Colliers feel the Heat as Stan go into play-off final

HEATON Stannington will take on Tow Law Town in the Northern League Division Two playoff final after securing a 2-0 victory against Easington Colliery last night.

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 on the clock when Dean Nicholson’s side edged themselves in front as they made the most of a lively start to 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 and into an empty net.

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 confidently beyond the advancing Steavens.

The Colliers improved after the interval with the likes of 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 from the County Durham side ensured it was the hosts who moved to within 90 minutes of a coveted place in Division One.

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