The Stan’s 1st home game for 25 days saw them back to winning ways against local rivals Ashington after a rare defeat on Saturday at Dunston. The Stan have lost only once in the last 10 league games & they increased their undefeated home run to 5 matches. 

Despite dominating the match & having multiple chances to score, the Stan only won by a single goal & had to withstand a late scare from Ashington to hold on to win. There were 3 changes from Saturday’s defeat at Dunston with Chrisp, Shepherd & Errington replacing Walker, Robson & Lamb. The Ashington team included 3 ex Stan players Jay Hornsby, Marc Ellison & Liam Wotherspoon.

The match was preceded by a minute’s applause to remember late Stan fan Davy ‘no trousers’ Faichen. The match started lively with the Stan getting 3 corners in the 1st 3 minutes. The ball from the 3rd corner went out to Payne & his rebound shot hit the roof of the Ashington net. After the good start for the Stan, Gordon had to get down to make a good save after 5 minutes. Errington then counter attacked but his shot was caught by Ashington keeper Alexander. 

5 minutes later, Errington had 2 shots blocked as the Stan started to put pressure on the visitors again although they were also looking for opportunities to break. In 24 minutes, an Ashington shot was blocked by Gordon & the rebound shot went just over the bar. Ashington then attacked again & finished the move by shooting just wide. In 27 minutes, Burns shot just wide. In 30 minutes, a ball from a Stan corner went across the Ashington goal but missed everyone. 

The Stan took the lead in the 36th minute, when a long range shot by Evans hit the post & the rebound shot was put in the Ashington net by Errington. In 39 minutes, a ball chipped into the Ashington box saw Alexander get down to get to the ball just before Pearson. 

In 41 minutes, a Stan free kick was blocked & was followed by a Payne shot that was deflected for a corner. From it, the ball was initially cleared then was blocked twice in a busy penalty box before it was put out for another corner. From it, Milburn’s header was caught by Alexander. A move starting with a Burn free kick, ended with Pearson shooting wide. The half ended with Errington crossing to Pearson, but he sliced his shot high over the bar. 

The 2nd half started like the 1st half finished with one way traffic from the Stan. Almost immediately, a Burns shot was deflected for a corner. From it, the ball was punched away by Alexander. In 49 minutes, Ellison was sent off for a bad late tackle on Chrisp who had to be substituted by Beattie as a result. The Stan kept the pressure on but Gordon had to make a rare save from a deflected shot in 54 minutes. In 60 minutes, a great move saw Payne send a diagonal ball up to Errington who crossed to Pearson in front of goal, but his shot went wide. 

In 63 minutes, Payne supplied Pearson who although clear on goal again sliced his shot to waste the 2nd of 2 great chances. 2 minutes later & Hopper sliced the ball over the Ashington bar. In 66 minutes, a Burn free kick was headed wide by Capewell. Payne then advanced with the ball into the Ashington box, but Alexander got to the ball 1st. 

The Stan came close again in 69 minutes, when a joined-up attack ended with Burn hitting the visitors’ bar. In 75 minutes, Pearson had a shot blocked for a corner. From it, Alexander punched the ball clear & Milburn’s rebound shot went over the bar. In 78 minutes, Errington had a shot blocked under pressure as the Stan could still not get a 2nd goal. Alexander came out to clear, & in 81 minutes sub Johnson made a run & crossed to Errington but his shot was blocked. He then sliced another effort over the Ashington bar. 

In 83 minutes, Johnson forced a corner & from it Alexander dropped the ball & it went out for another corner. In 85 minutes, Ashington had a rare attack that was blocked. Pearson countered & was 1 on 1 with Alexander but he got down to block the shot when Pearson should have scored. Both teams were still trying to attack, & in 88 minutes Johnson broke but his shot was weak under pressure & collected by Alexander. 

There were 8 minutes of added time & it gave Ashington the opportunity to try & get back into the match & steal an equaliser. In 91 minutes, an Ashington free kick into the box was cleared twice. Beattie then broke & passed a defender but he sliced his shot wide. It was a tense ending to a match that should have been comfortably won by the Stan, but they were managing to have much of the possession. In the 98th minute, an Ashington ball into the Stan box was blocked by Shepherd for a corner. Keeper Alexander went up for the corner from which the ball was cleared off the line in a busy 6-yard box & then was sent up the pitch although Evans had been bundled into the net unlike the ball. One Ashington player claimed a goal but just like England’s 3rd goal in the world cup final, the ball did not cross the line but unlike it, the officials tonight got the decision correct & soon after the referee blew his whistle for the end of the match.

It was an important win for the Stan but a frustrating one as they made hard work of it when they could have easily won comfortably by at least 4 or 5 nil. Importantly the Stan are back up to 6th in the league and in the 2nd of 5 home games in 15 days they host Pontefract Collieries on Saturday. 

Heaton Stannington: Gordon, Milburn, Chrisp (Beattie 52), Evans, Capewell (C), Shepherd, Payne, Burn, Pearson, Hopper (Johnson 80), Errington.

Subs Not Used: Lamb, Storey, Deverdics.

Goals: Errington 36.

Supporters Man Of The Match: Andy Burn.

Attendance: 369.

Match Photos:

Kevin Mochrie