With a play-off place having been secured in the previous match, the Stan needed 4 points from their last 2 matches to ensure a home play-off match rather than an away one. They stayed on course to achieving this after a hard-working performance saw them deservedly grind out a 1-0 win against tough opposition. Boro Rangers, visiting Grounsell Park for the 1st time, put up a good fight & although they put on a great deal of pressure as the 2nd half progressed, the Stan stayed strong & weathered the storm. There were 2 changes from last Saturday’s draw at Guisborough with Scott & Lamb replacing Turnbull & Reid.
The match started on a cold Thursday night with Boro shooting into the sun. The 1st 10 minutes involved mainly pressure from the Stan but with no real threat attached. In 10 minutes, Hooper shot wide followed 2 minutes later by a Boro long ball to an advancing player but Brass got to it 1st. In 16 minutes, a Stephenson long ball towards Lamb saw the Boro keeper get out of his box to get to it just before Lamb did. Hopper then flicked the ball onto Lamb, but he was blocked. A Boro attack was then cleared followed at the other end by Lamb supplying the advancing Lashley but his effort hit the bar. The ball came back in from Burn, but the Boro keeper got down to collect it.
There was then a relatively quiet period although Sayer shot well over in the 30th minute. There was though still some intermittent attacks from both teams & in 32 minutes a Boro free kick hit the Stan wall & the rebound shot went wide.
In 37 minutes, from a Lashley corner, a Stephenson shot hit a Boro player’s arm & a penalty was given. Hopper, in the 38th minute, sent the keeper the wrong way & scored to make it 1-0. There was some late pressure from Boro, including them shooting well over the Stan bar twice, but the half ended 1-0 to the Stan.
There was a livelier 2nd half but with no goals. It started with a Hopper shot being caught by the Boro keeper. In 48 minutes, Scott had to head clear. This was followed by a Stan counter attack but the Boro keeper got to the ball before Lamb. Brass easily caught a Boro effort a minute later. In 51 minutes, a Stephenson long ball to Hopper saw the Boro keeper get to it 1st. Both teams were trying to attack & in 53 minutes Brass had to punch clear a Boro effort.
In 56 minutes, an advancing Boro player forced a diving save from Brass. From the resulting corner, the ball was headed clear & a rebound shot went well wide. In 58 minutes, a Lamb shot was blocked & there were calls for a Stan penalty as Hopper & a Boro player went down in the box. In 66 minutes, after a quiet period, a Boro counter attack saw the ball sent across the Stan box but no one was able to make contact.
In 70 minutes, Marriott replaced Lamb to help strengthen the defence & protect the slender lead. In 74 minutes, the Stan shot wide. Although both teams had been trying to attack, the last 10 minutes saw relatively sustained pressure from Boro with the Stan defence having to work hard. In 83 minutes, Brass had to make a catch & 2 minutes later he made a great save. Boro attacked again but shot over.
Boro kept attacking & Brass had to save again in 89 minutes. Sub Lennox then counter attacked but was offside. Soon after he counter attacked again but the Boro keeper got to the ball 1st. There was a great moment in the last minute when Ryan Bailey came on as a sub for his 1st appearance in 18 months due to long term injury. 6 minutes of added time were played & although there was some more Boro pressure the Stan achieved both a clean sheet & 3 points.
There was delight at the final whistle throughout most of the 421 crowd as a determined Stan held on against late pressure to secure all 3 points. The Stan’s last league game of the season, where they now only need a point to ensure 3rd place, takes place on Saturday & involves a trip to Crook Town.
Heaton Stannington: Brass, Evans, Hornsby, Stephenson, Scott, Shepherd (C), Sayer (Bailey 90), Burn, Hopper (Cassidy 87), Lashley (Lennox 76), Lamb (Marriott 70).
Unused Substitutes: Corkhill.
Goals: Hopper 38 (Pen).
Yellow Cards: Lennox.
Supporters Man Of The Match: Joe Shepherd.
Referee: Lewis Marriner.
Assistants: P. Clayton, B. Higgott.
Attendance: 421.
Kevin Mochrie