Steels 2-2 Dunston

Stocksbridge Park Steels stole a last minute equaliser against Dunston after being two goals behind.

With both teams fighting for a place in the play-offs, it was a highly contested match with plenty of chances. The first big chance went Stocksbridge’s way as Luke Rawson got a ball over the top first, allowing him to go one-on-one with Dunston keeper Daniel Staples. Unfortunately, Staples was able to make a good save. At the other end, Dunston had a similar chance with Liam Thear getting behind the defence but his shot was well saved by Ben Townsend who was determined not to be outdone by his opposite number.

Dunston would get a massive opportunity to take the lead. Liam Thear burst forward and would go down to the ground after contact. Initially, it seemed to be a throw-in but to the surprise of the majority of the crowd, especially as it seemed the foul happened outside of the box. Following a lengthy delay due to an injury to Jack Tinker during the foul, Dale Pearson stepped up but Townsend was equal to it, making an impressive save to his left.

However despite that, Dunston were able to the lead. Following a period of sustained pressure, Thear gathered the ball on the edge of the box and slammed the ball into the top corner of the near post, giving the visiting side the lead right before the end of the first half.

In the second half, Stocksbridge got the ideal opportunity to level the scores. Dunston aimed to clear the ball but only knocked it onto the arm of their won player, leading the referee to give a penalty. Ify Ofoegbu stepped up but Staples saved it down to his left, much like Townsend in the first half.

Stocksbridge were immediately punished for not scoring the penalty. Dunston countered successfully following a Stocksbridge corner and Thear was able to catch Townsend off his line, lobbing him from 40 yards and giving Dunston a two goal lead going into the end of the game.

The Steels rallied though and while it took its time, Stocksbridge eventually got a goal back though it was in dubious circumstances. Alex O’Connor’s big ball into the box was partially palmed away by Staples, though many referees would have said the heavy pressure from Rawson should have been a foul. It’s certainly what the Dunston players thought but Charlie Wood managed at the second time to knock the ball in and get Stocksbridge back into the game.

Stocksbridge continued to press and in the 94th minute, they set Bracken Moor alive. O’Connor’s pass was backheeled into the box by Rawson to Kurtis Turner whose initial shot was well saved by Staples. It rebounded to Wood who had to protect the ball at first before firing the ball goalwards and despite a block on the line, it managed to find its way in and get Stocksbridge a massive point.