Steels 2-2 Ossett United (0-3 on penalties)

14/09/2022Last Updated: 15/09/2022

245 3 minutes read

Stocksbridge Park Steels paid the penalty as they went out of the FA Trophy on spot kicks to Ossett United.

The Steels took the lead through a close range effort from Luke Rawson. Ossett were able to level things through a good effort from Luke Aldrich. Stocksbridge had the lead once again through a curling effort from Alex O’Connor. An own goal from Mitch Langton forced the match into penalty kicks. All three Stocksbridge penalties were missed, leading to the Steels defeat.

Stocksbridge should have been ahead within a few minutes. Gareth Curtis had space down the left hand side and used the time to put in a fantastic cross for Tomas Poole. The winger was completely unmarked and his header looked certain for the bottom corner. It bounced on the ground and it was that which saved Ossett from going behind early.

Ossett were able to grow into the game after that early scare and had their dangerous moments in a first half that failed to thrill. Joe Stacey wasn’t too far off with a shot that went over that came after an impressive run. Stacey caused more problems later in the half when his pass across the box begged to be knocked in, but Ossett failed to get a man onto it and the chance went. This meant the game would be goalless at the end of the first half.

Fans didn’t have to wait long though for a goal in the second. Poole whipped in a free kick and the initial effort from Curtis smashed onto the woodwork. Rawson was the first one to react though and he stabbed home to give Stocksbridge the lead.

Ossett could have equalised right after though. Oliver Fearon found Stacey with a great ball and this gave him the opportunity to go one-on-one with Harrison Davison-Hale. It was the young goalkeeper who won the duel, not only saving the shot but managing to get it to ricochet off Stacey and go out for the goal kick.

The Sheepicorns did get their equaliser though. Aldrich was able to gather the ball on the edge of the box with his back to goal. Ossett’s leading scorer was allowed to turn though and get his shot off and it allowed Davison-Hale no chance as it bundled into the bottom corner of the net.

Stocksbridge were able to retake the lead though. It was another free kick from Poole and initially, it had been dealt with though Ossett weren’t able to get it out of the box. It would fall to O’Connor who took a touch before curling the ball into the top corner with a beautiful effort.

However, the game was not over and Ossett were able to get another equaliser. Jack Wilson had caused plenty of problems after coming on in the second half and his ball was deadly. Anyone could have turned it in but unluckily, it ended up being Langton who put it into his own net.

One final moment denied Stocksbridge getting the win in ninety minutes. Cody Prior got the ball 25 yards out and sensed his name in the headlines. He sent a curling ball towards goal but Ed Hall would pull off a fantastic save to ensure the match went to penalties.

At first, the penalties looked like it would be going Stocksbridge’s way. Brad Beatson stepped up for Ossett but his penalty was easily saved by Davison-Hale. However, Poole, Jordan Lemon and Langton would all miss their spot kicks. This meant a few penalties later, Michael Hollingsworth could step up and send Ossett into the next round of the FA Trophy.

MOM: Mitch Langton