In a cracking match, Heaton Stannington came from behind, after conceding an early goal, to win with a very late goal, to give them the double over third placed West Auckland.
Joe Shepherd returned to the first team, with Kane Evans making his 50th start for the Stan.
A fine day, generally dull but a bit of sunshine crept in, but not for long, as it remained cold.
Stan started well and had a couple of attacking moves down the left flank, with shots not testing keeper Piotr Banda. And one long range shot from Sean Reid, Banda saved comfortably.
But it was the visitors who opened the scoring on 5 minutes, when a clearance from Lewis Brass hit the back of Joshua Scott, deflected up into the air and towards goal with Scott getting to it first and heading into the net. 0-1 His 18th league goal of the season.
Stan reacted well with some good inter passing, Mark Turnbull finding Jordan Lashley but he couldn’t find space for a shot, but on 18 minutes a superb volley from Dan Stephenson which just went inches wide of the upright.
The moves from Stan kept coming, Richie Slaughter and Stephenson instigators of most flowing moves forward, but Stan found it difficult to finish off their moves.
Turnbull to Reid who found Stephenson who gave the ball out wide to Leighton Hopper, but his cross was deflected behind for a corner. Andy Burn to Stephenson and again to Hopper, who was a handful. A lot of possession, good passing, but that final touch was not working.
On 36 minutes a Burn effort was turned aside by Banda for a corner.
Burn to Reid back to Burn out to Hopper but again his shot went wide.
But the equaliser came on 41 minutes, Burn to Stephenson, to Lashley and across to Hopper, whose shot from outside the area, took a slight deflection and went into the top far corner of the net. 1-1 A well deserved equaliser.
HT 1-1
West Auckland raised their game but they met a stubborn home defence which stood strong with all that was thrown at them. On 50 minutes James Harrison just outside the area but his shot flew over the Stan bar.
Three minutes later Oscar Fletcher headed wide when he should have done better.
Mark Turnbull was yellow carded for a foul on Corey Nicholson. From the free kick Scott headed over the bar.
On 57 minutes Lashley shot low, Banda fumbled the ball to Hopper, 4 yards out, but amazingly, he hit the chest of the keeper.
Turnbull was impressive in getting in a tackle to turn the ball out of play, denying West Auckland a goal scoring opportunity.
Brass was at his best with a marvellous save on 59 minutes when Lee Hulme, 22 yards out was denied by a truly great save.
Strange moment just past the hour when VAR visited Grounsel. (without camera or dodgy white line) Asst referee raised his flag, was it for offside or a foul? Ref told him to put his flag down and play went on. Brass walked out of the way (why risk injury) as Scott netted. Quite a hold up as who knows what was said. Stan were awarded a free kick where the assistant had raised his flag.
On 68 minutes Reid seemed to be fouled as he passed to Hopper, but he dinked the ball on to top of bar and over.
Then Nicholson hit the base of the post from outside the area from a breakaway. Action from end to end as each side wanted a win.
Magic from Hopper on 76 minutes, having beaten a couple of defenders he squared the ball for Burn, many who saw that Barnoldswick blockbuster of a winner, thought here we go again, but he smashed the ball over the bar.
83 minutes Mark Turnbull was injured in another of his tackles and was replaced by Alfie Marriott.
Evans rescued Stan, when conceding a corner as Brass raced a long way out. Evans needed treatment. From the resultant corner substitute Danny Sayer headed away.
4 minutes of added on time.
Another world class save from Brass when Scott hit a goal bound shot but was denied by the flying keeper.
Last minute, and what an outstanding pass from Slaughter, through the middle for Hopper to run onto with Liam Potter taking Hopper out. Penalty given.
Game held up while Ben Dale was given a yellow card then another yellow as he kept on at the ref.
Ice man Hopper nonchalantly put the spot kick away to steal a win for Stan.
That’s half the league games now completed for Stan.
FT 2-1
Dean said after the match, “The equaliser was coming eventually. We were happy with 99% of it, but it was just that last cross, shot or whatever it was, that last pass, it was just letting us down. It was tough. We defended really well. Do not lose the game was the order, but we took all 6 points against them, was unbelievable.”
Heaton Stannington: Brass, Evans, Hornsby, Burn (Cassidy 91), Turnbull (Marriott 83), Shepherd, Hopper, Slaughter (C), Reid (Anderson 76), Stephenson, Lashley (Sayer 73).
Unused Subs: Greenwood.
Goals: Hopper 41, 90 (+5)
Supporters Man Of The Match: Leighton Hopper.
Yellow Cards: Turnbull.
Referee: David Mitchell.
Assistants: P. Clayton, J. Davison.
Attendance: 342.
Brian Pratt.