Stockton Town ended 2025 with an emphatic win over Hebburn Town on Boxing Day.
Words by Jordan Clarke
Photo by Harry Cook
Stockton Town 4-1 Hebburn Town | 26th December 2025
Despite falling behind early on, the Anchors battled back, utilising an unbelievable second-half showing to win the game 4-1.
Michael Dunwell named one change for the game, with Ryan Barrett returning from injury, allowing Cameron Painter to move back into midfield after quickly recovering from a nasty challenge suffered in Workington on Saturday.
It was the visitors who applied the early pressure, finding some success with passes over the top of the Anchors defence, and it was that method that found the opening goal – Liam Murray latching onto the pass, before unleashing into the top corner.
Stockton matched them well after the goal, with Jake Petitjean stinging the gloves of Dan Cameron in the 19th minute from a tight angle.
From the following corner, it was Petitjean who found the target, heading in a brilliant Kevin Hayes corner to tie the game at one apiece.
Josh Scott nearly gave the Anchors the lead not long after, meeting a ball over the top and running through on goal, but seeing his shot very well saved by Cameron, and a quiet close to the half saw both teams go in with the belief to find a winner.
Half-time: Stockton Town 1-1 Hebburn Town
It took just four minutes into the second half for Stockton to find a lead, a scramble in the box, eventually being poked in by a Hebburn defender, surrounded by yellow shirts.
Amar Purewal thought he had a goal against his former side only two minutes later, but his tap in was controversially ruled offside.
Dan Cameron was the standout for Hebburn, and he was keeping them in the game as Stockton piled on the pressure to open the second half.
But there was nothing Cameron could do to deny Tom Coulthard, who tapped in his first goal of the season after Adam Nicholson rose highest to nod down a corner into a dangerous area.
Cameron did make another five or six strong saves, including a great stop to keep Nicholson’s volley out from a mere few yards away, but he couldn’t do anything about the Stockton captain’s header from another Kevin Hayes corner in the 80th minute, giving the Anchors a three-goal advantage.
Stockton continued their domination, not letting the Hornets close to Nathan Harker’s goal, and their second half dominance was well-rewarded with all three points, snapping Hebburn’s nine-game winning run.
Full-time: Stockton Town 4-1 Hebburn Town
It’s only six days until Michael Dunwell’s team head to Morpeth Town, for some New Year’s Day action.
