Stockton Town travelled to Seaton Carew in their final fixture of 2014 with a number of records that could be achieved. If we could avoid defeat we would of completed the full calendar year without a defeat away from home in a league game and we would also extend the number of league games without defeat to 37 games. There was also the possibility that if Kallum Hannah could score 4 he would be the first Stockton Town player to reach 100 competitive goals for the Club and a place in the history book of the Club, we weren’t to be disappointed.
There were a number of changes to the Stockton team with Tony Johnson missing after his bad accident, Chris Stockton returned from suspension to take his place. Anton Buchan made his first start for the Club at left back with Tom Coulthard missing and Scott Meehan out with the knee injury picked up at Hartlepool FC. In goal Chris Dunwell also came in for Michael Arthur in goal, “Marthur” missing out due to the birth of his daughter on Friday.
The changes did not stop Stockton take a grip on the game from the first few minutes and despite creating a number of good chances for Stav Roberts , Chris Stockton and Kallum Hannah they could not get themselves a lead. Ironically it was nearly Seaton that took the lead on 20 minutes when a free kick from 25 yards whistled just past Stockton’s right hand post. Seaton’s threat was coming from set pieces but Stockton coped easily with any balls into the box. Stockton’s pace and movement up front was causing Seaton’s defence problems and as the half wore on they became more and more stretched. In the 40th minute a ball into the right channel got Kallum Hannah on the ball, a feint to stop and then move on committed the Seaton defender who caught Kallum to see a penalty awarded to Stockton. Up stepped Hannah to smash the ball into the top right hand corner of the net to give Stockton a fully deserved half time lead,
The second half started with Stockton determined to put the game to bed quickly and in the 59th minute that man Kallum Hannah was on the score sheet again to make it 2 0 to Stockton. The 63rd minute saw Chris Stockton chase back fully 40 yards to win the ball back after initially losing it, he then travelled 50 yards leaving Seaton defenders trailing behind him before laying the ball off to Kallum Hannah to rifle an unstoppable drive into the far corner from 20 yards. This completed yet another hat trick for Kallum Hannah for his 99th goal for Stockton but we only had to wait 3 minutes more for his 100th. A cross from the left saw Hannah rise to plant a glancing header into the top corner of the net.
Stockton were now rampant and on 68 minutes Matty Garbutt smashed home and unstoppable drive from the edge of the box following a half cleared corner to make it 5 0 to the visitors. Next onto the score sheet was Max Craggs who curled a free kick into the top left hand corner from 28 yards in the 80th minute and it was left to Adam Nicholson to complete the rout in the final minute when he beat 2 men on the edge of the box, turned the final defender close to the by-line and beat the keeper from 6 yards, a fine individual effort.
The 7 0 victory saw Stockton remain top of the Wearside League and set a new of new records for themselves, well done to all involved on some tremendous achievements.
