A frustrating night at Ossett United’s Ingfield Stadium saw the Stan pick up a point, in a game that will only be remembered for dubious decisions and moments of controversy when reflected back upon in years to come.
Alfie Gordon started in goal for the first time, having signed from Bishop Auckland earlier in the day, and although perhaps not kept too busy, what he was called upon to do was done well and earned him the man of the match award on his debut.
Ossett had the game’s first chances, with one corner scrambled away by the Stan defence on 13 minutes, and then an effort from the left hand side of the penalty area whistling past the far post a minute later.
The Stan’s first opportunity, and perhaps best chance of the whole game, arrived on 17 minutes when Dale Pearson slipped a ball through the Ossett backline into the path of Konner Lamb, who was closed down quickly by the keeper Petrovic before his shot could do any real damage.
Another chance came along a few minutes later, this time Pearson on the receiving end of a long diagonal ball from Slaughter on the halfway line. The striker surged into the left flank, controlled the ball and headed for goal but again Petrovic came out to stop.
Ossett were awarded a free kick on the edge of the area midway into the first half which was curled ever-so-slightly wide.
Alfie Gordon was called into serious action for the first time just after the restart. An Ossett player got onto the end of a neat flick-on inside the area, got to the by-line and tried to drive the ball into danger, but Gordon got down to prevent an opportunity to tap into an empty net.
Ben Milburn found himself with an opportunity in a similar position at the other end after good work to beat a defender. He cut in from the right and shaped up a shot with his left, not enough power or precision to trouble Petrovic.
Midway into the second half, the Stan were reduced to ten men. Joe Robson had already been the recipient of one of the game’s 11 yellow cards, but received a straight red card for an off-the-ball incident.
Despite a man disadvantage, the Stan battled valiantly and almost carved out an unlikely lead on 69 minutes when Leighton Hopper slung a ball in from the left, with Jay Errington just a fraction away from making a connection and stabbing it home.
A back-and-forth ensued with both sides desperately trying to get ahead, with both goalkeepers busy. Gordon took the sting out a long range effort, gathering at the second attempt, and moments later at the other end, Petrovic got down low to stop a fairly tame effort, flicked on from a deep Stan free kick.
To take a point from a game where it felt at points that the odds were simply stacked against them will have ultimately been positive for Dean Nicholson and his men, even if it felt wounding at parts.
The Stan return to Ingfield in just four days time when they face Pontefract Collieries, who are currently ground sharing with Ossett while refurbishment work takes place at their Beechnut Lane home 15 miles away.
Heaton Stannington: Gordon, Evans, Beattie, Payne, Robson, Milburn, Hopper (Burn 77),, Slaughter (C), Pearson (Adamson 84), Walker (Shepherd 70), Lamb (Errington 60).
Subs Not Used: Storey.
Supporters Man Of The Match: Alfie Gordon.
Yellow Cards: Gordon, Payne, Robson, Milburn, Hopper, Slaughter, Pearson, Burn.
Red Cards: Robson.
Attendance: 166.
Venue: Ingfield Stadium, Prospect Road, Ossett, West Yorkshire, WF5 9HL
Liam Milburn