Shildon 3-2 Steels

Stocksbridge Park Steels were knocked off track after losing a 2-0 lead to fall to a 3-2 defeat against Shildon.

The Steels got off to the best possible start. Ross Goodwin almost made it two in two when his save was palmed onto the bar. It rebounded out to Lewis Macaskill though who was able to wrap his foot around it and volley home to give Stocksbridge the lead after just a few minutes.

Shildon showed early on that their set pieces were going to be a danger. A corner was whipped in and Ben Townsend had to be alive to make the save. Alexander White tried to knock it in from close range but Stocksbridge were able to do enough to clear it.

Stocksbridge were able to take advantage of Shildon not taking their chances. From their own corner, Mitch Langton forced a good save from Harrison Bond. The ball fell kindly to Elliot Murray who was able to tap in from close range and the Steels seemed to be on their way to victory.

Shildon though were able to fire back before the end of the first half. Again, it was from a corner. Billy Greulich-Smith connected with the header but Townsend was able to make the save. However this time, Stocksbridge didn’t react quick enough and Greulich-Smith got onto the ball again and fired home to halve the deficit before the break.

In the second half with the momentum behind them, Shildon were looking like the stronger side. While Stocksbridge did have some chances at the other end, it was the Railwaymen who got the next goal which would change the shape of the game entirely. Initially it seemed like Stocksbridge got a let off as Aiden Heywood air kicked a potential volley but that allowed the ball to fall to Joe Posthill, who was then able to get it past Townsend.

With the game finely poised, both teams pressed to get the winner which would provide crucial to their end of the season hopes. It really could have been either side who got the win but in the end, it was Shildon who would be celebrating. It was another corner and Greulich-Smith was left unmarked to head in, sending the away fans home miserable.