Expectations were high at Grounsell Park, a very good crowd turned up to see the start of the NL season, with near neighbours Whickham, who had done the double over Stan last season.
It was an inauspicious start, with Whickham holding the ball well, but neither keeper was troubled. But an incident in front of me occurred around the 15th minute. Jay Hornsby had fed Leighton Hopper down the left flank, with the Stan player cutting inside only to be rugby tackled to the ground by Dom Agnew. The referee talked to the culprit who had managed to stop a dangerous movement from Stan. This incident was small in comparison with what was to come!
On 20 minutes a glorious chance for Stan with a great move started by Richie Slaughter, to Sean Reid to Hornsby to Konner Lamb to Liam Doyle to Jake Turnbull, setting up Andy Burn whose low shot was poor to end such a fine move.
Lamb and Hopper combined with Neal Bussey saving comfortably. Then Doyle fed Lamb down the right flank whose cross for Hopper was superbly cut out by Agnew. Much of Whickham’s play was the use of the long ball, hoping to capitalise. Not pretty to watch, but that is their style. What was amazing was Stan themselves reverted to copy this and not play their usual style.
Scott Robson was often the outlet and he got a chance when he jinked left to create an opening but blazed high and wide. Whickham’s new signing Callum Munroe fouled Hornsby and again the ref just talked to the perpetrator, much to the annoyance of an unbelieving home crowd.
Just on the stroke of the interval Lamb was breaking on half way line, was clearly pulled back and amazingly he was penalised as the offender.
H.T. 0-0
The lively Dan Marriott was fouled on the byline by Doyle, but was it really a yellow card? Kyle Patton took the free kick, low to near post but Dale Burrell flicked wide of the near upright.
On 51 minutes a truly wonderful double save by Lewis Brass to deny Robson. What a great acquisition Stan have got in goal, following other memorable keepers like Matthew Smith and Dan Regan.
On the hour Hornsby fouled Robson a few feet outside the area and a yellow card brandished. Being fairly central Burrell was looking to shoot goalwards, with Lamb back to help his defence. He took up a position which the referee indicated was ok but on the whistle Lamb moved fast to block the move and was unbelievably punished and the free kick was retaken. This time Burrell’s shot hit a Stan player in the wall leaving Brass stranded as the ball flew into the net. 0-1
Slaughter was booked for a foul on Shay Richardson as he looked like what all Stan fans were feeling, indignant and angry with what had happened.
Worse was to follow on 66 minutes when a deep overhit cross from the left gave Doyle the chance to clear. He sought to volley the ball away, with only one leg on the ground and the ball hit his hand. Was it in an unnatural position? No. The referee never hesitated to point to the spot, but what was his view of the incident? Brass was booked for kicking the ball away. Robson netted the spot kick to a loud noise of booing from the home fans. 0-2
On 74 minutes Stan should have scored when a corner was put to Shepherd who headed back and goalwards for Hopper but the ball was kicked away off the goal line.
Whickham deserved their win, but the manner of the goals left a nasty taste in many a fan. The final word needs to be for Dean Deagle and his son Freddie, who is slowly on the mend following a life threatening health issue, with generous fans rising to the occasion to give £411.24 on the day for Sick Children’s Trust.
FT 0-2
Heaton Stannington: Brass, Doyle (Bisset 82), Hornsby, Burn, Evans, Shepherd (C), J. Turnbull (Lashley 63), Slaughter, Lamb, Reid, Hopper (Sayer 74).
Unused Subs: Cassidy.
Goals: None.
Supporters Man Of The Match: Lewis Brass.
Yellow Cards: Brass, Doyle, Hornsby, Slaughter.
Red Cards: None.
Referee: David. Mitchell.
Assistants: P. Youngman, J. Harkers.
Attendance: 455.
Brian Pratt.