Steels 2-0 Handsworth

23/11/2022Last Updated: 24/11/2022

294 2 minutes read

Stocksbridge Park Steels finally overcame Handsworth FC with a 2-0 win in the Sheffield Senior Cup.

The Steels started as the better side as they looked to prove why they were in the Northern Premier League. Ross Goodwin was lively when he headed over while Lewis Macaskill looked to make the most of a poor clearance, though he couldn’t finish. Ify Ofoegbu was being a constant problem down the right wing and he soon got Michael Trench booked with the former Steel struggling to deal with the winger. However, Stocksbridge were not able to make the most of this early domination and take the lead.

Handsworth were able to get back into the game but they weren’t able to take advantage of some silly free kicks that Stocksbridge gave away. One early free kick from Jonathan Williams wasn’t too far off as it went just over the bar. Not long after, Handsworth had another thanks to a tough challenge from Charlie Oglesby which also saw the former Staveley man go into the book. Former Steel Elliot Walker took the free kick but he could only smash it against the wall.

Stocksbridge would eventually get their goal. They had been pressing the defence all game and it eventually worked. Former Stocksbridge captain Liam McFadyen tried to head the ball back to Ben Townsend but Macaskill got onto it. He passed the ball across goal to Tomas Poole and he delighted into hitting it into the back of the net.

Handsworth could and should have been level before the break through. Leon Howarth managed to beat his man on the left wing and break into the box. He pulled the ball back at the byline and it flashed across the goal line, but no Amber was there to gamble on it, meaning the Steels retained their 1-0 lead going into half time.

Stocksbridge started the second half in the same way as they started with the first. Poole found himself some space after turning a defender and tried to curl one in, but as it went to the near corner Townsend was able to save it well. Macaskill started his own Campton Races later on as five Handsworth players chased him with no success. In the end, Macaskill wasn’t able to get the curl on the ball to get it into the bottom corner.

Handsworth were able to get back into the game once again and the concern was that they would be able to punish the Steels for not taking their chances. They pressed forward and definitely caused a few nervous moments though Stocksbridge’s defence was able to hold strong. The substitution of Jimmy Eyles caused the most problems for Stocksbridge, notable when he forced a diving save from Henry Hampshaw.

At the end of the game, Townsend was thrown up into the box to see if he could grab the headlines for Handsworth. This would end up going badly for the Ambers. The initial corner was headed out but when Morgan James was the first onto the ball, Townsend stayed up. James was tackled though and Ofoegbu got the ball and raced straight for the goal. No one could keep up with him and he slotted the ball home to confirm Stocksbridge’s passage into the next round.

MOTM: Leigh Whelan