Steels Reserves 1-0 Hepworth United

Stocksbridge Park Steels Reserves earned a 1-0 victory over Hepworth United in the County Senior League at Bracken Moor on Saturday, 21st September.

The Steels made a positive start to the game, with the first major chance coming as early as the 11th minute. Louis Hall was through on goal after a slick one-two with Judah Smith and was only let down by a poor final touch that allowed the Hepworth goalkeeper to claim the ball.

Matthew Lee had a shot from a similar position a minute later, but missed the target.

The game settled down in the following twenty minutes, with Stocksbridge having a few sloppy moments. A brilliant block from Ben Pike denied Hepworth a goal in the meantime and got the Steels going again.

Lee eventually gave the home side the lead after 32 minutes. Austin played the winger through on goal and although there were shouts for an offside, nothing was given. Lee, meanwhile, remained composed in front of goal, taking a touch and calmly slotting the ball past the goalkeeper.

Declan Childes soon came close to doubling the lead after getting on the end of a Ryley Short cross, but could not keep his shot down.

Stocksbridge came into the second half looking to defend their one-goal lead. Ewan Oxborough pulled off a great save to prevent a low shot from creeping into the bottom-left corner just after the one-hour mark.

Lee, meanwhile, came close to getting his second and doubling the Steels’ lead. The winger’s well-timed press won him the ball and although he briefly lost it, he won it again before charging towards the goal. However, he was eventually denied by the Hepworth goalkeeper.

Thomson Cartledge, who came on for Hall, was also unlucky not to score as a fine shot came off the woodwork.

Despite not being able to add to their tally, the Steels held on to the one-goal lead in the end and earned a hard-fought win.