Third placed Bishop Auckland and unbeaten in NL 1 matches played their part in an enthralling match at Grounsell Park as a brilliant home side notched up their fifth successive win with a goal in each half, after the 2 Blues had got a rather fortunate first half equaliser.
Bishop Auckland started well with most of the possession but Stan were steady and competing well. Both goalkeepers had little to do, but on 18 minutes a tremendous surging run by Leighton Hopper, inter play with Louis Anderson with Hopper hitting a low shot past a helpless Ryan Catterick. 1-0
Three minutes later Sean Reid was taken out by an elbow from Danni Lay, receiving a yellow card. Dan Stephenson took the free kick but Catterick saved comfortably.
On 24 minutes the visitors put the ball down the left flank, with Alfie Marriott getting a boot on it but Liam Henderson gathered and looked to shoot but Craig Scott managed to put the ball behind for a corner.
Anderson played a good ball for Stephenson but he fired over the bar. From a corner on the right, Richie Slaughter hit a fierce shot which hit Niall McGoldrick, winning another corner on the right. Anderson had a collision of knees with with Louis Johnson, with Johnson unable to continue and was replaced by Kieron Parnaby.
Konner Lamb was given offside, as he put the ball into the bottom corner of of the net.
On 32 minutes Charlie Watt was up against Kane Evans, with Watt’s cross come shot sailed into the far top corner with Brass unable to keep out. 1-1
Hopper was making various surging runs, hungry for more goals, he crossed for Lamb but he used his hand to control the ball. Reid under hit a back pass with Andrew May nipping in but Stephenson won the ball to keep Bishop’s from taking the lead.
On 42 minutes McGoldrick went down injured in a collision with Lamb. James Colwill ran on with the stretcher. Ben Errington came on as a substitute. We wish Niall a speedy recovery.
Anderson was flattened again, free kick on the right which Stephenson hit across and past the far post.
HT 1-1
Jay Hornsby replaced the injured Scott with Joe Shepherd moving to centre back.
Four minutes after the restart, a ball down the left for Hopper, marvellous run and jinked inside to delicately dink over the keeper. His 7th league goal of the season. 2-1
Stan were on the front foot and passing well, Hopper unexpectedly hit a great shot just over the bar. More great play with Stephenson hitting the ball over the bar. Two good tackles to deny Hornsby run, with Hopper on the ground needing treatment on his ankle.
Just past the hour Anderson testing Catterick with a low drive.
Hopper was booked for taking the ball away from where Bishops had been awarded a free kick. He was replaced by Andy Burn on 88 minutes.
Six minutes of added on time, and Stan to a man (probably their best performance of the season so far) would stand up and resist whatever the visitors had left. They had lost their rhythm, had some possession, but only one noteworthy save by an overhead kick from substitute Dean Thexton, which Brass saved well.
Fans applauded as Dean lead all the team in front of them.
Dean said after the match, “Anybody that finishes above them will win the league. They have some excellent players and play really well. We deserved to win the game. Dug in really well, defended fantastically well and to get the 3 points is huge. We are on a good run”
Heaton Stannington: Brass, Evans, Shepherd, Reid, Marriott, Scott (Hornsby 45), Hopper (Burn 88), Slaughter (C), Anderson (Dunn 74), Stephenson, Lamb (Doyle 83).
Unused Sub: Lashley.
Goals: Hopper 18, 49.
Supporters Man Of The Match: Leighton Hopper.
Yellow Cards: Hopper, Dunn.
Red Cards: None.
Referee: Alex Ferriday.
Assistants: S. Clifford, M. Baston.
Attendance: 309
Brian Pratt.