Stockton turned in a brilliant second half performance full of pace and movement to blow Jarrow Roofing away and claim their second victory in 5 days in a game that looked pretty even for the first half n hour.
Stockton with new signing Paul Roddam making his home debut had Captain Coulthard missing once again along with the Mulligan brothers and long term casualty Club Captain Adam Nicholson but welcomed back Jamie Owens and Chris Stockton.
Stockton struggled to come to terms with a new formation and Roofing looked comfortable in the first 15 minutes creating a couple of half chances and stopping any attacking threat easily.
An attack down the right found Palmer in space and he ran in to finish neatly through Arthurs legs for a deserved lead. Stockton almost went 2 behind but Arthur made a great save to deny Knight.
After 15mins a sickening injury to young Roofing defender David Lowrie caused a long delay and on the restart Stockton had modified their shape which proved pivotal.
Hayes was now starting to influence the play from the left and a cynical foul brought a free kick 16 yds out on the left edge of Roofing’s box, Craggs who has been getting his eye in recently whipped the ball with pace and bend over the wall into the top corner giving the keeper no chance to make it 1-1 at half time
Second half was all about Stocktons pace, passing and movement Owens headed past the post with the keeper stranded but this was the sign of things to come with Owens using his strength and pace to get behind the Roofing defence to score twice in the space of 5 mins making it 3-1 after 56 minutes. It was one way traffic now with Carter, Woodhouse, Hayes and Owens causing all sorts of problems for Roofing and Owens completed his hat trick on 69mins with a superb step over to send the keeper the wrong way and roll the ball into the empty net following a slick move starting with Posthill and ending with Hayes sliding the ball into Owens path between the defenders. Stockton were rampant and substitute Chris Stockton had 3 good attempts saved by the keeper while Owens skillfully lobbed a through ball over the keeper only for it to hit the inside of the post and rebound into the keepers arms
Arthur had time to make a great save from a rare Roofing attack and with a minute left Woodhouse provided a fifth goal finishing clinically with a crashing shot into the far corner across the keeper from 15 yards following yet another incisive passing move.
Final Score 5-1
This can only give Stockton more heart and belief, 3 fabulous performances and 2 great results in 7 days to take them forward into a run of 4 difficult home matches in the next 2 weeks, more of the same will see them climbing the League deservedly so. Just a note to wish David Lowrie all the best from everybody at Stockton Town FC from what unfortunately has been confirmed as a very serious knee injury.
Man of the Match could have been anyone in yellow but Owens gets the nod for his 3 goals
