Liversedge 2-2 Steels

Stocksbridge Park Steels grabbed a dramatic late equaliser but will have felt like they could have beaten 10-man Liversedge.

The game started as a back-and-forth affair with both teams looking to avenge recent disappointing results. The game of chance ping-pong would go in Liversedge’s favour though. No one in the Stocksbridge defence picked up Jack Dyche in the box but corner taker Jack Carr spotted him, playing the ball to the forward who smashed the ball in.

Stocksbridge would fight to get back into the match and soon a big incident would change the direction on the entire game. James Morris was played into space on the right wing and went forward. Jake Oram rushed out and took the forward out with a dangerous tackle, preventing Morris from going clear. The referee was left with no choice but to send him off, leading to defender Jack Crook in the goal.

Despite the fact an outfield player was now in goal, Stocksbridge failed to put pressure on the Liversedge goal. Crook was untested for the rest of the first half, the closest anyone did was when Tom Charlesworth had a shot from the edge of the area, only for it to go just wide.

In the second half, it was all Stocksbridge attack as they looked to take advantage of having the extra man. For a while, it didn’t look good but after a melee in the box following a corner delivery, the Steels got a penalty. Alex O’Connor stepped up and scored the spot kick.

Liversedge weren’t down and out yet though. As Stocksbridge pushed forward looking for the win, they were caught on the break. The ball went to Desmond Amponsah who moved into the box and finished past the outstretched arm of Ben Townsend.

A frustrated Stocksbridge desperately tried to get back into the match and at the last possible moment, they got their goal. Charlesworth delivered a quality diagonal ball into the box and Paul Iggulden was there to knock it in at the far post, meaning the Steels went home with a point even if they should have been able to get more.