Steels 3-0 Garforth Town
Stocksbridge Park Steels put on a brilliant second half performance to beat Garforth Town 3-0.
The game was evenly contested in the first half. Both sides took their time to feel each other out and both sides knew to be careful of the other considering both had started very well. The first big chance fell to Garforth, as Dan Coupland unleashed a powerful shot that was well saved by Ben Townsend. At the other end, Stocksbridge got better and better as the game went on, and Jack Haslam went close with a diving header that went just wide of the post.
The second saw Stocksbridge be a bit shaky for a few minutes, which Garforth gained confidence from. But it ended up being like Mohammed Ali on the ropes, with the Steels then striking at the other end. After winning the ball high up the field, it was played forward to Alex Hardwick who controlled the ball, turned on the edge of the area and smashed it into the back of the net.
A few minutes later, Stocksbridge would double their lead in a way no one expected. It seemed like Haslam would cross the ball when he got the ball on the right wing but instead, he unleashed it goalwards. This flat footed the goalkeeper, and the powerful effort went in at the near post. For a moment, it seemed like it hit the side netting but the fans started to cheer when they realised it was in fact a goal.
After a while, Garforth were able to settle themselves down and started to take control of the game as they looked to replicate their epic comeback against Sheffield FC the week before. However, the Steels defence remained firm and other than some blocked shots, the Miners struggled to break through.
Stocksbridge might have been a bit nervy, but the Steels were able to kill the game off. A miscued volley from Haslam was rescued by Alex O’Connor on the right wing who sent the cross back in. Haslam was there at the far post and he didn’t miscue the shot this time, sending it through the legs of the goalkeeper Harry Flatters to win the game.
The game died off as a real contest after that goal, and Stocksbridge were able to claim an impressive win over a team that has shocked a few in the Northern Premier League this year.
