It was a game of 2 halves as the Stan travelled to 4th place Bishop Auckland. Unfortunately, on a warm & sunny afternoon, it was not just easter eggs that melted away but also the Stan’s chance to get the 3 points that had looked very possible at the break after they had dominated the 1st half with Bishop looking rattled. 

The home side seemed to get themselves together at half time & were the better team for much of the 2nd half although Hopper came close to getting an equaliser in 87 minutes. There were 3 changes from Wednesday’s draw with Benfield with Purvis, Burn & Bisset replacing Corkhill, Evans & Hird.

The Stan started on the attack but it was Bishop who had the 1st effort on goal in 2 minutes when a free kick went through the wall & just wide although Purvis had it covered. 3 minutes later, a Stan free kick into the home box was cleared but the ball went back in & Lashley was brought down. Hopper took the resulting penalty in the 6th minute & sent the keeper the wrong way to make it 1-0 to the Stan. 

Bishop then had an attack cleared but the Stan counter came to nothing. In 9 minutes there was good defending by Mark Turnbull to stop a home player getting through & this was followed by a sustained Stan attack that was eventually pushed back. Both teams were trying to attack & there was some good football by the Stan. After a quieter period, the Stan had a corner cleared in 19 minutes & 2 minutes later the home keeper had to come out of his box to stop the advancing Hopper getting the ball. 

In 26 minutes, there was some good defending by the Stan before it was back to mainly the Stan trying to attack. Hopper sliced a shot high & wide in 30 minutes followed by some great defending by Jake Turnbull. There was then a long-range effort by Bishop which Purvis put wide. The ball from the resulting corner was blocked along with 2 rebound shots. Lashley then countered but was tackled but the Stan soon attacked again. 

In 36 minutes, there were calls for hand ball when the home keeper came out of his box again to block Hopper. The Stan attacked again although the last 5 minutes of the half saw Bishop step up a gear & manage a number of attacks. In 45 minutes, Purvis got down to save & the half ended with a Stan free kick, after a bad tackle on Jake Turnbull, going straight to the home keeper. The Stan had been by far the better team for most of the 1st half & the home side had struggled to deal with them until the last 5 minutes.

The home side started the 2nd half having most of the ball & Purvis had to get down in 47 minutes. In 48 minutes, Bishop equalised when a ball from a throw in went into the box &, after a scramble, the ball was forced into the Stan net. 

Although both teams were trying to attack, it was the home side that now looked calmer & more in control. After 2 Bishop attacks & a bad tackle on Lashley for which nothing was given, they attacked again & a home player took the ball in from their right & Hornsby went down after appearing to be obstructed trying to stop them & as a result the ball went into the box & was deflected into the net by Mark Turnbull in 54 minutes. As well as going behind, the Stan were also now temporarily down to 10 men as Shepherd was sin binned for complaining about the Hornsby incident. 

The Stan didn’t have their 1st clear attack until 58 minutes followed by a great cross from Bishop into the Stan box but the ball was headed just over by a home player. The Stan then had to head clear before Bishop shot wide. Bishop then shot just over as they kept the pressure on until Shepherd returned in 66 minutes. The Stan then managed to get some pressure & in 70 minutes Marriott headed just over from a sub Stephenson corner. Stephenson then shot wide under pressure. Bishop then shot wide from a free kick & then shot over but off-side was given. 

The Stan did not give up although it was Bishop who had 2 shots blocked in 81 minutes.  Bishop stepped up the pressure again although the Stan were trying to advance forward when they could. The best chance of the half for the Stan came in 87 minutes when Hornsby advanced & crossed to the advancing Hopper in the box. He tried to chip the keeper from close range but his effort went over the bar. The Stan searched frantically for a late equaliser & a home player was booked for time wasting but the match ended just after a Cassidy free kick had been cleared.

You would expect to hear a lot about Bishops over the Easter weekend but don’t forget the Stan who dominated the 1st half & were unlucky not to get a late equaliser. The Stan now have a shorter journey next Saturday when they visit Whitley Bay, another promotion contender.

Heaton Stannington: Purvis, Marriott, Hornsby, Burn (Cassidy 81), M. Turnbull, Shepherd, J. Turnbull (Proctor 74), Slaughter (C), Hopper, Bisset (Stephenson 66), Lashley.

Unused Sub: Walker, Watson.

Yellow Card: Cassidy.

Sin-Binned: Shepherd.

Goals: Hopper 6 (Pen).

Supporters Man Of The Match:

Referee: A Bailey.

Assistants: F Malton, A. Breeze.

Attendance: 376.

Venue: Heritage Park, Bishop Auckland DL14 9AE.

Kevin Mochrie