Playing on the same day as bonfire night, the fireworks celebration for the Stan did not come until the 91st minute when they scored a late winner. The Stan Army coach, containing players, fans, a bad haircut & the legendary Stan cheeseboard, travelled along the wall to a very wet Carlisle. There were two changes from last Friday’s home defeat to Whitley Bay with Walker replacing the suspended Watson and Lashley replacing unavailable Slaughter.
The Stan started on the attack & Boyd in the home goal had to catch from a Cassidy corner. It was Carlisle though who took an early lead in 2 minutes from a corner when the ball was initially cleared but was then kicked into the back of the net.
In 7 minutes, the Stan were level when a Stephenson shot from outside the box took a slight deflection off a defender & beat the keeper for 1-1.
Lashley then nearly gave the Stan an immediate lead, but Boyd made a great save to stop his shot. Carlisle then had 3 minutes of pressure with the Stan defence having to make a few clearances. After a quieter period, Shepherd & Walker helped clear home attacks in 19 minutes followed by Lashley shooting wide. 3 minutes later, Lamb made a run down the left wing but was brought down in the box although nothing was given.
After another Stan attack was cleared, a Carlisle attack was cleared for the 1st of 2 corners. In 27 minutes, the Stan finally pressurised again when the home defence had to head clear from a corner. From Stephenson’s corner, in 28 minutes, Anderson shot through a number of legs to make it 2-1 to the Stan.
In 30 minutes, Purvis had to make a save from a curling long-range effort. In 34 minutes, a Lashley deflected shot was caught by Boyd. Although it was still raining, the low sun was making it difficult for the Stan but Purvis still managed to see enough to stop a long range effort in 37 minutes.
Both teams were trying to attack but it was the Stan who came closest to scoring again in 39 minutes, just after a hand ball penalty shout for the Stan had been ignored, when Lamb was 1 on 1 with Boyd but was blocked by him & his rebound shot went over. 2 minutes later & Carlisle shot wide & again 2 minutes later.
The half ended with the Stan still leading but with both teams looking for goals.
Carlisle started the 2nd half on the attack but shot well over. They then had a free kick cleared & in 49 minutes they shot over again. The Stan’s 1st attack of the half in 50 minutes came to nothing & Purvis then had to make a great save.
The Stan were trying to attack but there was no end product. In 56 minutes, Cassidy got to the ball & was brought down in the box but nothing was given. A minute later, with the Stan Army still annoyed about the decision, a Carlisle long shot was deflected into the net off Hornsby for 2-2.
This spurred on the Stan who had a few minutes of pressure. After a quieter period, the Stan had a good chance in 70 minutes when, from a poor Carlisle clearance, Stephenson crossed into the box but the ball was headed just wide. In 72 minutes, a Carlisle attack saw the ball go across the goal line, but no one made contact. The ball came back in but was blocked by sub Burn.
In 76 minutes, Hopper made his long awaited return from injury replacing Lashley. All the pressure was now mainly coming from the Stan although Purvis had to get down to save in 80 minutes. After a more even period, Hopper won a corner in 86 minutes but the ball from Cassidy was missed by Walker.
Both teams were trying to attack but the Stan were getting slightly more of the ball & in 90 minutes Hornsby won the ball but shot over. In the 1st minute of added time the Stan got their winner when Hopper crossed the ball into the box & although Boyd got his hands to it he then dropped it allowing Anderson to shoot into the net. After some more Stan pressure the final whistle went much to the pleasure of the Stan Army who made up the majority of the crowd.
Carlisle had more of the ball in the 2nd half but the Stan showed their resilience & made good use of subs to get a late winner. The Stan have still only been beaten once away from home this season and have won 6 of their last 7 games. It’s another trip to Cumbria next Saturday when the Stan visit Penrith.
Heaton Stannington: Purvis, Evans, Hornsby, Walker, Turnbull, Shepherd (C), Lashley (Burn 70), Cassidy, Anderson (Taylor 90+2), Stephenson (Cowburn 79), Lamb (Hopper 75)
Unused Subs: Proctor.
Goals: Stephenson 7, Anderson 28, 90 +1.
Supporters Man Of The Match: Louis Anderson.
Referee: L. Hardy.
Assistants: M. Hunter, C. Sealby.
Attendance: 135.
Venue: Petteril Bank Road, Carlisle, CA1 3AF.
Kevin Mochrie