Tow Law travelled to Grounsell Park seeking revenge for their play-off defeat which occurred the last time they visited. Although there was a more positive performance from the Stan than on Wednesday, it was not enough to prevent a defeat but, despite the downturn over the last week, the Stan are still a fantastic 7th in the league & 2 places off the play off positions. There were 4 changes from Wednesday with Purvis, Mark Turnbull, Cassidy and Slaughter replacing Flynn, Burn, Hopper and Lashley.

Both teams started positively but most of the early action was in the middle of the park & for much of the match the 2 teams cancelled each other’s efforts out. In 6 minutes, Purvis easily caught followed by Stephenson, supplied by Lamb, getting into the visitor’s box but his shot was headed clear & then kicked further clear. 

The Tow Law keeper easily caught in 12 minutes & 6 minutes later, although the Stan got into the box, the ball was intercepted & the resulting Tow law counter was cleared. The match remained relatively quiet although in 22 minutes a Cassidy free kick was headed clear. In 27 minutes, a Tow Law free kick into the box was initially cleared before a good tackle by Watson ended any danger. The stalemate continued with Purvis punching clear in 31 minutes. 

There was finally excitement in 35 minutes when a ball to Jake Turnbull saw him advance into the box & cross to Lamb at the left post who tapped the ball into the net. 2 minutes later, a Lamb header was cleared off the line. Purvis easily caught a Tow Law effort in 42 minutes but the teams were basically back to cancelling each other out until half time.

Tow Law started the 2nd half on the attack & immediately forced a save from Purvis. The ball from the resulting corner was initially cleared but although it was then headed on target, Purvis caught it. In 46 minutes the visitors were level when a shot was initially blocked in the box but was then forced into the net. 

5 minutes later, from a throw in, the ball was again in the net after a headed effort was blocked allowing Tow Law’s top scorer Ardelean to get the ball & turn & shoot to shock the home fans by making the score 1-2. In 52 minutes, a Tow Law free kick was headed clear followed by a ball from a corner also being clear by the Stan. 

In 56 minutes, Lamb broke but the keeper got to the ball 1st. After 2 more minutes Jake Turnbull was brought down in the box but nothing was given. In 61 minutes, a Cassidy corner led to the Tow Law keeper catching under pressure.  In 64 minutes, Lamb supplied sub Hopper who advanced with the ball towards the keeper & the goal but was tackled by a trailing defender before he could shoot. 

Tow Law shot wide in 68 minutes & 2 minutes later they shot from the edge of the box but Purvis made a great save. Both teams were still trying to attack but with no end results as both defences continued to frustrate their opponents. Tow Law headed wide in 84 minutes followed by the Stan shooting wide. 

In 90 minutes, a Stan attack saw the ball headed clear & out to Cowburn on the edge of the box who shot to the left but his effort went just wide as Lamb on  the left of the post could not make contact with the ball. There was some late injury time pressure from the Stan with Hopper’s shot in the box blocked but it nearly proved counter productive in the 95th & last minute when a visiting player counter attacked but was pulled back by Hornsby. 

Despite 3 defeats in a row, which has not happened before in the last 3 years, the Stan travel in positive mood on Friday night to take on league leaders Newton Aycliffe.

Heaton Stannington: Purvis,  Turnbull. J, Hornsby, Turnbull. M (Cowburn 71), Watson, Shepherd, Cassidy (Lashley 67), Slaughter (C), Anderson (Hopper 63), Lamb, Stephenson.

Unused Subs: Burn, Proctor.

Goals: Lamb 35.

Yellow Cards: Turnbull. J, Hornsby.

Supporters Man Of The Match:. 

Referee: Jordan Nicholson.

Assistants: L. Marriner, C. Kitson.

Attendance: 281.

Kevin Mochrie