Stockton Town 2-2 Steels

Stocksbridge Park Steels were denied an opening day win by a late goal from Stockton Town.

It couldn’t have started better for the Steels. A corner was swung in by Tomas Poole and Charlie Oglesby left his marker to head in and give Stocksbridge the lead.

Stockton did have the ideal moment to equalise just a few minutes later though. Ross Goodwin was penalised for a sliding tackle in the box, giving the Anchors a spot kick. Stocksbridge banished bad memories of their shoot out defeat as when Mikey Roberts stepped up, Ben Townsend made the save down to his left.

Not long after a Luke Rawson strike was saved by Niall Frampton, Stockton levelled. Just minutes before the end of the first half, Roberts made up for his penalty miss by getting some space for himself before hitting a powerful strike into the near post.

But just as they started the first half well, Stocksbridge started the second half in the best way possible. Great play found Jack Tinker on the overlap down the left-hand side and he put in a first time cross. Rawson was there on the near post and finished it off, giving Stocksbridge the lead again.

Stocksbridge had their chances to extend the lead. Good play found Tomas Poole in the box but he choose to shoot rather than square the ball and it ended up being spooned behind the goal. Jack Watson thought quickly to rush onto a lazy pass to the goalkeeper but a slight deflection was enough to make sure it went wide of the goal.

And just like in the first half, Stockton equalised on the turn of the 90th minute. A rare mistake from Mitch Langton allowed Michael Fowler to burst through on goal and he finished with plenty of power to make it 2-2.

Stockton did all they could to get the last minute winner. However, Townsend made a series of impressive saves to prevent the Anchors from doing that. It meant no massive gut punch for the Steels and that they’d return to South Yorkshire with a point.