In a commanding display, East Stanley Wmc FC triumphed over Bishop Auckland Bay Horse with a scoreline of 4-1 in their cup away match held at the Bishop Auckland King James Academy on 27 October 2024. The match kicked off at 10:30 am, and the visitors showcased their attacking prowess throughout the encounter, securing a place in the next round of the competition.
East Stanley lined up in a 4-3-3 formation, a tactical choice that allowed for fluid attacking play and solid defensive structure. Liam Chatton was stationed in goal, while the back four comprised Dean Pearce on the right, Lewis Cox and Sam Hodgson as central defenders, and Ryan Allen on the left. The midfield trio featured Kieran Taylor on the right, Connor Brown centrally, and Cameron Foreman on the left. Up front, Drew Lake and Callum Lishman flanked striker Kieran Gohery, who was tasked with leading the line and converting chances into goals.
The substitutes for East Stanley included Brandon Bailey and Andy Taylor, who would be called upon later in the match to make an impact from the bench.
The scoring opened in the 25th minute when Drew Lake found the back of the net, giving East Stanley an early advantage. Just three minutes later, Kieran Gohery doubled the lead, capitalising on an assist from Cameron Foreman, leaving Bishop Auckland Bay Horse reeling. The visitors continued to apply pressure, and in the 36th minute, Connor Brown added a third goal, assisted by Lake, effectively putting the match beyond the reach of their opponents before half-time.
As the teams returned for the second half, East Stanley maintained their momentum, with Connor Brown scoring his second goal just four minutes in, extending the lead to 4-0. However, the match took a slight turn in the 52nd minute when Ryan Allen received a yellow card, a moment that highlighted the growing frustration of the Bishop Auckland side.
In the 65th minute, East Stanley made their first substitution, bringing on Brandon Bailey for the booked Ryan Allen. The tactical switch aimed to reinforce the defence while maintaining their attacking threat. A further change occurred in the 75th minute when Andy Taylor replaced Cameron Foreman, adding fresh legs to the midfield.
Bishop Auckland Bay Horse managed to find a consolation goal in the 82nd minute, breaking through East Stanley's defence to score and reduce the deficit to 4-1. Shortly after, East Stanley made another substitution, reintroducing Ryan Allen in place of Drew Lake, as they sought to shore up their defence in the closing stages.
In the 87th minute, Dean Pearce received a yellow card, a testament to the physical nature of the match as both teams battled for control. Despite the late efforts from Bishop Auckland, East Stanley held firm to secure a comprehensive victory, with Connor Brown earning the accolade of Player of the Match for his influential performance in midfield and his two goals. The win not only showcased East Stanley's attacking capabilities but also their resilience in defence, setting them up nicely for the challenges ahead in the tournament.
