The Stan bounced back from 2 defeats with a well-deserved 2-0 win over strong opposition in the form of league rivals Emley from Yorkshire. Not only did they achieve a comfortable win in just their 2nd season & 3rd match in the FA Trophy, but they also played well & kept a clean sheet. There were 5 changes from the narrow FA Cup defeat at Blue Star with Flynn, Hopper, Payne, Adamson & Storey replacing Brass, Slaughter, Pearson, Errington & Lamb. 

The Friday night match, in front of a crowd of 372, started with an Emley attack being cleared. Although it was end to end, the 1st half hour contained little to report. The Emley keeper, Lambton, came out to clear in the 3rd minute but nothing else really happened until the 14th minute when a great cross from Walker to Stephenson saw his shot easily caught by Lambton. He made an easy save again from a Storey effort in 18 minutes. Flynn had to get up to save a minute later. 

In 23 minutes, an Emley attack was cleared then blocked & the move finished with a high shot going well over the Stan bar. Soon after an Emley counterattack was blocked by Milburn. In 26 minutes, a ball from an Emley corner was blocked & a Stan counterattack came to nothing. It was still end to end & in 34 minutes a Stepheson free kick into the Emley box was cleared & Robson’s rebound effort was caught by Lambton. 

In the 35th minute, a Payne counterattack saw the keeper come out to almost the halfway line to clear. The ball was sent back up to Hopper who lobbed the retreating keeper, who had only managed to reach the edge of his box, & the ball went into the net for 1-0. In 37 minutes, a Stan effort was blocked by Lambton. 2 minutes later & an Emley free kick was blocked in the Stan box & although the ball was sent back in, it was cleared by Adamson & Payne. In 41 minutes, Storey shot just wide from the edge of the box. Flynn easily caught a long-range effort 2 minutes later & the half ended with another Stan advance which saw Lambton catch the ball.

The 2nd half started positively with both teams again trying to attack. In 48 minutes, Robson had to head clear. A minute later he headed clear again from a corner which was followed by a Stan counterattack led by Walker, & a great opportunity, which ended with Stephenson only having the Emley keeper to beat but Lambton managed to block his effort.

 In 53 minutes, after some sustained Stan pressure, a Hopper effort was cleared. 3 minutes later & a Walker diagonal ball into the Emley box was missed by Hopper & went just wide. A long-range free kick from the Stan was then caught by Lambton at the 2nd attempt. In 62 minutes, Robson advanced down the right & into the box, but Lambton punched the ball clear under pressure.

 In 64 minutes, the Stan doubled their lead through a great goal when they won the ball allowing Payne to advance towards the Emley box & he passed to Walker who chipped the advancing Lambton to make it 2-0. 

In 69 minutes, a Storey high ball into the Emley box was headed clear. 2 minutes later & a sub Burn effort went high & wide. The Stan were still trying to add to their 2 goals & although Emley had not given up they did not really pose a threat as the Stan defence dealt well when the ball came near their box. 

In 84 minutes, Hopper advanced with the ball &, under pressure, sent a curling shot just wide. Soon after, Lambton got to the ball just before the advancing sub Lamb. There was then a long range Emley effort which went just wide in the Stan box. In the 90th minute, Hopper won a corner which Stephenson sent across goal but it was high & wide. 

In the 4th of 5 minutes of added time, Emley sent a long range effort well over the Stan bar. In the 96th minute, sub Groves landed awkwardly, breaking his collar bone, & had to be stretchered off. The Stan were down to 10 men but the match finished soon after when Hopper supplied Stephenson who forced a save from Lambton which was followed by an Emley counterattack that came to nothing.

So, the Stan deservedly remain on the Trophy route to Wembley & the win should also boost confidence with regards to their league campaign which resumes in 8 days’ time when they travel to Brighouse Town. 

Heaton Stannington: Flynn, Evans (C), Stephenson, Robson, Capewell (Shepherd 81), Milburn, Hopper, Payne (Burn 66),  Adamson (Errington 66), Walker (Groves 81),  Storey (Lamb 76).

Goals: Hopper 37, Walker 64.

Supporters Man Of The Match: Kane Evans.

Referee: Glen Hart.

Attendance: 372.

Match Photos: Flickr.

Kevin Mochrie