For the 2nd match in a row, the Stan took on a play-off placed team as they made the long journey to Derbyshire to face high flying Belper Town. Despite being competitive throughout the match, the Stan could not convert their chances & went home empty handed. There were 5 changes from Wednesday night’s draw with Stocksbridge with Marriott, Turnbull, Burn, Hopper & Thompson replacing Hornsby, Capewell; Slaughter, Errington & Stephenson.
The Stan were caught out early on when, in the 2nd minute, Brass saved a home effort but Rawson got to the rebound 1st & put the ball into the net. The Stan responded positively & in the 5th minute, a cross by Hopper was palmed away by the home keeper but Burn’s follow up effort saw him not being able to connect cleanly with the ball.
In the 7th minute, a Belper free kick was confidently tipped over the bar by Brass for a fantastic save. In 14 minutes, Evans was fouled & the resulting free kick by Burn was tipped over the bar by the home keeper. In 21 minutes, Lamb put the keeper under pressure & stole the ball from him, but he could not direct the ball into the net. 2 minutes later & Thompson got in behind the home defence but his cross was intercepted by a defender before the ball could get to Lamb.
In 26 minutes, Brass made another great save from a close range Belper effort. After a quieter period, the half ended with Brass making 3 saves in a row all from a close distance. The half ended with only the unfortunate early Belper goal separating the 2 teams after a competitive 1st half.
In the 2nd minute of the 2nd half, there were more heroics from the Stan keeper when a home defender broke forward & Brass tipped his effort wide. In 54 minutes, Belper were 2-0 up when, from a free kick, Draper knocked the ball into the net at the near post. 2 minutes later, Brass saved again when he pushed the ball round the post.
In 61 minutes, the Stan were unlucky when a Burn free kick thundered against the post. 3 minutes later & Belper cleared a ball from a Stan throw in but the ball went to Groves who, from distance, shot just by the post. The Stan were showing that they were determined to get something from the match. In 67 minutes, a Burn 25-yard free kick went well over the bar. In 70 minutes, Groves curled a free kick towards the back post, but a defender managed to get a touch & put the ball out for a corner which was then cleared.
In the 79th minute, Brass made another save but Shepherd then slid in to try & clear the rebound ball & unfortunately put it into his own net to give Belper a 3-0 lead. In the 90th minute, sub Errington scuffed an effort wide. In the 93rd minute, a Burn free kick was put round the post by the home keeper but the match ended with a 3-0 win for the home team.
Despite a hard-working performance, the Stan suffered a 3rd heavy away defeat in a row. The scoreline was harsh despite the fact that Brass had to make some fine saves & was awarded man of the match for his efforts. As Sherwood Colliery lost 1-2, after leading 1-0, the Stan remain one place outside the relegation zone. Its back to Grounsell Park on Boxing Day at 11am when the Stan host the only other team in the league from North of the Tyne, 3rd bottom Ashington.
Heaton Stannington: Brass, Evans, Groves, Marriott, Turnbull, Shepherd (C), Burn, Spence, Hopper (Errington 67)., Lamb (Walker 72), Thompson
Unused Subs: Hornsby, Bailey.
Supporters Man Of The Match: Lewis Brass.
Referee: Waqar Ahmad.
Attendance: 570.
Match Photos: Flickr.
Venue: The Raygar Stadium, Christchurch Meadows, Bridge St, Belper DE56 1BA.
Kevin Mochrie