Saints Hold Off Stan Onslaught For Vital Win.

The Quay came out on top in their first ever competitive game v Heaton Stannington A as they somehow survived a hectic final 20 minutes for their first league win in 4.

The Saints finally got to play on Grounsell Park the home of Northern League Heaton Stannington 18 months after the cup final that we had reached was to be played there, a ground famously played on by Arsenal forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's for Gabon in a friendly prior to the 2012 London Olympics.

Peter Lowery stepped up between the sticks with Dodge missing while Steve McCabe and Sean Conway replaced Lee Crammond and Kane Chirnside in the starting line up, the great Keith Scoffham refereed the game (and was once again superb)

Willington made a shaky start to the game with their passing well below par, Heaton dominating the ball but not really creating any chances of note until the half hour mark when a 25 yard free kick from Harvey Poole crashed off the crossbar

Steve McCabe fired the Quay ahead against the run of play receiving a long throw from Stephen Oliver before swivelling and smashing home with his left foot for his second Saints goal 10 minutes before the break.

The Saints went further ahead with their first attack of the second half as goal scorer McCabe turned provider to pick out the run of Ryan Ferrier and he showed great composure to lob the ball over the Stan keeper to double the lead.

The home side should of pulled a goal back immediately when there forward found himself free and with the goal gaping he somehow took an age to get his shot away allowing stand in keeper Peter Lowery to get across and pull off a fantastic save to deny him.

Lowery then pulled off another great save when a long range strike looked destined for the bottom corner he dived full stretch to his right to keep the ball out

Heaton were well on top and they somehow wasted another chance this time their centre half unmarked from 5 yards headed towards goal where veteran Lowery again produced a remarkable finger tip save to thwart the defender who should of scored.

The Stan got the goal they had very much deserved with 10 minutes to go when midfielder Poole strode forward and unleashed a powerful strike from 22 yards that left Lowery with absolutely no chance as it rocketed into the corner.

With their backs well against the wall the Quay managed to hang onto a vital win with a brilliant sliding block from Sean Thompson keeping out a shot and then centre half Elliot Mitchell making a brilliant goal line clearance with the last kick of the game to keep the 3 points just about safely in the bag.

A smash and grab win for the Quay scoring with there 2 big chances in the game before hanging on for dear life at the end with a mixture of brilliant goalkeeping, heroic defending and wasteful finishing from the home side contributing to a massive 3 points in their quest for promotion.