Match Report  |  Stocksbridge Park Steels vs Gresley FC

This game was lost in the first 30 minutes when some sloppy defending by Gresley allowed Stocksbridge to go two- nil up.
Gresley manager Gavin Hurren was without four of his first team squad with Josh McKenzie, Albert Lansdowne, Spencer Weir Daley and Harry Walker all absent.

The visitors started well in what was an important game for both sides. Mark branch went close to opening the scoring on 3 minutes when his in-swinging corner from the right needed to be pushed over the bar by home keeper David Robson.

Stocksbridge then went close themselves a minute later when Reece Fielding struck the post with his shot.

The home side took the lead on 15 minutes when Gresley failed to clear the ball allowing Danny Frost to slide the ball home. Gresley’s plight was made all the harder when Jacob Sturgess steered Ben Rhodes’ shot into his own net on 27 minutes.

The first half ended with Stocksbridge well on top and they could have increased their lead on the half hour accept for an excellent save by Aidan Jeynes who pushed Frost’s shot away for a corner.

Whatever was said in the Gresley dressing room at half time seemed to have on effect and with a couple of changes the visitors looked far more dangerous.

Hurren introduced Kane Lee and Cameron Steele for Micah Edwards and Sturgess respectively and their appearance seem to give Gresley the forward momentum lacking in the first half.

Lee was causing problems down the right flank and this produced the first yellow card when Michael Langton was cautioned by referee Mr Smith for a very poor tackle on the front man. More niggly fouls followed from the home side which surprisingly were not punished by the officials.

Gresley were back into the game on the hour mark when more good work by Lee down the right saw him pick out Bradley Lawley who hammered home the visitors first goal.

Lawley then went close again with a shot from distance which flew narrowly wide of the post. Calum Riddell also went close, but his shot cleared the bar.

Gresley were pressing hard looking for an equaliser. Connor Deards’ run through the middle ended with his shot flying over the bar.

With Gresley pushing forward they we're almost caught when Frost beat the offside trap, but Jeynes was quick off his line to make a fine block. However, Stocksbridge did increase their lead on 79 minutes when some more poor defending failed to deal with a corner from the left and Liam McFayden poked the ball home from close in.

The visitors were giving everything they'd got, but we're almost caught again when a through ball saw substitute James Morris race forward but was denied by Jeyenes.

The persistent time wasting and fouling by the home side became a little annoying for the Gresley players, staff and travelling supporters. It became worse when Lawley headed home Branch’s free kick from one of the fouls.

Despite a valiant second half, Gresley could not grab the share of the points for which their second half showing surely warranted.