Although the vast majority of the 408 crowd at sunny Willow Park had come to see the Stan play & win, it was Emley who undeservedly went away with all 3 points. There was not much between the 2 teams & while Emley went ahead because of 2 debateable decisions by the officials, the Stan did get a goal back with 20 minutes remaining & although they rallied for the remainder of the match, they could not find the net again. 

There were 3 changes from last Saturday’s win at Garforth Town with Evans, Beattie & Burn replacing Milburn, Stephenson & Slaughter. Leighton Hopper made his 150th start for the Stan & also scored as well as being awarded man of the match. 

With the backdrop of the fantastic new Heaton Stan Harry banner, both teams tried to attack from the kick off & after 4 minutes Burn shot wide. There was then a scramble in the Emley box which was cleared. 4 minutes later & an Emley attack was cleared. After 10 minutes, a long ball by Adamson saw Pearson break with the ball but was blocked. 

In 14 minutes, Lambton in the Emley goal caught a ball from a Beattie free kick. With 20 minutes gone, both teams were still trying to attack but the defences were doing well. Hopper was then hacked down on halfway, but nothing was given. In 24 minutes, an Emley ball into the Stan box was headed clear by Capewell. In 32 minutes, 4 minutes after a Pearson advance at the other end that came to nothing, a ball from an Emley free kick was headed just wide although the whistle had been blown for a foul for the Stan. 

In 37 minutes, Robson went in for the ball to stop an advancing Emley player but although he got to the ball 1st, the referee decided to award a penalty. Emley’s Gordon confidently put the ball in the left-hand corner of the Stan net to make it 1-0 to Emley after 38 minutes. The match had been relatively even until then & the Stan continued immediately trying to attack with Adamson shooting in the crowded Emley box, but Lambton caught his effort. 

The Stan kept the pressure on until half time including a Robson cross in 44 minutes being headed clear followed by a Burn free kick being caught by Lambton, but the half ended with Emley maintaining their slender lead.

Lamb replaced Beattie for the 2nd half as the Stan sought to get back into the game. It was Emley who threatened 1st in the 46th minute when they shot just wide. There was a quieter period until the 57th minute when an Emley player hit the side netting. Hopper then had a shot blocked. This was immediately followed with Emley’s Thompson breaking forward & his long-range effort beat Gordon & went into the Stan net. There were calls for offside, but they were ignored as the Stan went 2 goals down. 

Soon after the Stan forced 2 saves from Lambton. After 68 minutes, a Walker cross to Pearson saw him shoot across the Emley goal with his effort going just wide. In 70 minutes, Pearson broke through the Emley defence & into their box but was shoved down from behind. This resulted in Emley’s Barks being sent off & a penalty being awarded. 

The penalty, in the 72nd minute, was scored by Hopper who reduced the deficit to 1-2. Most of the remainder of the half saw Stan pressure as they tried to at least get an equaliser & maybe a winning goal. In 73 minutes, a ball from a Burn free kick was headed clear. A 2nd Burn free kick was also cleared twice. 

The Stan pressure continued but the next clear chance was after 82 minutes when a Capewell header was cleared. Despite the continued Stan pressure, the next clear chance was in 89 minutes when a ball into the Emley box fell to Evans in the 6-yard box whose shot was blocked. There was a great opportunity for an equaliser a minute later when Pearson turned & shot but his effort was blocked by Lambton for a corner. 

The Stan attacks continued & Hopper was brought down in the box in the 95th minute but nothing was given. The ball was sent back into the Emley box, but Hopper headed over the bar. The Stan soon after won a corner, which Gordon went up for, but it was cleared & the final whistle was blown as the Stan started to attack again.

So, despite the late rally, the Stan failed to enforce their authority on the match & 2 unfortunate goals conceded meant that it was the visitors who left with the 3 points. The Stan remain 10th in the league but face a difficult & long day on Saturday when they travel to Derbyshire to take on 2nd place Matlock Town.

Heaton Stannington: Gordon, Evans, Beattie (Lamb 46), Robson, Capewell, Shepherd (C), Hopper, Burn, Adamson (Errington 67), Walker (Storey 92), Pearson. 

Subs Not Used: Flynn, Milburn.

Goals: Hopper 72 (Pen).

Supporters Man Of The Match: Leighton Hopper.

Yellow Cards: Robson.

Referee: Harvey Websdale.

Attendance: 408.

Match Photos: Flickr Gallery 1 and 2.

Kevin Mochrie