Stan turn the Heaton Colliers to face Tow Law in play-off decider

HEATON Stannington will take on Tow Law Town in the Northern League Division Two play-off final after securing a 2-0 win against Easington Colliery.

The two sides met for the third time inside a month and it was the Stan who came out on top for the second time with a professional performance at Grounsell Park.

There were just nine minutes gone when Dean Nicholson’s side put itself in front in a lively start to what proved a hard-fought contest.

Former North Shields winger Dean Holmes was set away on goal and made no mistake with a cool finish as he looped the ball over Colliers’ goalkeeper Aaron Steavens.

The lead was doubled just after the half-hour mark as the impressive Dan Stephenson took full advantage of a defensive error.

The lively winger pounced on a misjudgement and nicked the ball away from a Colliers’ defender before racing goalwards and lashing the ball beyond the advancing Steavens.

The Colliers improved after the interval with Layton Watts, Jack Pounder and Callum Guy going close to reducing the arrears. However, a combination of alert goalkeeping from Stan shotstopper Dan Regan, brave defending and wayward finishing ensured it was the hosts who moved to within 90 minutes of a place in Division One.

The Stan will host Tow Law on Saturday afternoon after the Lawyers secured a 2-0 victory at Boldon CA in the other semi-final on Tuesday night.