Steels 0-2 Worksop Town

Stocksbridge Park Steels’ losing run continued with a 2-0 loss to Worksop Town.

Worksop were themselves on a long unbeaten run and they started like that by having most of the ball. Despite that, the first big chance would go Stocksbridge’s way. They caught the Worksop defence out on the counter-attack and Lewis Macaskill was able to turn his defender inside out before sending a shot at goal. Unfortunately, former Polish international Sebastian Malkowski was able to make the save.

The Steels could count themselves lucky they didn’t fall behind later on though. Former Scunthorpe United man Terry Hawkridge’s free kick was headed back to the edge of the box by James Hanson to Sam Wedgbury. He hit a powerful shot which then took a massive deflection which thankfully went wide.

Worksop would get their goal and it was again a set piece which caused the problems. The initial ball caused problems and it wasn’t cleared properly, allowing Jay Rollins to get onto the ball and finish smartly into the bottom corner.

In the second half, Stocksbridge were able to get off to a much better start, though it was helped by having the wind behind them for this half. While they were able to get the ball into better positions in this half, the Worksop defence were able to make sure they weren’t able to create any clear cut chances. This frustrated the Stocksbridge attack as every foray forward seemed to end in either a poor pass or a good defensive play.

The game was always likely to be decided on one big chance at either end with both defences looking solid in the second half. Unfortunately, that chance ended up going Worksop’s way. It was Hanson, a player who never has to buy a pint in Bradford following his heroics for the Bantams in their League Cup final run, who used his height to knock a ball down for Josh Wilde who duly finished from close range.

Stocksbridge did get right onto the ball afterwards and Dylan Youmbi, a man who might soon never have to buy a pint in Bradford if he can continue to perform like he has been for Stocksbridge, was able to get onto a long ball and move into the box. His shot though was saved by the legs of Malkowski. Following that, Worksop managed the game well and disrupted any potential Steels momentum, allowing them to return to Bassetlaw with the three points.