of The Match: Jordan Lashley.

Referee: Cameron Atkins.

Assistants: P. Lauder, O. Andre.

Attendance: 106.

Venue: Beechbrook, Ryhope, Sunderland, SR2 0NZ.

Kevin Mochrie

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