A HAT-TRICK of first half penalties from Steve Stott sent Stand on the way to their 24th NWCL second division win of the season against Oldham Town.

And Lee Wilkinson completed the rout with a fourth Stand goal virtually on the whistle.

Stott put the league leaders in front in the 10th minute after Stuart Telfer was fouled in the box.

A second penalty was awarded five minutes later after Lee Anderson was brought down in the area.

And when Telfer was again brought down on the half-hour, the referee pointed to the spot for the third time.

Stand's only goal from open play came in the 90th minute when Stott's through ball was slotted home by Wilkinson.

Stand coach Nick Woods said: "We dominated the game in the first half but all credit to Oldham, they came back into it in the second half when we took our foot off the pedal a little bit. They had the lion's share of possession.

"It was strange to see three penalties awarded, I don't think I have ever seen that before, but it was good win on a hard, difficult pitch."

The North West Counties League confirmed on Saturday that Stand's ground, the former home of Haslingden at Ewood Bridge, has failed the ground grading inspection.

The club will not be promoted to the first division even if, as expected, they win the league.

"We won't be promoted due to ground criteria but we will win the league this year, we can do it again next year."

The League refused Stand's request to ground share with a club whose ground does meet first division standards, because the rules state that ground sharing will only be allowed when a new stadium is being built and will not be allowed purely to achieve promotion.

Woods hinted that the Prestwich-based side may move away from Ewood Bridge.

"There is a possibilty that we will ground share next season," he said.

STAND...4

OLDHAM TOWN...0