Usually, you would be called an April Fool to go out in torrential rain on April 1st but there were no fools among the 502 crowd who sensibly turned up to watch this important clash between 2 play-off rivals with 3 points at stake & potentially a home play-off advantage for the winners. In the end, despite both teams positively trying to win, the match ended in stalemate. There were 3 changes from Friday’s 4-2 win at Sunderland RCA with Evans, Sayer & Anderson replacing Shepherd, Doyle & Lashley.
The Stan started positively from the kick off with Hopper almost immediately running in on the Birtley goal, but the flag was up. Anderson had a shot saved in 5 minutes & 2 minutes later the Stan had 2 make 2 clearances as Birtley also tried to attack. The Stan then had to head clear another Birtley effort before a visiting player shot just wide when they looked like scoring.
Birtley had another corner cleared in 10 minutes while 3 minutes later Stephenson sent a free kick over the bar at the other end. Anderson then won the ball & advanced but was blocked for a corner.
On an increasingly heavy pitch, both teams were trying to attack but both defences were also working well. In 27 minutes, a long range Birtley effort saw Brass punch the ball over the bar. From the resulting corner, Brass got down to make a great save. It was end to end with Hopper looking particularly dangerous.
In 34 minutes, Burn & Sayer had shots blocked followed by Hopper having a shot saved. In 37 minutes, Sayer shot just over under pressure. Birtley then had 2 corners that were cleared. A Stepheson free kick went wide in 40 minutes followed by more end to end action including Brass punching out for a corner. The half ended with another Birtley corner which Reid headed clear.
The 2nd half started slightly quieter as both teams had to deal with the increasingly wet & muddy conditions. Brass had to save in 49 minutes but there was then action at both ends. In 57 minutes, a Hornsby ball into the Birtley box was headed over by Burn. Soon after Hornsby sent a diagonal ball into the visitor’s box & although it went past the diving keeper it also went just wide of the post.
In 60 minutes, Reid won the ball & passed to Hooper who shot just wide. In 63 minutes, from a Stephenson corner, Turnbull was blocked twice before a Birtley counter attack was cleared. It was mainly Stan now although Brass had to save in 67 minutes. 2 minutes later & Birtley shot well over the bar. Just after coming on as a sub, Lashley was supplied by Reid but the keeper got out to block his shot.
In 76 minutes, Birtley headed just wide of the Stan goal. Things were more even now between the 2 teams with conditions getting more slippy. In 78 minutes, a ball from Horsnby was cleared & Birtley counter attacked with Scott clearing before a rebound shot went just over. In 81 minutes Birtley shot wide under pressure.
In 82 minutes, Sayer was cynically brought down as he was about to enter the Birtley box & the resulting Reid free kick hit the wall. Twice the Birtley keeper got to the ball before the advancing Hopper before Brass easily caught from a long-range effort in 88 minutes.
Both teams were still trying to attack as the match entered 3 minutes of added time. In 92 minutes, Reid headed clear from a Birtley corner & the ball went back into the Stan box & went just wide of the post although the Stan were given a free kick for a push. Lashley then broke & supplied Hornsby who headed the ball into Reid whose header was easily caught by the Birtley keeper as the match ended 0-0.
Both teams dealt well with the poor conditions underfoot & remained positive as the pitch got soggier. The draw meant that Birtley remained in 3rd place with the Stan in 5th 2 points behind but with a game in hand which if won would take them back to 3rd place. The Stan are now away on Saturday at Crook Town.
Heaton Stannington: Brass, Evans, Hornsby, Stephenson, Scott, Turnbull (C), Sayer, Burn, Anderson (Lashley 70), Reid, Hopper (Lennox 88).
Unused Substitutes: Palmer, Marriott, Shepherd.
Supporters Man Of The Match:
Referee: L Hardy.
Assistants: R. Goodman, A. Atchison.
Attendance: 502.
Kevin Mochrie