Heaton Stannington 1-1 Steels

Stocksbridge Park Steels almost held onto a win while playing with ten men for most of the game against Heaton Stannington.

The Steels got off to the best possible start. An error from goalkeeper Lewis Brass gave the ball up to Oliwier Grzelak. The young Pole then spotted James Morris and laid it off to him, which allowed the forward to pass the ball into the back of the net.

Stocksbridge remained strong for most of the first half. They had plenty of good football and came very close to doubling the lead when a slide-rule pass from Grzelak, but his close range finish was brilliantly saved by Brass who made up for his earlier mistake.

The game would soon turn on it’s head. Charlesworth saw an opportunity to win the ball with a slide tackle, but the referee adjudged it to be a dangerous tackle. He quickly whipped out the red card and as soon as he had returned from suspension, Charlesworth would be heading for another enforced break. Quickly, Heaton looked to take advantage but a massive block on the line denied them the equaliser.

In the second half, it was much the same as Heaton threw everything they could at Stocksbridge to get the equaliser. The Steels did look dangerous at the other end with Morris hitting a shot over from close range and Danny Deakin hit a free kick onto the bar.

However despite more crucial goal line blocks, Heaton Stannington would get their goal. Daniel Stephenson’s free kick was saved by Townsend, but it would then hit the woodwork before bouncing off the goalkeeper and into the back of the net. It meant that the points would have to be shared on this occasion.