Manchester Football League Division One: It seemed a long time coming but Stand finally got the result there recent performances have deserved.

In one of the few matches to be played, due to a severe overnight frost, Fives' excellent playing surface provided the platform for Stand to finish the year on a high.

With no fewer than six regulars unavailable for one reason or another, victory tasted even sweeter.

A hardworking display was put in against a Walkden side quite capable of producing some neat and tidy football.

But it was the visitors who nearly took the lead in the opening minute when Adam Dickinson, whose non-stop running and workrate was inspirational, must be cursing his luck as he failed to convert his one-on-one on the Fives keeper.

Despite this Stand still produced the better chances in the first half, despite the scoreline reamaining goalless at the interval.

The second half was following the same pattern as the previous one and just as Stand began to tighten there grip the homeside scored with a quick and slick move after 15 minutes, this which has been shown on many occasions this season did not rock the Whitefield sideas they quickly up the tempo and were rewarded ten minutes later when good aproach work from Dickinson on the right found the oncoming Matty Martin in the box who hooked his shot round his marker for the equaliser.

With this goal Stand now felt more confident to go and get a winner and again almost ten minutes later a jinking run from the left from substitute Jamie Newton saw him drift inside and drill a low shot under the keepers legs to seal the points,no doubt there would be a few scarey final minutes but a well organised and drilled Stand side led superberly by skipper Mark Greenhalgh were no going to let this one slip away.

STAND ATHLETIC: Fawcett, Mawdsley, Farrelly, Martin, Kluj, Greenhalgh, Booth (J Newton, Airey, Buckley, Bersz (I. Newton), Dickinson. Sub not used: Morley.

* Manager Nick Woods and Pat Walsh were delighted with the result and the performance that highlighted the help provided by Lol McMahon over the past month.

It emphasised the sheer determination and hard work exhibited by the players.

* The reserves game at home to Gregorioans was called off due to frozen Elms pitch,

* Stand's next match will on Saturday, January 6.

* The club would like to wish everyone connected with best wishes for Christmas and the New Yyear.