Local Sport
Issue 1038
Call 0114 283 11 00
6th December 2018
www.looklocal.org.uk
19
STEELS STOP THE ROT WITH A POINT
Local Sport Motors
ERNEST THORPE Halifax Road, Thurgoland 0114 2882152
MOT’s £35.00 Stocksbridge PS 1-1 Spalding United By: Dave Rhodes
corner 10 yards out was agonisingly close to the opener.
Photo: Ian Revitt THERE were home debuts for new signings for Ed Hall and Jordan Lemon as manager Chris Hilton shuffled his pack after the heavy defeat last week against Cleethorpes. Hall, the current number one for Yorkshire International, and Lemon, signed from Matlock Town, were be looking for an immediate impact. Visitors to Look Local stadium, Spalding United who, like Steels, were fighting for points at the wrong end of the table. After 10 minutes, Steels started to force their way into the game with some bright counter attacking play as Williams, Litchfield and Ruthven all testing the away keeper Michael Duggan with shots on goal - Ruthvens effort was cleared off the line by a Spalding defender and then McFadyen’s free header from a Litchfield
Steels were dominant now and should have been one up when Wiles fired on goal only for his effort to be cleared off the line too. Good play from Steels as Litchfield broke free in the box, his trickery leading to a clear penalty as he was tripped. Ruthven stepped up and shot hard to Duggan’s right where the height was just right for the keeper and although he had anticipated the shot well, Ruthven will be disappointed he didn’t score. Better from Steels as the away side was limited to only a few flurries forward offering very little in terms of effective attacking play. As half time approached the Steels boys will again reflect on missed opportunities but would be buoyed by a much improved performance so far. Ed Hall showed real class in his distribution with accurate long range passes to both Litchfield and Wil-
liams early on as Steels tried to keep up the positive momentum gained in the first half but it was Spalding who had reacted best in the opening 10 minutes of the second period. Leon Mettam’s free kick and snap shot were fired straight at Hall as the away side pressed forward with more intent. Good play by Williams and Litchfield gave Ruthven a terrific chance to open the scoring but he side footed straight at Duggan from 10 yards with only the keeper to beat. Litchfield then fired over the bar with a left footed drive. The game was opening up with both teams playing well. A terrific 25 yard volley from Scott Floyd was tipped onto the bar by Hall and then at the other end Duggan’s failure to collect a long straight ball into the box found Fielding winning the dual only for his brave header to loop over Duggan creeping the wrong side of the post.
On 78 minutes Steels deservedly went ahead through Litchfield. Williams headed the ball into the path of the in form striker who had lost his markers in the Spalding last third, he calmly slotted the ball right footed over the advancing Duggan into the net. With Steels looking comfortable they seemed well on course for the three points but Spalding found energy and drive in the last five minutes causing a few nervy moments for the Steels defence. It was a whipped in left footed corner that unlocked the Steels rear guard as Conor Marshal lost his marker three yards out and latched onto the ball, firing in at the far post giving Hall no chance. It was a cruel blow for the home side as Spalding no doubt travelled back down the A1 feeling a tad lucky to have a point under their belts. Positive signs for Steels. Next up its Gresley FC on Saturday December 15 with a 3pm kick off.
STEELS DEVELOPMENT SIDE KNOCK RESERVES OUT OF CUP Stocksbridge PS Development 2-1 Stocksbridge PS Reserves STOCKSBRIDGE Park Steels’ development and reserves were drawn together in the third round of the County Senior League Cup and it was the development squad who came away with the bragging rights. The reserves took the lead when a good ball into the box was calmly finished by Lewis Whitham, however instead of pushing on the reserves sat back and thought the job was done which was far
from the truth and the development squad should have equalised after fine work from Cleote and a good ball into the box failed to find a finish.
ter passing and the reserves starting to threaten once again with Townsend and Whitham going close.
The equaliser came with a good strike from Kirk from the edge of the box past Ratcliffe - this resulted in a 10-minute spell of pressure from the development squad who were now fired up.
The game looked to be heading for extra time when a rush of blood from veteran keeper Ratcliffe, who was playing for the suspended Bond, came outside his box to clear but hit the ball against his own defender to leave Cleote with an empty goal to score the winner.
Kerry replaced Grayson for the reserves and this brought a bit of calmness to the midfield with bet-
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No excuses as Church are second best PENISTONE Church lost 4-1 to Staveley Miners’ Welfare in the Toolstation NCEL Premier Division at the weekend with manager Ian Richards making no excuses. Ryan Johnson got the consolation for Church with a Joe Pugh brace and goals from Thomas Poole and Robson Doolan giving Staveley the win. After the game Church manager Ian Richards said: “Credit to Staveley today, they were the better team and the better team won. The score didn’t flatter them, they deserved to win by three goals. “I like Staveley as a football club, I have respect for the Staveley management team and I like Staveley as a football team on the grass. “They deserved that it just wasn’t our day, we were second best and we just have to hold our hands up and we have to accept responsibility.”
