Stockton Town FC v Brandon United FC

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Stockton Town went into this game without Liam Jordan in goal with a back injury, and Matthew Garbutt who was suspended. This gave the opportunity for Michael Arthur to play his first game of the season, between the sticks, in a game in which he was rarely tested. Fred Woodhouse also reappeared amongst the substitutes following his injury against Willington.

Stockton were in control of this game from the start, Kallum Hannah and Chris Dunwell could have opened the scoring before Hannah eventually broke the deadlock after 19 minutes, Chris Stockton and Dylan McAvoy combined well down the left with Stockton sending in the perfect cross for Hannah to head the ball past Brandon’s keeper Thomas Orton.

Hesitation in the Brandon defence resulted in Hannah’s second goal of the game, the ball went past the Brandon defenders were Hannah raced to get to the ball before Orton, the striker got there first and fired into the net on 27 minutes. Stockton were completely dominating possession with Orton, in Brandons goal, by far was the busiest of the keepers as he kept the score down to 2-0 at the break.

Hannah should have completed his hat trick in the second half, when he was one on one with Orton, Hannah knocked the ball past the keeper, and fell over his diving body, it could have been a penalty but the referee gave a goal kick as the ball went past the post. Orton then produced a fine save down to his left to again deny Hannah his hat trick.

Jimmy Ward saw Orton save his powerful shot, before the third goal came after 85 minutes, Joe Carter raced from his own half, played a one two with Hannah, collected the return in the box before firing  past Orton to give Stockton a 3-0 win.

We now move on to our first ever fixture in the prestigious FA Vase, a day I'm sure the whole Club and the Town will be looking forward to.