Only 4 days after they had been beaten 5-0 by the Stan in the FA Cup, Tow Law returned to Grounsell Park in league action. It was the Stan who got their 1st league win comfortably although the winning margin was far less than it could have been as a result of the excellent performance by Tow Law’s young goalkeeper Kyle Seymour who is on loan from South Shields. There were 3 changes with Brass, Doyle and Shepherd replacing Corkhill, Evans and Stephenson.
Both teams started positively with Seymour in the away goal getting to the ball before Hopper in 3 minutes then Brass having to punch clear. Lamb then broke but his weak shot under pressure was cleared in front of the Tow Law goal.
It was now mainly the Stan & the goal came in 16 minutes when a run by Jake Turnbull saw him brought down in the box & Hopper calmly put away the resulting penalty. In 20 minutes, Seymour made a good save when a Stan free kick saw a header from Scott which was followed by a break from the visitors & a great save by Brass. Seymour then made another great save from Lamb & then another 3 minutes later. The pressure was now all from the Stan & Lamb’s shot from close range in 27 minutes was blocked by Seymour. He saved another Lamb effort 3 minutes later & also blocked Bissett’s rebound effort.
After a rare Tow Law attack, Seymour caught a Reid shot in 37 minutes & made another great save from him in 41 minutes. Tow Law had a couple of attacks but it was still mainly the Stan although the half finished with a Seymour save followed at the other end by a block by Mark Turnbull.
Tow Law started the 2nd half positively although it was the Stan in 49 minutes who nearly scored when Seymour came out to block but Lamb got by him but with a player on the goal line & another in the way, he passed to Hopper who shot just wide. The visitors then shot over the bar.
It was 2-0 in 52 minutes when a Lamb cross into the box found Reid who was advancing at full speed and he headed into the net from the penalty spot. There were more Stan efforts on goal until Reid headed a Tow Law effort clear in 56 minutes.
Tow Law kept the pressure on & in 59 minutes they got a goal back through a penalty after a player had been brought down in the Stan box. Brass actually saved the penalty, but the rebound shot was put into the net for 2-1.
Both teams were trying to attack but it was the Stan who made it 3-1 in 66 minutes when a Lamb shot was blocked for a corner. The corner ball was sent into a crowd of player & although Shepherd’s header was blocked, Hopper forced the ball into the net. The Stan had more efforts on gaol & in 72 minutes Lamb advanced down the right but his cross across the goal line was missed by everyone. He then crossed to Reid who slid in & sent the ball towards the top of the Tow Law net but Seymour managed to save it.
The 4th goal finally came in 79 minutes when a free kick was sent into the visitor’s box & headed into the net at the back post by Shepherd. Tow Law came back positively & shot just wide 3 minutes later. The match finished though after 3 more Stan efforts including a Hornsby shot that went just wide in 85 minutes & Lashley shot that was saved by Seymour.
So the Stan have started marching up the league table after their 2nd game although the goal difference could have been far better if it had not been for Tow Law’s keeper. Another solid performance by the team will put them in a good position for the visit of Carlisle City on Saturday.
Heaton Stannington: Brass, Doyle, M. Turnbull (Burn 81), J. Turnbull (Hornsby 69), Shepherd, Scott, Reid, Slaughter (C) (Walker 81), Lamb, Bisset (Cassidy 76), Hopper (Lashley 76).
Unused Subs: None.
Goals: Hopper 16 (Pen), 66, Reid 52, Shepherd 79.
Supporters Man Of The Match: Craig Scott.
Yellow Cards: None.
Red Cards: None.
Referee: Ryan Moore.
Assistants: A. Atchison, S. Bunting.
Attendance: 237.
Kevin Mochrie.