We got back to Wearside League action after last weeks weather enforced break with a home fixture against Jarrow F.C. Still missing was James Crossman and Scott Meehan with ankle and knee injuries respectively but Joe Hinchley returned to the squad. Macaulay Langstaff retained his place in the starting line up and Chris Stockton started in place of Matty Garbutt.
The early exchanges were a midfield battle without any clear chances created as Stockton were caught on numerous occasions by the linesman’s flag. Stockton’s first chance came on 15 minutes when Kallum Hannah received the ball in the left channel, spun and whipped a ball across the face of goal but there was no one on hand to apply a finish. The next chance came following a quick break by Stockton following one touch play by Hannah and Stockton down the left, the ball was played to Macaulay Langstaff on the edge of the box and his first time volley flew just over the bar.
Stockton were not to be denied for long though and the breakthrough came from an unlikely source. A ball into the Jarrow penalty box by right back Davy Dowd was only partially cleared, Alan Cossavella picked up the loose ball close to the by-line, cutting back inside to the edge of the 6 yard box Alan flashed his shot across the keeper into the far corner to give Stockton a deserved lead on 28 minutes.
Stockton were now rampant and Jarrow could not cope as Stockton quickly added 2 more goals, on 39 minutes leading scorer Kallum Hannah scored from the edge of the penalty box and two minutes later Hannah turned provider with a cross from the right that Chris Stockton finished from 8 yards.
The second half followed a similar pattern to the first with Stockton asking questions of the Jarrow defence at every opportunity but it was not until the final 10 minutes before Stockton would score again. Fine play down Stockton’s right by Matty Garbutt and Danny Lawson saw the ball into that man Hannah again and his left foot finish left the Jarrow keeper helpless. Then on 88 minutes Kallum Hannah once again claimed a hat trick in a Stockton shirt with a cool finish from within the penalty box to finish the scoring and leave the final score 5 0.
Stockton visit Prudhoe Town next Saturday in a Wearside League fixture looking to maintain their lead at the top of the League.
