Heaton Stannington 2-1 Ossett United: Dean Nicholson hails depleted Stan for bouncing back

Dean Nicholson praised his Heaton Stannington walking wounded after a depleted side pushed Ossett United deeper into relegation trouble with a hard-earned win at The Willow Park on Friday night.

Nicholson was only able to call on 11 fit players and named two goalkeepers on his substitutes’ bench with three outfield players that were still named on the team-sheet despite being unable to play due to injuries. 

However, The Stan ended a run of three defeats and left their visitors nervously awaiting Saturday’s results at the bottom of the NPL East table.  Max Storey and Leighton Hopper scored either side of half-time for Nicholson’s men and they held on to earn all three points despite substitute Jack Degruchy giving Ossett some hope of mounting a comeback when he netted a late penalty.

Speaking after the game, Nicholson told The NLP: “We had to come out with 11 men and it will go one of two ways.  I’ve been there as a player and as a manager.  When you’re low on bodies, it will go one of two ways.  They’ll either feel sorry for themselves and blame injuries, pitches, suspensions and unavailability and roll over and lose.  Or they’ll do what they’ve just done.  They’ll roll up their sleeves, they’ll run through a wall for each other and they’ll come off the pitch leaving nothing out there and deserving three points.  They put a proper performance in and we’ve got and won the Heaton Stan way.”

Strong

The result also has serious ramifications for several of the Stan’s fellow North East clubs with the likes of Blyth Town, Blyth Spartans, Bishop Auckland and Newton Aycliffe all keeping a close eye on events at The Willow Park.  Nicholson admitted a number of managers has been in contact in the hours before the game and expressed his desire to see a strong North East contingent in next season’s East Division once again.

“I’ve had a few texts from other managers today,” said the Stan boss. “Look, we want them all to stay up.  We have helped a few out and that’s good because I want them all to have successful weekends and hopefully we can all stay in the league and make it as strong as we can once again next season.”

Star Man: Sam Johnson (Heaton Stannington)

Entertainment: ★★★

Heaton Stannington: Brass, Johnson, Hornsby, Robson, Capewell, Shepherd, Walker, Chrisp, Hopper, Storey, Lamb Subs: Flynn, Gordon, Burn, Payne, Pearson

Ossett United: Petrovic, Fanning, Askew, Tweed, Thompson, Burns, Crook, Proctor (Degruchy), Dyer (Tweed), Murphy (Thomas), Rodrigues (Preston) Subs: Johnson